Covid-19 and the town squares
 

It was my understanding that the town squares would open with entertainment and require masks be worn by EVERYONE. How can the Village Entertainment be so careless with peoples lives. The last time I checked, Florida's positive test rate and death rate is still increasing. This virus is NOT going away, in fact, it will get worse as the winter months approach until a certified vaccine is developed.

Stop giving in to a few who still believe this virus is a hoax.

Nobody believes the coronavirus is a hoax so I don’t understand why you would say such a thing. If you are uncomfortable with the town squares then don’t go there. To state that The Villages Entertainment is being careless with anyone’s life is absurd - nobody is forcing you to go anywhere. I do not recall reading anywhere that masks were going to be required in the squares - not sure where you got that from. They are requesting masks for the entertainment in the squares. The last time I checked on the Florida coronavirus dashboard, the death rate was in a decline (over the last month).

Guidelines on masks were requested by entertainment group but not mandatory

Wish people would be wearing masks at the entertainment venues but nobody is enforcing it.

We plan to wait some time and see if people start catching the virus before we decide to go.

We went to Spanish Springs last night. About 50% of people wore masks, and when they got situated, removed them. Villages employees all wore masks the entire time. There was plenty of space, and everyone spread out.

I don't think anyone thinks the virus is a hoax. People simply have different risk tolerance. Our only risk factor is age, and we chose to go. Anyone who is worried should stay home.

IMO, the US will be paying a mental health toll from the lockdown. The level of isolation we had to endure comes with a price for many people.

Your mileage may vary.

I agree with the post but I would add “the risk of an individual’s unknown comorbidities”. Higher risks include blood types, any medications masking vascular conditions, etc. so risk tolerances are also effected by information level of known risks.

Not everyone is created equal, but should be treated as an equal

The problem is this. Most people are in agreement with wearing masks. It is the enforcement of that, that is at issue.

Who would the Entertainment Department call to throw out non mask wearing folks? It is not a law.

Especially those with a snoot full? It is the same everywhere. And it is far deeper than mask wearing. Most people of our age follow rules, except those who don't.

Me and mine are avoiding gatherings until our PCP says to get a vaccine.

It is a matter of personal responsibility. Please stay safe you and everyone.

Like you, GG, everybody has to make there own decisions about how to handle this situation. But regardless of how you feel about wearing masks, so far they are only requested, not required.

You can't enforce a request, so enforcement is not an option at this time.

It seems unfair to those Villages residents who have the intelligence to wear masks, and the thoughtfulness not to be potential Covid spreaders, that they have to avoid the squares because management won't make masks mandatory. We have gone to the Square and sat in our golf cart, away from the action. I'd much rather be out on the dance floor, socially distanced, with a mask, but that is not an option as it now stands. Of course we all know how karma works, as we have seen recently, from the higher ups that scorn masks.

We have been to the Squares several times this week and while mask wearing is limited once people get situated we found that social distance of much greater than 6' is followed by most on and off the dance floor and is easy to do. I guess there is only so much virtual living (TV) many people can tolerate. :pray: Each of us have to make their choice on what is acceptable risk for the little time we have left and if that acceptable risk out weighs watching others live on TV or reading about others life.

If you think a mask will prevent you from developing COVID-19 then you should consider that approximately 1 million health care workers have contracted the disease and they have access to better PPE than you.

Yes, I'm one of those who believes in science and proud to admit it.

If you think the science says that a mask will prevent you from developing COVID-19 then you are mistaken. Nobody has made that claim.

No one ever said it prevents you from getting the virus. Scientists liken it to the swiss cheese model - layer one is social distance, layer two is wearing masks, layer three is washing hands, and layer four is Covid testing. All layers are important because each layer is not perfect.

You can totally believe in science and not be as 100% certain about masks...or anything related to the virus for that matter...as your attitude conveys. In fact, if you're as big on science as you say, then you should know very little in science is proven to 100% certainty...and that definitely applies to the C-virus.

Yes, we all know that, thanks for repeating the obvious. How effective masks are in an outside environment is unknown. The impact might be minimal. To suggest that a requirement to wear masks in the squares makes them safe is not based on any science. If you want to be safe, in an absolute sense, not by some percentage that is unknown, don’t go to the squares.

I'm getting a laugh out of the condescending mansplaining.. You are not an expert, although, judging by the number of virus related posts you've made, you seem to think so. The experts, the scientists do say that wearing masks makes you safer and that masks, combined with social distancing, make one safer yet. And that being outdoors makes you even more safe. Nothing is 100% nor was that ever stated. In any event, nothing is going to change. The Villages is going along with the governor who is clearly backing the white house. So be it.

I keep hearing "stay home if you're worried about people in the squares not wearing masks or social distancing" Staying home doesn't keep the spoiled people from spreading it to those who aren't there! Those same no mask wearers also go to other places,like grocery stores, drug stores, ect. So they can still be spreading the virus through not being responsible adults.. i wear a mask to protect others & hope that others will wear a mask to protect me♥️

You should reread your own post. I will quote part of it below:

It seems unfair to those Villages residents who have the intelligence to wear masks, and the thoughtfulness not to be potential Covid spreaders, that they have to avoid the squares because management won't make masks mandatory.

This is really comical. You are asserting that people have to avoid the squares because mask are not mandatory. You clearly see things only in absolute terms as opposed to the way that science shows us how nature operates. There is a probability of contracting the virus at the squares with or without mandatory masks and nobody knows how much they differ by. Apparently you believe mandatory masks would make the squares safe - there isn't any science to support this. Generally, the guidance issued by the states comes down to recommending wearing a mask outdoors when you are not able to maintain 6 feet of social distancing. Even the most hard hit state, New York, does not require mandatory masks outside unless social distancing cannot be maintained. In other words, if this was New York, masks would not be mandatory. You might want to do some research before spouting off about our Governor, The Villages, and the White House because most of the country is doing the same thing as The Villages (recommending masks).

It's been about 9 months now and I still do not personally know of anyone that got the virus let alone died from it and I know a lot of people that really don't give a sh-- about social distancing or wearing a mask. I'm not saying it's a hoax but just stating my personal observation. I do the distancing and carry sanitizer in my pocket, wear the mask when i feel it is needed but not always.

It is my personal observation that the earth is flat, except when you encounter a hill, and then it goes up and down.

And yet...

Personal observations are viewed through the lens of myopathy. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Just because you don't know it, doesn't mean it's not true. And just because you think it, doesn't mean it IS true.

That is why god invented science.

Meanwhile, a lot of people living in The Villages has forgotten that "the bubble" is not a compliment. It is a pretty derogatory term for narrow-mindedness and insular thinking. If it doesn't happen to me, or anyone I'm friendly with, then it really doesn't matter at all.

And that's all well and good. But I personally prefer civilization, and all is different shades and varieties of good, bad, and inbetween.

Maybe they haven’t forgotten anything.

Maybe, if they are light-hearted about such terms and have a positive attitude, they just don’t share your opinion that “the bubble” is automatically a derogatory term. :)

After 3 weeks of retirement, Covid hit, and I was asked to come bac, to the OR. Those with young children wanted to stay Away. Not a problem.

For 5 months wore a 95, plus a surgical mask, plus a face shield. Sometimes used more than once. Unless you developed symptoms you were not tested.

Those who I know that tested positive, returned to work with very little issues, other than using all their vaca time.

Did three types of masks help some, NO. Was there a pattern on who tested positive, NO. We felt it was the luck of the draw. I don’t read the stats or watch the news on Covid, real life is so much better

Do I wear a surgical mask around those I don’t know, when indoors, yes. Outside not so much. Am I going to wait until a vaccine is available to resume my life, NO. But it’s my choice on how I live what is left of my life.

The risk of transmission outside is very low. I'm not aware of any outbreaks traced to groups of people in exterior spaces.

We heard the same warnings after the summer protests, continuing golf, reopening Pickleball, etc... No infections traced to these outside activities.

Superspreader events happen in closed spaces with recirculated air. Wear masks and minimize exposure time in those spaces.

Where did you read that mask would be required?

Fair & Reasonable. :ho:

There are plenty of articles in reputable news sources that mention the people who think that COVid worries are over-inflated and, yes, even a hoax. QAnon, for example, is one conspiracy group whose numbers of followers have exponentially grown in the last few years, who embraces that belief.

Also, the death rate may be down, but the cases are increasing, even with It becoming harder to get tested. There are possible long-term medical consequences to this disease, and I’m not referring to transmission, though that’s also a concern. So death is not the only serious result with which we need to be concerned.

Just stay home!

They seem to be catering to the snowflakes and snowbirds. They are coming from hotspots all over the world and they’re bringing us a deadly present.

It is not a "law" to wear a mask - so not enforceable. Plain and simple.

Then stay home. Simple. Masks arent mandatory in the square thats why no one is enforcing it. And dont assume people arent distancing when you see several people close. They are most likely from the same family. I was pretty impressed to see anyone wearing a mask and most were distancing. If someone gets too close to you, Move!! Again, simple

Finally! A voice of reason! Logical thoughts and actions and not the usual hysteria

If your afraid Don’t Go. Lock yourself inside

I don't believe for a minute that "most agree with the mask". There is just as.much science that disagrees with the mask as there is that supports it. The media is unfair and you won't read or hear about it though.

Based on the Florida coronavirus dashboard, there is considerable variance in the number of cases reported each day for the last month. However, the overall trend does not appear to be increasing but does appear to be flat. The death rate is in a sharp decline, even when allowing for the fact that the deaths associated with any particular day take a while to be reported.

To correct your lazy thinking - The mask is basically to protect others from your spittle - if everyone wore a mask no one would catch the virus from breathing the air.

The use of intelligence concerning masks is a bit over the top as the facts show masks have shown zero effect in slowing virus any more than the quarantine did , these facts were accrued by a physician who visited every dashboard in the country that had one working , the pandemic according to this physician is now at endemic status and vaccines are at best 60-70% effective

You nailed it. The developer could alternate square nights to satisfy both the mask and unmask residents. There are solutions in this divided country to be fair to all. However people would rather verbally abuse each other than look for solutions. The Villages use to be known as the Friendliest Hometown. Now a lot of residents on all sides have lost that part.

Please provide a reputable scientific reference to support your claim.

Here is a summary of the latest CDC thinking:

The coronavirus is airborne -- what that means for you - CNET

Gallup poll: Most in U.S. wear mask in pubic 'always' or 'very often' - UPI.com

Poll Finds Record Number Of Americans Are Wearing Masks

More Americans now say they regularly wear masks in stores, businesses | Pew Research Center