Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance
I would add a 2.5. You don't wear a mask for outdoor activities such as golf, pickleball, and walking. There are a couple of stores you will go into, but you always wear a mask, wipe the cart if they haven't, and use hand sanitizer on the way out--because you prefer to do your own grocery shopping. You have a couple of "safe" neighbors you will socialize with, keeping distance. Only a couple. You don't take a dog into grocery or home supply stores... oh wait, that's a different thread.
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Only full and modified Howard Hughesies can not use masks at all and claim they are near 100% safe from
catching or spreading the virus. I was a full Howard Hughes for about six weeks, no golf no nothing except curbside pickup or delivery of groceries.
When I read scientific papers saying 99% of infections happened indoors, and that sunlight deactivated the virus in minutes, I figured I could play golf again and a few other outdoor activities. But I still think going into supermarkets etc with or without a mask is slightly risky if you are 65+ or have certain health problems. Especially now with this surge in new cases. The surge may be mostly younger people but they can still infect you. The cloth masks may help protect others, but they don't protect you all that well. If they put "he wore a mask and protected others" on my tombstone it wouldn't be much consolation for me.
I am pretty convinced now that herd immunity is the only thing that will stop this virus. That doesn't mean you or I have to be part of that herd. As you can see if you read thread linked below, some very smart scientists have analyzed data from all over the world and think the herd immunity threshold may be as low as 20-30%. I can continue my modified Howard Hughes lifestyle for months more if I need to and still enjoy myself and not go insane.
We may reach herd immunity sooner than you think