Originally Posted by Rzepecki (Post 1865006)

IMO it isn’t the mask wearers who are afraid, but those who refuse to wear one. “You can’t make me!” sounds like a recalcitrant teenager, rather than a responsible adult.

Originally Posted by ldivens (Post 1865012)

If you believe that I have a bridge I have for sale

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1865250)

The reality is that it hasn't really been an "explosion" comparetively. This is copied from Today's Leesburg Commercial;

"LEESBURG — Lake County added 67 positive COVID-19 cases to its rolls from Sunday to Monday, according to the Monday update from the Florida Department of Health.

Sumter added 16 confirmed cases in that time.

That brings the total count to 10,151 cases in Lake County and 3,308 in Sumter.

Lake County also recorded one new COVID-related death. Sumter added no new deaths.

The local fatality total is now 337 — 92 in Sumter County and 245 in lake.

In Lake, the fatality rate stands at 2.43% among residents. In Sumter, it's 2.8%.

Both are higher than the state average of 1.94% among positive residents.

Meanwhile, the daily rate of positivity increased in both counties from Sunday to Monday.

A total of 2.93% of the 596 tests received Monday in Sumter County were positive, compared to 1.8% Sunday.


Of the 760 test results reported in Lake Monday, 7.88% of them were positive, up from 5.5% Sunday.

In Florida overall, the state reported the results of 86,955 tests Monday and 6.99% or 6,080, were positive.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the CDC has recommended people avoid traveling for the holiday.

Still some will take the risk.

Locally, Adult Medicine of Lake County and the county itself have partnered to offer free rapid testing, which could help residents make responsible decisions when it comes to traveling and family gatherings.

Rapid testing at the Lake Square Mall in Leesburg goes from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Individuals with insurance must bring a photo ID. Testing is available for children ages 3 and oup.

Here's a breakdown of confirmed cases by city:
Lake

Clermont: 2,694

Leesburg: 1,720

Tavares: 908

Eustis: 852

Mount Dora: 795

Groveland: 698

Lady Lake: 464

Minneola: 266

Sorrento: 263

Mascotte: 252

Fruitland Park: 235

Umatilla: 220

Montverde: 153

Grand Island: 118

Howey-in-the-Hills: 79

Astatula: 74

The Villages: 59

Astor: 50

Altoona: 43

Paisley: 42

Yalaha: 36

Okahumpka: 19

Ferndale: 5

Deer Island: 3

Mount Plymouth: 3

Bella Collina: 3

Deer Island: 3

DeLand: 1

Missing: 1

Sumter

The Villages: 1,042

Coleman: 716

Wildwood: 521

Bushnell: 419

Oxford: 170

Webster: 135

Lake Panasoffkee: 98

Center Hill: 71

Sumterville: 62

Lady Lake: 54

Originally Posted by coffeebean (Post 1865246)

There is a simple answer. Mask mandates are not being enforced. There are still too many people who refuse to wear masks and refuse to keep their distance from others. Those are the folks who are spreading this virus. To bad for us.

Originally Posted by dhdallas (Post 1865014)

The Imperial College London who carries out modelling for the UK government estimated the infection fatality ratio (the percentage of all infected people who die from the disease, including those with mild disease) as 0.66%.

COVID is only serious for a very small percentage of individuals with preexisting conditions in which the coronavirus is the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. That said, if you already have health issues, then do wear a mask and practice social distancing. For the rest of us, we can get back to normal and not worry about it.

I know a great many people who have had COVID all with very mild symptoms. I never wear a mask and have been in close contact with other infected individuals and never had any symptoms.

"Misinformation is just as dangerous as the disease is right now," says Erie News Now Contributor, Dr. Becky Dawson. "I think we are spreading misinformation as quickly as we are spreading the disease."

Don't buy into the hype and fear. Allow common sense to rule the day at last and enjoy the holiday season!

Originally Posted by coffeebean (Post 1865244)

I see by your post count you are new to this forum. My advice to you is not to click on any thread topic that you are not interested in. It is your choice to read the thread or not.

Originally Posted by dhdallas (Post 1865037)

So many people have bought into the media's scare-mongering, it would be funny were it not so sad. As a retired ER RN & paramedic who worked through the AIDS & H1N1 time periods, we professionals did NOT take even half the precautions that the public afraid of COVID do. Common sense and not "something I read on the Internet" ruled the day. COVID is only "deadly" for a fraction of a percentage of the general population unless you have underlying health problems. Then you should wear a mask and social distance when around other people. I am in my late 60's and have been exposed to known persons with active COVID (as in sleeping next to my infected wife), never wore a mask, and never developed any symptoms.

News outlets thrive on stories of death & violence. "If it bleeds, it leads" is the age old axiom. One would think that the Black Death that occurred in the 1300's was upon us! The stress, anxiety, loneliness & loss of income caused by the fear of COVID is far more damaging than the virus itself.