[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Klatu

From what I hear regarding the mask quarrel, some folks feel it is necessary in order to stop the virus. Hold the presses: we are not going to STOP the virus, any more than we stop the flu, colds, etc. All these "If just 75% of the people wore masks, we could defeat this virus in X weeks" are nonsense to me. We can slow the spread, we can mitigate the spread but we will not stop it. AND the young, the healthy are not likely to die from it, so if they contract it, they will be laid low for a while and then be immune. The elderly who are healthy are more vulnerable and require wearing masks themselves if they are diabetic, frail or very immune compromised. So bottom line. If you are young and healthy and walking around, you don't necessarily need a mask unless you are serving others and could infect others. If you are outdoors and not face to face with people, you don't need to be paranoid about a mask. If you are in a store, you should wear one if required. Outside, hot weather and slight wind reduce the danger from droplets dramatically.

As for the demand that everyone wear masks, it's created a kind of Mask Nazi crowd that goes crazy if they see people without masks. We should not surrender our personal freedom and liberty except in the most dire, and temporary circumstances. Or, simply put: I am not going to surrender my choice simply because you are terrified, unless you can convince me your terror is based on facts -- not "estimates" or "experts' (who often are wildly wrong) or "the need of the group" (the group always is composed of people who want to dictate what other do to make them feel virtuous). Let's lower the terror meter folks and be suspicious of all the wild claims we here.

You mind telling that to Disney World, Leggo World, Sea World, Universal and a host of other theme parks? They seem to grasp why masks and social distancing can slow the spread of Covid-19.