[kappy]

The country of Taiwan (population almost 24 million) has had the virus under control from the beginning. In fact, there was not one new locally transmitted case of the virus for more than 200 days, NOT ONE! While Florida (population 21.5 million) has anywhere from 5000 - 10,000 cases every day. How does Taiwan do it? One of the main reasons is the mandatory use of masks in public.

Isn’t it time that we asked our representatives to make mask wearing mandatory in our state? Mandatory mask wearing is a small sacrifice for a short period of time in order to reduce and finally eliminate COVID-19? If the number of cases and deaths continue to increase, we may be forced to have another complete shutdown.

We don’t have to wait until the vaccines are distributed. Call our representatives and tell them that there should be a mandatory mask policy put in place immediately. The number for Gov. Ron DeSantis is 850-488-7146, for Sen. Dennis Baxley is 352-750-3133 and for Rep. Brett Hage is 352-315-4445. The phone numbers and/or email addresses for our county commissioners in Lake, Marion and Sumter can be found at the county websites.

[Chi-Town]

I'll go along with mandatory mask usage indoors. I do it already. It would have to be enforced like in airports and planes.

[Joe V.]

Originally Posted by kappy

The country of Taiwan (population almost 24 million) has had the virus under control from the beginning. In fact, there was not one new locally transmitted case of the virus for more than 200 days, NOT ONE! While Florida (population 21.5 million) has anywhere from 5000 - 10,000 cases every day. How does Taiwan do it? One of the main reasons is the mandatory use of masks in public.

Isn’t it time that we asked our representatives to make mask wearing mandatory in our state? Mandatory mask wearing is a small sacrifice for a short period of time in order to reduce and finally eliminate COVID-19? If the number of cases and deaths continue to increase, we may be forced to have another complete shutdown.



We don’t have to wait until the vaccines are distributed. Call our representatives and tell them that there should be a mandatory mask policy put in place immediately. The number for Gov. Ron DeSantis is 850-488-7146, for Sen. Dennis Baxley is 352-750-3133 and for Rep. Brett Hage is 352-315-4445. The phone numbers and/or email addresses for our county commissioners in Lake, Marion and Sumter can be found at the county websites.

No way.

[Malsua]

Originally Posted by kappy

The country of Taiwan (population almost 24 million) has had the virus under control from the beginning. In fact, there was not one new locally transmitted case of the virus for more than 200 days, NOT ONE! While Florida (population 21.5 million) has anywhere from 5000 - 10,000 cases every day. How does Taiwan do it? One of the main reasons is the mandatory use of masks in public.

Isn’t it time that we asked our representatives to make mask wearing mandatory in our state? Mandatory mask wearing is a small sacrifice for a short period of time in order to reduce and finally eliminate COVID-19? If the number of cases and deaths continue to increase, we may be forced to have another complete shutdown.

We don’t have to wait until the vaccines are distributed. Call our representatives and tell them that there should be a mandatory mask policy put in place immediately. The number for Gov. Ron DeSantis is 850-488-7146, for Sen. Dennis Baxley is 352-750-3133 and for Rep. Brett Hage is 352-315-4445. The phone numbers and/or email addresses for our county commissioners in Lake, Marion and Sumter can be found at the county websites.

How does Taiwan do it?

Easy. Strong border control. It's an Island. No land borders. Strict quarantines. It's not the masks.

Masks do not stop infection. They can help slow spread down and they can help reduce your exposure. It does NOT eliminate your exposure. If you are exposed while wearing a mask, you will probably have a better outcome. The fact is though, you're still exposed.

Don't take this as anti-mask. I think they can help indoors. They will not stop the pandemic.

If you want to mandate something, mandate that everyone needs to get their vitamin D level up to a healthy number. There have been many Random Controlled trials on this done so far and a healthy level of Vitamin D is associated with an 89% reduction in mortality. Hazard Ratio of .11 is ASTOUNDING and yet, here people are calling for mask mandates which, so far, have proved to be doing bupkiss. Mandates are in place in NY, NJ, CT and positive tests are still climbing.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Malsua

How does Taiwan do it?

Easy. Strong border control. It's an Island. No land borders. Strict quarantines. It's not the masks.

Masks do not stop infection. They can help slow spread down and they can help reduce your exposure. It does NOT eliminate your exposure. If you are exposed while wearing a mask, you will probably have a better outcome. The fact is though, you're still exposed.

Don't take this as anti-mask. I think they can help indoors. They will not stop the pandemic.

If you want to mandate something, mandate that everyone needs to get their vitamin D level up to a healthy number. There have been many Random Controlled trials on this done so far and a healthy level of Vitamin D is associated with an 89% reduction in mortality. Hazard Ratio of .11 is ASTOUNDING and yet, here people are calling for mask mandates which, so far, have proved to be doing bupkiss. Mandates are in place in NY, NJ, CT and positive tests are still climbing.

Mortality is not the only risk with COVID-19. Millions of people - especially children - who RECOVER from the virus have permanent lung damage and injury and damage to other organs as well. COPD is up in recovered COVID-19 patients, compared with people who were never infected.

Vitamin D is not a treatment or preventative for COVID-19. It might very well help reduce mortality, but it doesn't prevent you from getting sick. However, if you are deficient, then taking Vitamin D can and will of course increase your ability to fight off ANY illness, because a deficiency in necessary nutrients is - a deficiency.

But that's basic health, and not related to COVID-19.

[manaboutown]

I wear a mask shopping and when in public buildings but believe its efficacy minimal, more political than scientific.

[kappy]

There is a misconception by many who believe that the masks are to protect the wearer. Although a mask has been shown to afford a degree of protection to the wearer, its main purpose is to protect other people FROM the wearer. The basic problem is that although a person may have no symptoms of COVID, they may still have the virus. Some of these people may never actually suffer symptoms and are just carriers, while most will show some signs 5-14 days after they first contacted COVID. In that period of time, without masking and distancing, think of all the people they could have transferred the virus to. If those transferees also refused to distance and mask, the likelihood is that a very large number of people in their circle will come down with the virus.

Many of the masks mandates that have been put into effect are very recent and they are not being enforced. You can readily see that what has been put into effect to date is not working. We are going into our tenth month and the numbers are becoming outrageous. Vaccines won’t be available to most of us before next April or May. If 90-95% of our people would adhere to wearing masks, we should be able to slow down the virus. If that does not happen, I believe that this pandemic will spiral out of control and our hospitals will be overwhelmed. That was the worry back in mid March when we had to close down the country for six weeks, which was very detrimental to our economy. We don’t want to have to do that again.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by kappy

There is a misconception by many who believe that the masks are to protect the wearer. Although a mask has been shown to afford a degree of protection to the wearer, its main purpose is to protect other people FROM the wearer. The basic problem is that although a person may have no symptoms of COVID, they may still have the virus. Some of these people may never actually suffer symptoms and are just carriers, while most will show some signs 5-14 days after they first contacted COVID. In that period of time, without masking and distancing, think of all the people they could have transferred the virus to. If those transferees also refused to distance and mask, the likelihood is that a very large number of people in their circle will come down with the virus.

Many of the masks mandates that have been put into effect are very recent and they are not being enforced. You can readily see that what has been put into effect to date is not working. We are going into our tenth month and the numbers are becoming outrageous. Vaccines won’t be available to most of us before next April or May. If 90-95% of our people would adhere to wearing masks, we should be able to slow down the virus. If that does not happen, I believe that this pandemic will spiral out of control and our hospitals will be overwhelmed. That was the worry back in mid March when we had to close down the country for six weeks, which was very detrimental to our economy. We don’t want to have to do that again.

You said it yourself----carriers with NO SYMPTOMS. So without coughing, sneezing, or spitting and doing nothing else but staying 6 feet away, just how do you think they can spread the virus? No, just breathing and talking in a normal tone won't do it.

[camaguey48]

A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.

Edward R. Murrow

[mp.scanland]

Along with mask wearing, Taiwan strictly enforces quarantine protocols and vigorously does contact tracing and notificstion.

[Two Bills]

Round and round we go again!
Nothing is complete protection against the virus.
But.
Put all the little things that offer some protection together when in public, or close proximity to others, and you are in with a better chance of avoiding the virus than those who refuse to do anything to help themselves or others.
Even the Vaccine is not going to be a 100% effective, but who in their right mind is going to refuse it, apart from the conspiracy nutters?

[tvmurray]

Why does anyone think that are constitutional rights leave with a pandemic? Drinking and smoking kill many more than this bad flu, so we need to ban them.
So the bottom line is that I am not sick, so I don't have to wear a face diaper to protect anyone.

[Waddling Eagle]

You can order anything you like, but the people will not obey it and the police will not enforce it.

[Dynamicpi]

Well said! This needs to be across the country and our number would dramatically go down!

[jnafix]

Originally Posted by fjbruning@hotmail.com

If you are afraid, stay home. Food and medicine can be delivered. The Trump vaccine is coming soon.

So they are coming out with a vaccine against that disease also ?