Agree. I do exactly the same thing. If theres crowds outside, well, avoid that area. Simple. Its not crowded everywhere. Ive yet to go into a store that doesnt require a mask,so, no one is being lax there. I think many you have seen without masks have probably gotten the vaccine and feel they are safe. Obviously that would start happening. Not surprised. Bottom line. Only go where you feel safe and dont worry about what other people are doing.
If you knew your neighbors dog would bite you every time you went over there, would you continue to go? No. Only a nitwit would do that but then again there are many nitwits around.
So? You see a crowded area of maskless people, would you continue to go there? No.
Simple

Sheep??
 

Isn’t 500,000 + enough?

Interesting. I guess I haven't expressed myself clearly in previous posts. I am not against masking, just can't see any value in "useless" making. Indoors, in a crowd, and when unable to socially distance a mask is valuable to reduce COVID spread. Alone in your house or car, outdoors more than 6 feet away from others---pretty useless. I was at Disney last week, at the edge of the parking lot of Magic Kingdom, and got a phone call. The person on the other end couldn't hear me well through my mask, so I lowered it. I was more than 100 yards from the next person, yet a security person came flying out of nowhere in a cart and yelled for me to put my mask back on. Totally IDIOTIC. Not that it was his fault, just doing what he was told, But the policy maker must be a MORON.

As for as mutations, you are right in general----the less virus circulating the less the odds of a mutation, although viruses tend to mutate in the wild anyway. If there was NO virus then there would be NO mutations. Also realize, even in viruses, just like people, most random mutations are fatal (to the virus). Apparently there are now over 4,000 mutations, but only 3 of them (UK, S. Africa, and Brazil) have had any medical significance (so far)

Cases,cases,cases! Hospitalization are way down. Treatments are working. Everyone should do what they feel is necessary for their own safety . If your uncomfortable in any situation , just leave. If you can smell fish through mask, it’s nor working

Now there's a new one! Wrong, but new.

Viruses are small, the droplets that carry them somewhat larger, but neither is anywhere near as small as the MOLECULES that you smell from fish

Wow, what does one say about this post. I'll just say masks work and opposition to wearing them is, at the very least, foolish. Proof - the incredibly low numbers of regular flu cases in many countries this winter. I hope that every year from November-April mask-wearing will become the norm.

Maybe it’s because all the snowbirds are bring it down from the north!

Maybe it's the masking. Maybe it's the social distancing. Maybe it's the lack of crowds. Maybe it's the limited capacity at restaurants. Maybe it's just a low flu year. But more likely, anything is a flu-like illness is being empirically coded as COVID, if not specifically tested for.

Bottom line, nobody knows yet (except you).
PS: enjoy your seasonal mask every year.

I'm with you and we plan to do exactly that for the foreseeable future.

I too, am frustrated by the numbers. We have over 45% of our seniors vaccinated with at least one jab and it seems to make no difference on the number of cases. Looking at daily stats for Sumter Co pretty much only folks over the age of 65 seem to be testing positive for COVID.

The good news is more folks are getting vaccinated every day. Today the Publix appointments in Sumter co lasted an hour. If demand for the shots starts waning among the Seniors I’m hoping they open it up for those 55 and older.

When I get my two shots I too will be dancing in the squares and dining at the restaurants again. Until then, I’m double masking and limiting my shopping to necessary outings.

Superbowl Sunday parties! Just like other super( stupid)spreader events now the numbers come in. Oh add Town Square events. Vacationers. Maybe even a few inconsiderate maskless snowbirds. 😷

There will be a 4-8 week lag time before the effect of vaccination can be seen in the daily stats. Vaccinations started in earnest what, about 3 weeks ago? So stayed tuned and we'll see.

That is your anxiety, not mine. Highly doubt that number. News reports tri county area. Many are from Coleman Prison.

Well, that's a nice little prison you've built for yourself. Enjoy!

You are absolutely right! Just because we want it to be gone doesn’t mean it is gone!

How easy is to break out the Coleman numbers so we can more accurately know a more realistic "resident result".

Not sure why basic statistical analysis is not used when reporting covid status......need to retain fear factor (:shrug:).

Not me.

There are so many doom-sayer posts daily on people out and about maskless. For months now, Every time someone drives around and sees people maskless at a Square, or any activity/ event scheduled - the next day there are posts predicting thousands of new cases and deaths - hospitals overwhelmed etc etc. If this were true, everyone here would be dead by now.

Sometimes it is hard to tell whether those posts are still harping on the subject just to continue spreading doom and gloom, or disappointed it hasnt happened?

Ever since this started people have been pre- occupied with the numbers! So what if there are 20, 30, etc. as long as there is one, there will be more!

They are not "experts". They are authoritarians who suppress any and all (especially other doctors) who share information contradictory to their agenda. COVID is easy to cure ... but not if the establishment prevents access to the necessary drugs. HCQ is a very effective treatment for COVID. But, this drug ... cheap and widely available until last year ... is suddenly suppressed. If it has no effect and is cheap and harmless (millions take it to this day in other counties), why it is being suppressed.

You know the answer.

Best thing I have read in this whole thread. IMO.. If your uncomfortable with being out in public stay home and be safe but don't think it is the responsibility of everyone else to create a situation where you can feel warm and fuzzy, you control your own safety.

yes! & i will repeat this again: it's been a YEAR people! how long do we let this charade go on? that is one seriously crafty virus to be able to live so long. i smell bs in there somewhere, & am sick of the double standard of 'educated' folk being able to eat, fly, visit anytime they want, (usually maskless) while the common folk must abide by any silly rule they can think of. :boxing2:

People are people. It's been about a year. From experience. So many people decide they need to lose weight. Whatever diet they go on they lose weight. How many stay on a diet for a year? Simple reason why most people take off the weight and put it back on.

Even the numbers. We see all the graphs etc. Reality we are not comparing the same things. We have yet to do a valid random study. In the beginning you needed to be showing symptoms to get a test done. Proper data would be a random study of thousands.

Due to gained knowledge, survival after a positive diagnosis has vastly improved.
Even that data is distorted. If a patient has covid but dies form a heart attack, it will be recorded as a death due to covid.

We want, we demand, we expect, perfection-unfortunately that is not reality.

Our days haven’t changed in the last year, unless business requests a mask be worn

how can someone be an expert on a situation thats only been around a short time? imo they will be studying this virus for years to come & still not know much. and when the death numbers are in question, it makes it worse for the state to prove. so many passed from other things, yet corona was on the death certificate. @ best, it's dishonest, to say the least

It is nice to see all the people who are writing messages here are starting to see the light. I have not changed a thing in my life this past year. I think if you are in good health and you get the virus you will be sick for a few days and then you will recover to lead a good life. I have friends who got the virus and now they are in good health. I had one friend who passed when she got the virus but she had some real bad problems with her health. So sad. I really think the government wants to scare the daylights out of us. Thank God we live in Florida who has a great Governor and did one heck of a job during the past year. Some day I will get the vaccine when I can take my wife and not have to wait a few hours in line. Until then I go out to eat indoors or outdoors 3 or 4 times a week, play golf every day and just not worry about anything. You all should do the same.

The government could not have designed a better thought control experiment if they tried (or did they?)

Now, the government, media, and terrorism organizations see just how easy it is to get the masses to think and act as one. Read my Invasions of the Body Snatchers article.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ht-control.jpg

So very true. The devil now knows how easy it is to control his followers.

What you say makes a lot of sense. I LOVE that word.....nitwit.

Thanks for addressing my concerns. You know, I totally agree with you on the masking when it is necessary and useful. You will never see me outside not near anyone with a mask on. Just not going to happen (except at Disney World, I guess). My bad for thinking you were against masking all together. Your stance makes sense to me now, knowing you are a physician. Sorry that I misunderstood.

I agree with you! People seem to forget to soon, It will probably get bad again before it gets better!

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Everyone has a "right" to die - some would rather wait a while before departing this world

I know, isn't it funny how ignorant they are...well soon there will be less of them.

I agree with everything you said here UNTIL that last line. Wash your mouth out with soap for that one!!!! LOL.

Still waiting for those "superspreader" effects?

I'll also wear a mask, but I wish the kitchen help wore masks.. reading about SARS containment in China enlightenment my social behavior! No Raw Doggin for this cowboy. I've had it once and prefer not to go thru that month of hell

You are Lucky ! Actually your boyfriend maybe one the Luckiest men here!

Do you wear a seat belt? Do you drive while intoxicated? Do you stop at red lights? Following those laws keep you safe and everyone else just like masks

Who told you that you can contract the virus after being inoculated? I have read several studies that not only do you have immunity (to existing and targeted virus) but that you will most likely not be able to transmit the infection to anyone else.
There is also a nasal spray being studied right now that has a 99.99% effective rate at destroying ANY virus that enters the nose.

Suit yourself, but I have no intention of wearing a mask other than in places that post a sign requiring a mask in order to shop there. Do not tell folks that they are receiving a shot to prevent them from catching the virus and then tell them that they can still catch it but they won't get very sick. Most of us in good health already have that ability.

Sorry, but like I said before, if you are too scared to venture forth into public without a hazmat suit, then stay home. The rest of us are not here to protect you. And I am not focusing this on any particular poster, but to anyone that wishes to live in fear of shadows.