Wear a mask or don't wear a mask, it won't effect me any differently. I wear a mask to protect my spouse, only. I do not consider it to be any more effective than covering one's mouth when they cough, since experts/doctors say that as long as you are not near a person for a sustained period of time, you will not contract the virus from them. When shopping, I do not stand near a person and converse with them. I get my items and move on. According to the experts, I would not catch the virus even if I did not wear a mask. The store entrance has a mask rule so wear the mask, period. Being a smart A$$ and wearing it on your chin will only earn you scorn from others, not amusement or support. But, it is your right. If you all feel that you are protected by wearing a mask, then the placebo effect works for you. Folks wearing the mask are still becoming infected. I personally know someone that wore his mask religiously, as well as maintaining his distance. He still became infected and lost to the virus. Anyone leaving the safety of their homes or allowing others to enter their homes, takes a chance of becoming infected no matter how much effort they put into protection. Don't be fooled into thinking that a simple mask will protect you. Logic dictates that anything that filters the air in some manner will give a degree of protection. Do it right and purchase a military grade gas mask and get better protection. Better yet, a full bio-hazard suit. Mask shaming is just a form of being a bully. Suggestions are warranted, but demanding is aggression and UN-American.
There, you all wanted to push the panic and hysteria so I assisted you by injecting the plain truth. I prefer to be positive but if I am, then I am accused of being a denier. I do not think this is a hoax. But, I also know that America, as well as the world has gone through other catastrophic pandemics and survived to continue to pollute this world with their carelessness. Let's face it, mankind could lose half of the world's population and still be the scourge of this world. We all become dust at some point, so don't think that you can avoid the final outcome. No one gets out of this alive.
On a positive note, I plan to live my life like today is my last. I refuse to live in fear of something I cannot change.
Wear your mask if you feel the need, ....or not. I won't judge you. Besides, if others worry about whether or not you wear a mask, they probably should be staying home anyway. They can't control you, but they can control their own actions.
Life is great, so go out with a roar not with a whimper..........or not,... your choice.

Thank you for a rational and non hysterical thought. The virus is real, but the death rate is pumped up. They are assigning Covid deaths to people who test positive but die from something else is many cases. The majority of deaths are in nursing homes which is tragic.

There are two here who just love to say “panic porn”
 

An ambulance brought me to the Villages hospital Thursday night as I had diabetic keto acidosis. I’m still here. When you find yourself surrounded by sick people and caregivers and you see that my home self care and precautions are far far superior to the hospital - I’m scared pants-less. If you think it’s just “panic” I dare you to check yourself in . It’s easy to commentate from your bunker one way or another. Why don’t you quit chastising people for panicking in any form. There is need to be hyper vigilant. I’m extremely worried about getting Covid in the hospital.

I’ve done all the right things. I’ve isolated at home for 146 days. Now I landed in hospital. You never know what tmrw brings. I’m terrified to get it in here after all I’ve done right, I have yet to see one cleaner, and not one nurse staff or doctor has used the hand sanitizer by the when entering or leaving the room. They all touch everything in the room and never wipe a thing. I didn’t plan on being here and they won’t let me out for a few days. I could be a statistic despite doing everything right.

He had stage 4 colon cancer years ago, and was successfully treated, years ago. At the time of his death, he did not have cancer. COVID-19 is a viral pneumonia caused by the Sars-Cov-2 virus.

On a lighter note, you are "pants-less" because they put you in a bottomless gown with your @$$ showing. :icon_wink:

But seriously, take care and get well fast so you can get out of there.

Another example/reason that folks need to rein back the hysteria and panic. Folks are stressed enough as it is.
Friend, what I do when I am stressed is to examine the situation. If I have exhausted all ideas and crossed them off as invalid, then I put the problem in the back of my mind and wait until the subconscious comes up with a possible solution. Stress is a killer and not healthy or helpful. You are not being negligent or callous by putting it out of your mind. Simply treat the situation as if everything is normal and that you are confident that a solution will present itself. Be positive. KNOW that you are not going to become infected just by being there. Be confident that the medical personnel know what they are doing and they are doing it right.
Do NOT listen to gloom and doomers. Let them waller in their own misery. Your being positive will be healthy and help defend you against this viral scourge.

I know every one of our fellow posters are wishing/praying for your safe recovery.

Indeed, it is not. But responsible reporting by both the testers and the media would perhaps help. The media is losing the little credibility left by it's sensationalized and misleading headlines. I've also been noticing old articles are being pushed out again, as if they were new - until you check the date and see they are old.

With regard to the testers, I'm having a bit of concern, having recently learned of someone who made an appointment for testing (not here - over in the Miami area) who made an appointment for testing, but then was a no-show; four days later, she received notification of her positive test.

And of course we have the (mostly) younger groups that are having COVID parties and intentionally trying to win the pot of gold ($ thrown into a pot by all attendees) by being the first to have a positive test out of all the attendees.