There’s an ugly but thorough article on Delta in the Washington Post. Key points are that Delta’s “R-naught” is estimated by the CDC to be 5, compared to the estimated 2.5 of the original virus that emerged in Wuhan. This means that each case could infect 5 other unprotected people. Also important: clinicians are anecdotally reporting that people with Delta get sicker, quicker. These anecdotes need to be tempered with other anecdotes like those posted in Anne Laurie’s morning roundup, where one nurse reported that his patients tend to wait until they’re quite sick before coming to the hospital. Finally, there’s a report from Mesa County, CO, deep in Lauren Boebert’s district, where their 36% vaccination rate led to 900 Delta cases in a county with a population of 154,000, as well as the first pediatric death from COVID. (In contrast, if you peg the start of Delta in my home county around mid-July, we’re 5 times bigger than Mesa County and have barely hit 900 Delta cases, though God knows some of us are trying.)
What’s missing from the Post story is the context I added above — the size of Mesa County, how their COVID rate stacks up against areas with better vaccination rates, etc. Just machine-gunning context-free numbers doesn’t help anyone, especially this far into the COVID outbreak. The article does mention that Delta seems to burn out pretty quickly as it runs through the vulnerable population in an area, which may give school-aged kids some hope as they are rounded up and sent to school.
Still, what’s really bothering me about our current response is soft-pedaling masking, as well as the reluctance to move on from cloth masks. At the local grocery stores in the last couple of days, I’m seeing ~75% masking. This is pure voluntary compliance, which means that the masked are almost certainly vaccinated and symptom-free. In other words, lack of a mask is a pretty reliable asshole indicator. When masks were mandated, compliance was 98%+.
I know I’ve posted a couple of times on high quality masks — almost as much as I’ve posted on Andrew Cuomo — but it’s ridiculous that high quality masks (N-95, KN-95 and KF-94) are not being distributed and recommended instead of surgical or cloth masks. Scott Gottlieb, Trump’s former FDA director, recently recommended KN-95 masks or equivalent for adults (and I saw on Twitter somewhere, children). Yeah, he was Trump’s asshole, but even a stopped asshole is right once in a while.
We need mask mandates, now, and widespread distribution of higher-quality masks to school children, soon. We also need more vaccine mandates and more use of vaccine passports to enter places, but that’s not going to fight Delta today or in the next few weeks.
Also, a note on masks. If you are looking for a mask recommendation and find the KN-95 uncomfortable, try the KF-94, which is the Korean high-quality mask. They fold and refold flat, they’re shaped differently than KF-95’s, and they generally come in individual packages. I buy my KF-94s through Amazon, and this particular listing is the one I used, though I have no affiliation with the company. And, yeah, they’re expensive.
Edit: Cleek commented that there were some comments on that Amazon link saying the masks are toxic, etc. It looks like the seller (or some other seller) substituted some other mask for the KF-94 that I purchased via that link earlier. I’ll leave the link up because the pictured mask is the one I got – no smell, high quality. Just beware.
w_seattle
Indeed, getting out of the pandemic relies on limiting spread and variants everywhere, which means vaccination + masks/distancing. Another mask alternative comes from this Seattle company (https://www.purakamasks.com, no affiliation), which makes rated cloth masks and inserts that approach KF95-type performance. Moreover, I think actually achieving the fully rated performance with a KF95 is hard to do and would lead to a noticeable constraint on breathing.
eclare
I started using N95, and wow they are snug!
Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix
@w_seattle: I’ve used a mask with inserts made by Outdoor Research. The inserts are made of material that appeared to me to be similar to a vacuum cleaner filter. In this particular mask, keeping the insert in place was a chore. Also, the KF-94, KN-95 and N-95 masks are all stiff enough to leave some space between your mouth/nose and the filtration material. The insert mask was softer and the filtration material was closer to the nose/mouth. Therefore, it was more likely to get damp from breathing than the KN-95/N-95/KF-94 masks that I’ve worn. So that’s my experience, for what it’s worth.
The Moar You Know
Two things:
1:
I see shit on the news from this asshole every day How the fuck is he getting oxygen? I don’t even know who the current FDA director is, much less see them getting into the media, although frankly with their inexcusable dropping of masking recommendations a few months back maybe that’s for the best.
2. (related to blockquote) kids – not young teens but kids – can’t wear N95/KN95s effectively. Their faces are just too small. The whole point of the N/KN/P series of masks is that they seal ALL THE WAY around your face, from your nose down to your jaw. It’s been an unholy bitch trying to find some that fit my wife properly, and I’m one of the (relatively) few people in this country who’s had to work in a respirator for a living, so I know both where to find a selection and how to fit them to people. Trying to fit kids with them is going to be a waste of money and a false sense of safety.
A N/KN/P series mask that doesn’t fit your face 100% is literally no better than one of those surgical masks and a lot more expensive
ETA: don’t get me wrong, mask the fuck up with whatever you’ve got. I never stopped and I do it if I step out the front door. There are no “safe zones” in my world save for my house.
Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix
@eclare: Yes, that’s what makes them effective. A real N-95 is really snug because the bands are high-quality elastic, fit over your head, and pull back hard.
A good compromise for longer-term wear is a KN-95 with earloops or a KF-94 (which I believe only comes with earloops). One of the virtues of the KF-94 that I linked is that the earloops are adjustable. The earloop masks just can’t pull as tightly as the ones where the bands go over the head.
Scout211
We use these two types of N95 and KN95 masks:
3M Aura N95
The 3M Aura masks are also sold at Home Depot, but there is limited supply.
Powecom KN95
The Powecom masks are also sold through https://bonafidemasks.com/
Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix
@The Moar You Know:
My wife has a small face and has to be fitted for N-95s at work, and the small size works for her. I wasn’t aware that they didn’t make them smaller for kids, good to know. Serves me right for listening to Gottlieb.
Cacti
Every Dem needs to start referring to Delta as the DeSantis variant.
When a new one pops up, name it after another Republican governor. Rinse and repeat.
Dems need to get better at going after the low hanging messaging fruit.
The Moar You Know
@Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix: It’s been hard to even find the small ones; I hope that production on those is increasing.
w_seattle
@Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix: I haven’t used the Outdoor Research version, but I think Puraka likely makes a better and different mask and filter. It’s their specialty and I think this is reflected by the technical details on their website. I haven’t had much issue with wearing their masks except with exercise.
Tim C.
Me, How fast can we get a vaccine for kids under 12? Under 5? It matters a lot as Elementary Schools are going to have the highest concentration of victims from families of people not being fucking insane about things.
Benw
Two things: 1. require a vaccine for in-person school this fall for 12+ kids, same as any of the other vaccines that are required, and 2. require proof of vaccination to buy alcohol. Fuck their feelings
VeniceRiley
@Tim C.: End of the year, I heard. Trials are happening now to determine safety, dosage and efficacy, and one shot or 2, etc.
eclare
@Four Seasons Total Landscaping mistermix: I don’t see me wearing a mask for longer than about thirty minutes because my world has shrunk so much, so I’ll go with snug over a more comfortable mask. Thanks for the info!
ETA> Thirty minutes at a time.
Tim C.
@VeniceRiley: I know I should be more patient… but the local wackjobs are going to infect my kid at school, I know it.
eclare
@Benw: Proof of vaccination to buy booze…I like that idea!
cmorenc
My daughter lives in Grand Junction, Co (county seat of Mesa Co) – and while visiting her just a week ago, she remarked that even pre-COVID, Mesa County had a disproportionate concentration of anti-vaxxers. BTW, she is a physician who’s lived there several years, and so her familiarity with vaxxing attitudes there is more than just casually anecdotal. On my recent visit, I also noticed that masking was practically nonexistent = whereas back here in Raleigh, NC the trend has dramatically changed back to >50% people masking in grocery stores over the week or so while I was gone. I will be returning to Grand Junction for another visit mid-September, and it will be interesting to see whether the recent news about the substantially higher transmissibility of delta-COVID has motivated any notable change in masking practices in Grand Junction.
Old School
@VeniceRiley:
@Tim C.:
I had seen a mid-winter estimate for under-12 vaccinations, so I’ve assumed this school year is mostly shot.
If my kids are able to get shots by mid-January, that translates into the end of March for being fully vaccinated. I doubt all of their classmates will be in as much of a rush.
laura
Recommending the AirQueen nano mask- the fit is really, really good. It’s very easy breathing, doesn’t fog my glasses, great filtration, can be sanitized by a spritz of alcohol and doesn’t touch your mouth or nose per the design.
Here in Sacramento the delta variant is raging. A married couple in our friends group are convalescing with breakthrough Covid and describe it as “really fucking sick and awful” they were sick and symptomatic within 48 hours of notice of exposure, but initially negative via home test kits. He tested positive at urgent care that night and she did too. I spent the day with her just before they were exposed and am fortunate and grateful to have dodged a bullet. I’m masked in every public setting for the foreseeable future.
Tim C.
@Old School: I got an eleven year old, so he gets the first shot as soon as the HMO says he can in December. I’m hoping they relent a little before his calendar birthday.
My almost 10 year old is the most in need.
Wyatt Salamanca
Rand Paul has ascended to the upper atmosphere of all-out batshit craziness:
h/t https://www.mediaite.com/news/they-cant-arrest-all-of-us-rand-paul-implores-defiance-of-covid-mandates-from-petty-tyrants-in-wild-rant/
Mart
I have a big nose. I use a 3M N95 vented (non-surgical) mask. Has a heavy duty “M” shaped nose clamp that over the years I found was the only one that sealed over my nose. So I started to collect them under my hard hat. Since the masks are vented I wear a heavy cloth mask over it to protect others. I have worn them for over eight hours in nasty ass dusty conditions in 100 degree heat. Sometimes on 15 flights of stairs have to collect my breath, but that happens without a mask. Really don’t get the restricted breathing complaints. Was able to buy them at cov.care who have a large selection of high quality masks. Ordered some during the last peak and thought they were scammers since order never came. They informed me were filling orders for first responders first and my order did eventually arrive.
DB11
I posted this on the tail end of the morning thread, but it seems more relevant here:
Respokare makes an 5-layer, antiviral N95 mask (using copper and zinc in the middle layer to inactivate viral particles) that could provide some additional protection — a good option for when you have to be out-and-about amongst the great unwashed.
I’m considering a cross-country flight next month for a family memorial, and if I decide to go I’m planning on getting some of these to use on the plane:
https://n95maskco.com/collections/n95-masks/products/respokare-n95-face-mask-5-pack
It has a soft internal rubber gasket for the nose bridge (as well as the standard metal bridge) to really seal well at that most-difficult-to-fit juncture. I haven’t got these yet, but I have used a valved N95 mask with such a gasket, and it makes a huge difference in the effectiveness of the seal.
Benw
@eclare: MAGAs will have to hang around outside liquor stores and offer vaccinated people $20 to buy them some beers!
swiftfox
While Gottlieb was appointed by Trump, he did leave in August 2019, probably for the money (he is on the board of directors for Pfizer). The percentage of his correct statements matches Fauci. The only problem I have is when the idiot Kramer acts as his cheerleader (“Dr. Fauci should listen to Scott Gottlieb”).
SFAW
@Cacti:
Driving around this AM, listening to NPR discuss today’s IPCC report, I was ruminating about the ills directly and indirectly traceable to Fox News (et al.) and Rupert Murdoch. They, and he, have been very successful at turning the stupid in this country (and others, vis-a-vis Murdoch) up to 11. This has led to myriad problems, including roadblocking global warming mitigation, encouraging sedition and insurrection, and helping push the country into war (Iraq, for example), the response to COVID. The insanity and treason* of the Rethuglican Partei is no small part of that.
It got me to thinking that maybe Rupert (and Lachlan, I guess) should be tried for Crimes Against Humanity. They’d (probably) never be convicted, but I’d like to see someone put the fear of god into them.
* Various lawyers here have said (or indicated) Treason only applies when there is an active war with a declared enemy. I expect it makes me a Bad Person for responding “Do it anyway.”
Ruckus
I use Well Before masks. Buy them online, N95, they meet Federal standards for the N95, use the same material for the surgical masks and have around the ear and around the neck. Price is good. I am happy with the quality, price and delivery. I believe they have a US plant, they are a Chinese company.
Starfish
@Tim C.: They have said not until midwinter.
With the trials for younger kids, they are trying to collect 4 months of data rather than the two they used for older ones.
Ruckus
@SFAW:
Two bad humans then.
gene108
I’ve been using three layer cloth masks and four layer disposable surgical masks.
At this point, I’ll go with double masking.
CaseyL
Got my 10-pack of NIOSH N95 masks from Home Depot, which are also 5-layer masks but don’t have the metallic filters. I also still have a lot of surgical masks left from the early days of the pandemic, as well as cloth ones that apparently aren’t of much use so I shouldn’t keep using them, or double them up with a surgical mask.
I’m fully-vaxxed, and live/work in an area that takes the pandemic seriously, so feel reasonably safe for day to day life. But my autumn trip to Maine (assuming I still take it) I’ll definitely want the N95s while at the airport and on the plane, there and back.
raven
@CaseyL:
cloth ones that apparently aren’t of much use
Is this true or what?
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Meanwhile….
dmsilev
@Ruckus: That’s where I got my disposable masks from as well. Some of my colleagues did droplet permeability measurements on a bunch of different mask brands, and WellBefore tested out as quite effective.
Uncle Omar
@cmorenc: I’m familiar with Grand Junction and Mesa County. Early this year the Republican County Commissioners issued a statement essentially dumping all requirements regarding masking and social distancing. There are enough howling mad anti-vax and anti-mask loons that the school board is afraid to require masks as school starts today. The only places in town requiring masks are medical facilities and even they get pushback from the crazies.
There are a lot of people who “wear” a mask by putting on but over their respective chins and occasional pull it up over their mouths if they’re trying to look compliant. (While they are “mouth-breathers” in the colloquial, they might not be in the literal.) These are the same people who in states requiring that motorcyclists wear helmets strap the helmets to their knees to own the cops.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Wyatt Salamanca:
However, I’m willing to try….
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
“Killin’ Memaw to own them libruls….”
Cacti
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
Greenwald parroting the Republican party line?
Shocked, I tell you.
cain
@Cacti:
They are too busy trying to actually do the business of governing – most of these people aren’t marketing type people. We need to find someone who can balance both so that we can go after them exactly as you say.
VeniceRiley
@Ruckus: Nice website there. Lots of discounts and large variety of types and kids sizes!
https://wellbefore.com/collections/masks
Starfish
@Uncle Omar: The Douglas County school board meeting was such a mess. It seemed like my spouse’s parents were surprised at the number of people not wearing masks. We were mostly outdoors if anywhere at all; and in general, people here have stopped masking outdoors.
cain
@laura:
I assume this is despite being vaccinated?
cmorenc
On another previous trip to Grand Junction in fall of 2020 at the height of COVID and masking everywhere else (even in GJ a clear majority were then-compliant in stores), nonetheless at e.g. Home Depot, which had plainly posted at its doors that masks were required for entry, I noticed a substantial minority of folks striding in maskless with defiant body language against anyone who dare challenge them (which store staff didn’t).
hueyplong
Greenwald’s just pissed because he thinks he has intellectual property rights on smugness and superiority and he senses infringement everywhere.
Percysowner
Lucky me. I live in Ohio. Our Governor, Mike DeWine, a man I disagree with on almost everything, was smart and proactive when COVID hit. He locked down the state. He ordered mask wearing. The head of the Department of Health went on TV every day to warn people of the dangers of COVID.
Then the backlash hit. The head of the DoH was Jewish and ended up with people on her front lawn, yelling racial slurs and threatening her and her children. She eventually resigned.
Next the state legislature passed a law forbidding the Governor or the Department of Health to order shutdown, masking or requiring vaccination. They also forbade municipalities, townships, counties, etc. from implementing mask requirements or proof vaccinations. They are planning to come back and pass legislation preventing businesses from requiring masks for employees or customers and again, preventing businesses from requiring employees be vaccinated. The Governor vetoed everything, but the legislature overrode the veto. Ohio, soon to be the next Florida!
I wear my KN95 masks everywhere, even though I’m vaccinated. I have a 3 year old granddaughter and until she is vaccinated, I’ll stay masked as as far from crowded places as I can. Other than that, I’m stuck watching my state Slouching Towards, if not Bethlehem, then at least plague.
frosty
@Scout211: My local Home Depot had at least 15 boxes of 3M Aura N95 masks. I bought 2 boxes a week or so ago. It’s worth checking your local store.
Lowes didn’t have anything comparable.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Goddammit, completely ON topic, I just stopped into my favorite street diner for lunch. At the next table, I first got treated to the smug explanation by some douche about his affair to some casual business acquaintance. It was amusing. They were replaced by a pair of late 50-something men who were prattling about not going to things requiring masks, because they would be breathing their own CO2. I noisily put my mask on in their direction when I left.
cain
@Percysowner:
It’s funny how quickly they descend to fascism – while simultaneously talking about freedom.
they are taking quite the risk though because if there is a more variants that makes it even worse – only those who wear masks and are vaccinated are going to survive.
Never mind that this is going to keep coming at you – you can keep getting infected and if the first time you get it doesn’t spur you to get vaccinated – a new variant will come again and hammer you again.
KrackenJack
This is a perfectly timed thread. Just spent 3 hours in my over the ear KN-95 mask. It was painful. Plus I have long flight in November. So I’m back on the market for one with adjustable ear loops or behind the head. Looks like Well Before is out of stock, but I have time.
Earl
I’m actually wearing a mask as little as I can get away with. I’ve been fully vaxxed since May; stayed home for 15 months and wore n95s everywhere for the last round; but I have no accepted that I’m going to be repeatedly exposed until I get delta. Just like chicken pox, I’m ready to get it over with.
Since nobody is serious about the mandates that get us to 90+% vaccine coverage, we’re all getting this. Or are going to be repeatedly exposed at minimum.
Soprano2
@Percysowner: Whatever happened to letting the free market decide? I thought businesses were supposed to be able to do what they want. I guess that only applies to things Republicans agree with them doing, huh? ???
piratedan
@frosty: that could be that its percolated down into my awareness that Home Depot is run by a wingnut and Lowes (to my understanding) is not.
Hence life saving masks go unpurchased at HD as a statement to “own the Libs”, whereas the location that is not staffed by people who work for loons can’t keep common sense items on the shelf.
Not saying that is THE explanation, but just a best guess.
Betty Cracker
@Earl: I am still actively trying to avoid getting COVID by limiting exposure to others and wearing a mask when I grocery shop, etc. But the governor seems determined to ensure that every Floridian is exposed repeatedly, and I’m starting to feel like getting infected is inevitable too. So goddamn infuriating.
lowtechcyclist
@SFAW:
I’ll join you in being a Bad Person. The January 6 insurrection was an attempt to overthrow the legal government of the United States through violent means. I can’t see why it matters whether anything was ‘declared.’ They were Americans who made war on the United States. Seems to fit the definition of treason in the first clause of Article III, Section 3 like a glove.
And re Covid, Congress could (and IMHO should) pass a resolution stating that we’re in a state of war with the SARS-Cov-2 virus. That would take care of the ‘declared’ part, and the politicians and ‘news’ channels that continued to be purveyors of vaccine, mask, and other Covid misinformation, leading to American deaths at the hands of the viral enemy, would be aiding the enemy, fitting the next clause of Article III, Section 3. Treason again.
Peale
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: If your own CO2 is deadly, imagine what my CO2 is like? Actually, he probably thinks he breathes out C204, because he’s just better than others.
Kelly
Home Depot founder Ken Langone is a prominent wingnut and RW money contributor. He’s retired and Home Depot is just another soulless corporation no different than Lowes.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@piratedan:
The only way that would make any sense is if they didn’t stock masks at all, purchasing is not made at the lowly staff level.
Full disclosure: I’m one of the lowly staff.
lowtechcyclist
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
You’re braver than I am. My wife and I still aren’t ready to dine at indoor restaurants, and I doubt we will be anytime soon – no way to mask while eating, so we’d be unmasked in a room full of unmasked strangers. The very thought of it gives me the willies.
Another Scott
Apparently there was a plan early in the pandemic – April 2020 – for the USPS to deliver 5 masks to every household. (The story came out in September 2020.) TFG’s White House killed it, of course. I wouldn’t be surprised if DeJoy was involved – he took office May 6, 2020.
DeJoy gotta go too, also too.
Cheers,
Scott.
Gvg
@piratedan: unfortunately, Lowe’s ownership is also wingnut from my understanding. Home Depot’s masks get purchased, just not sold out. Earlier in the pandemic they would only sell them to healthcare workers, now supplies caught up.
I tried the N 95s, but they were too big for my face. I am told their are 2 sizes, but I don’t know how to find the smalls. The Kn95s were recommended. I just bought some and they seem better. The cloth masks I have don’t seal tight enough for real protection.
My sister the doctor, just unregistered my nephew. School starts tomorrow. He will be home schooled by grandparents for at least 9 weeks. She was so unhappy and was saying it was inevitable he would catch it. She didn’t want to ask grandparents to do this again after a year and a half. The facts are she has imposed on them for less important reasons and was trying to be better. Our mother was trying not to interfere so she didn’t say anything to offer. When I realized, I had to tell them why she hadn’t asked. So they offered again. My sister lost a doctor friend about 2 weeks ago to Covid. She was pretty depressed. Lots of nurses out sick.
JPL
@Kelly: That one is, but Arthur Blank is supporting Rock the Vote
trollhattan
@Wyatt Salamanca:
One wonders who “we” is in Rand Paul’s little noggin. “I contain multitudes! Hey multitudes, gather ’round. Multitudes?”
trollhattan
@JPL: Good, that’s good. Especially given what’s happening in Georgia.
Scout211
@frosty:
I ordered two boxes from Amazon and they have shipped. I found one 10 pack at our local Home Depot but the 10 pack is not available at any Home Depot stores within 100 miles of my location now. A few have the 3 pack on the shelf, though.
I actually ordered the ones from Amazon weeks ago because of the fires and smoke around here in NorCal. Regular masks do not filter the particulates in the air from smoke. Little did I know that I might need them again for COVID. But now I have enough for both.
frosty
@piratedan: HD is no longer owned by the wingnut. I did a little internet research and they both have PACs that contribute to Republicans. So I’ve made my peace, I’ll shop at whichever carries what I’m looking for.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Peale:
Fact is, the only potential danger is if someone is already in a state of respiratory distress, and even that requires some other extreme factors.
FULL DISCLOSURE – when we were on our Vietnam trip, there was a wicked little respiratory thing kicking around the first week or so. When we got to Saigon, air quality was really bad by way of particulates, so those who still suffered suffered hard. One lady had been particularly hammered, and was nearly collapsed while we were in a crowded tarmac shuttle to getting a flight to Phnom Penh. I muscled my way back to her shouting “xin loi” (excuse me) to all the Vietnamese in the way, and took her mask off when I realized it was filthy and affecting airflow – leaving her a lot of excess CO2. Plus, she was in her 80s.
But like I said, that’s at the extreme of things.
trollhattan
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
Right? That dude obviously caught his obesity from some dude standing next to him at the bar, a week ago Thursday.
JPL
Apparently grand imp has to wear a mask to his school which starts on Wednesday. Their policy had been over two, but since Delta is so prevalent in GA, the age was lowered to include two. He’s still having difficulties with the over the nose part though.
BTW Someone I know, was promoted while on maternity leave from HD, and just recently received another promotion a few weeks away from her second maternity leave. If you are a nursing mom who has to travel for work, they use a service called Milk stork. The original owners of HD are not involved in day to day operations.
Another Scott
@cain: I caught a snippet of something on one of the NPR radio shows on the weekend.
“Why did the Germans keep fighting past 1943-1944 when it was clear that they were going to lose? They did it for their comrades, not because of ideology, etc., …”
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the same with the most of the insanity these days. It’s tribal, at a very personal, very local level. If they can’t reinforce each other via personal interactions, the insanity weakens.
Cheers,
Scott.
trollhattan
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
In the situation you describe (filtering airborne particulates) masks with one-way exhaust valves are called for. Not what we need for covid but I see them used for that anyway.
Not that that would “fix” a clogged mask, though. I’m glad to have a mask supply handy now for wildfire smoke season. A new summer-fall tradition!
dmsilev
The U.S. military will mandate Covid-19 vaccine for troops.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@lowtechcyclist:
We’re trying to live out such normality as is possible. Wife’s now thinking that it will take her at least five years to rebuild her career after summer 2022, and we’ve taken a massive income and lifestyle hit.
We have a Greek trip planned for September (our only one this year), and that’s because our flights are free and stays are cheap. I figure most on the planes will be vaccinated and masked, safer than filthy courthouses and groceries.
Those who say “businesses can be ‘rebuilt’ (whatever that means) and we just have to shut everything down in order to save every life possible” have zero understanding of the wreckage their particular advocacy is wreaking to hope and aspirations. My answer to them is “prepare to start writing checks, big ones”. I always note that the policymakers and advocates who talk about “tough choices” never have to bear the consequences of those choices. We’ve literally done everything we’re supposed to, and are getting crushed.
germy
@dmsilev:
louc
NBC News has an article about the best KN-95 masks. I was going to pick one of these until seeing your excellent suggestions.
RaflW
I’ve been pretty happy with some FFP2s I got last winter. I can’t say if Guangzhou Powecom Labor Insurance Supplies Co., LTD is a reliable manufacturer, but I like the fit, it folds easily for a pocket time when I’m outdoors, and I cannot stand ear loops so the behind the head straps are a must (my glasses fall off my face if I wear an ear loop mask any tighter than a lax surgical design – I guess I have floppy ears).
I’ve worn the mask up to 5 hours at a time (traveling) and while the bridge of my nose eventually gets a little annoyed, I’ll gladly do this. I could be wrong, but I’m of the belief that this type of masking helps protect me as well as you. I’m selfish like that.
lowtechcyclist
@frosty:
I’m lucky, I’ve got an Ace Hardware about five minutes from my house. I don’t buy anything at HD unless the local Ace doesn’t carry it. (The nearest Lowe’s is 45+ minutes away, so they’re right out.)
If I’m in the middle of a weekend project and discover there’s yet one more thing I need, I can run and get it, and be back to work on my project, in under 20 minutes.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@germy:
Well, you know, he’s one of them…
Jim Appleton
If you’d told me two years ago that today we’d be comparing notes on protective face masks on an almost top ten thousand blog …
germy
Upstate NY is not doing well.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@lowtechcyclist:
We cleaned the garage this weekend. Discovered a lot of things that I picked up here and there to finish projects. Paint rollers, rolling trays, wrenches, sockets, scrapers exist at my house in such abundance that 8 could have a nice little flea market stall.
There might have been some scolding of some guy for not bothering to find things he already had before buying new ones.
BretH
We have a number of masks from DNA Masks – they’re $20 each but we decided that having quality masks always available was worth a lot. So we have maybe 12 of them so there’s always a few freshly washed.
They’re comfortable, have a head strap and ear loops and when well fitted will pull towards your face when inhaling.
https://dnahealthcarestore.com/collections/all-facemasks
Sad though, to put on the halloween decorated masks we bought last October thinking here we are almost a year later.
evodevo
@Percysowner: Yep.. Mr. Evodevo and I run an antique store in northern KY on the border with OH. We implemented a mask mandate 4 Saturdays ago, when the positive test levels started rising. All the defiant anti-maskers we’ve had to throw out of the store are from OH so far….one woman went back to her car, came back in wearing her mask, and bitched about DeWine and our gov Beshear the entire time (with us occasionally interjecting anti-nonsense comments), but still had her mask on when she left LOL. So far, we’re doing more business this year than in the past several (not counting 2020), and I am wondering if it is because our insistence on masks makes the other customers feel comfortable shopping in a sanity zone LOL
Another Scott
If you haven’t seen XKCD today, click on over.
It’s almost like scientists are able to make accurate predictions about the future of Anthropogenic Global Warming…
:-/
Cheers,
Scott.
Nicole
@Starfish:
@Tim C.:
It might (MIGHT) be a little sooner for ages 5-11; Pfizer anticipates releasing results of trials for that age group in September and will apply for EUA then. I don’t know how long EUA approval takes, though.
Here’s hoping, as that would cover most school-aged children.
cleek
be sure to read the comments on those Amazon masks!
trollhattan
@dmsilev:
Private Godbody: “I quit, you can’t make me get that vaccine!”
Sergeant Givesafuck: “You mean go AWOL? I’ll start the paperwork.”
trollhattan
@Another Scott:
The IPCC report is full-bore hair-on-fire. I’m sure Exxon will take note and begin acting responsibly.
bnateAZ
@Wyatt Salamanca: Rand’s neighbor needed to finish the job. Such a garbage being. I can’t even call him human any more that’s how angry I am.
dmsilev
Takeaways: 9 percent of American adults are Florida Man. There is, apparently, a substantial trans-Atlantic Goose Gap.
CaseyL
@raven: It’s what I’ve been hearing, because cloth masks tend to fit much more loosely, particularly after washing/re-use.
Delta particles are smaller than Alpha, which means (I think) they float on air longer and further, enabling Delta to be more transmissible. Also your mask needs to fit more tightly to keep them out.
It sounds weird when I write it out like that, but that seems to be the consensus.
Ken
“Remember, that’s DNA Masks, because we aren’t a supervillain front!”
Scout211
A good explanation of the dangers of breathing wildfire smoke and why many of us are stocking up on the N95 particulate masks. I also purchased a home air purifier with a HEPA filter and an additional replacement filter for toxins.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wildfire-smoke-exposure-health_l_610aa964e4b0552883e823f4
Ken
@dmsilev: It reminds me of the old joke about the Chihuahua killing the Doberman — by getting caught in its throat.
CaseyL
@raven: PS – I think double masking, a cloth and a surgical, might be OK.
I’ve been pretty lax: wearing cloth masks, often times just grabbing them up where I left them in the car. I need to be more diligent.
I’m also enrolled in a post-vaccination study at UW, to see how protected people are long-term. This week I go in for a Covid test, the first since I tested negative way back in the early months of the pandemic. I was sniffly-sneezy a few days ago (and I mean: sneezing a LOT) plus headache and sore throat (both gone now) so I’m a little concerned.
piratedan
@frosty: cool, thanks to everyone for the informational update on ownership.
sempronia
Posted earlier on a thoroughly dead thread that the California Department of Public Health has given all health care workers a vaccine mandate – you have to get your second shot of mRNA or first J+J shot by Sept 30. They still leave a religious and medical exemption, which is a big loophole, but I’m surprised that there’s been so little reaction to this news so far.
sab
@CaseyL: My tie-behind-the-head two layer cotton knit cloth masks have a pocket to insert a filter between the two cloth layers. I think I’ll insert coffee filters in the pocket and use those for now.
sab
@Ken: My pitbull let chihuahuas ride around the yard hanging from her ear, and now one ear is a bit damaged.
JPL
@raven: OT Congrats on the new addition to your household.
Although I have filters to insert, I haven’t felt the need to use them. Any shopping I do is finished before nine, when the stores are less crowded. I do wear a mask though. Just be careful.
sdhays
@Nicole: There was also something in the last couple of weeks about the FDA wanting an even larger test pool, so those results released in September might not be enough for the FDA to go ahead. At least that was my take-away when they made that announcement.
WhatsMyNym
@cleek:
Yes read the reviews, but take some with a big grain of salt (there may be no link to that person’s health issues)
ETA: make sure you got the real product, not some cheap knockoff from another country.
trollhattan
PG&E: “Nope, nothing to see here. Let’s move on to the recovery.”
Ceci n est pas mon nym
I’ve also been getting KF-94’s through Amazon. Hard to sort through the dizzying array of options. I went through a couple of 10-packs of black ones for first re-entering society post-vax. Anticipating that I might be out and about more in coming months, I just ordered a larger pack of “3D masks”. The flat ones I have tend to get sucked in slightly on the inhale sometimes, so I’m going to see if the 3D’s are a little more comfortable.
I belong to a chorus which disbanded rehearsals in March 2020. The director has been surveying how people feel about resuming this fall. I tentatively said yes, but I’ll wait to see how they do with requiring vaccination, distancing, masking, etc, and how bad Delta is in PA by then.
It’s a largely over-60 crowd, so they’re pretty cautious. And spooked about the chorus in Seattle who was decimated by Covid early in the pandemic.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@WhatsMyNym: If you want to be depressed about the state of humanity, check out “crocheted masks” on Etsy. Like this one.
They get lots of comments on how breathable and comfy they are.
geg6
@lowtechcyclist:
The term you and SFAW are looking for is sedition. Sedition is the crime of revolting or inciting revolt against government. However, because of the broad protection of free speech under the FIRST AMENDMENT, prosecutions for sedition are rare. Nevertheless, sedition remains a crime in the United States under 18 U.S.C.A. when the speech indicates an imminent threat.
Mary G
I ordered some N95s for when I have to go out, which will be seldom.
Ken
@trollhattan: “And you can trust PG&E, because it confessed to killing those 84 people in 2018, and would a dishonest company do that?”
karen marie
If you’re Amazon averse, I bought KN-95 masks directly from United Medical several months ago. Unfortunately, right now they’re sold out but you could check for backordering.
Bex
@cain: Heard the other day that a person I know had had the lambda variant and spent 19 days in hospital. He’s not young and has underlying conditions, but I’d be surprised if he had not been vaccinated.
WhatsMyNym
@trollhattan:
Left out a bit…
Falling Diphthong
In March, lack of a mask was an asshole indicator.
But over June and July we reset the norms. I’d argue that a number of those unmasked people have been fully vaccinated since around the end of June, and are not concerned about the Delta (or Lambda) variant enough to have returned to voluntary masking at the store.
James E Powell
Just now on CNN, the anchorperson – IDK her name, sub for Tapper – interviewing Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University about anti-vaxxers. She pointed out that the whole medical world is saying get the vaccine, but “politicians” and “lawmakers” are spreading disinformation.
She would not say Republicans, she would not say FOX, she used deliberately vague words. Why do you suppose she did that?
Until the press/media say Republicans are causing this, Republicans will not get blamed by the massive, low information public. Until Republicans are blamed, they will not change their behavior. This chaos is going to get spread by the “both sides” press/media until most people just assume it’s the fault of whoever they didn’t vote for last time.
Ksmiami
@Wyatt Salamanca: we’ll May he get it again and drop dead for all I care
IdahoGoatGirl
I recently purchased masks from Amazon, they are N95’s made by Kimberly-Clark. They are very comfortable and have the head straps. There are 50 masks for $55.48, I am having trouble figuring out how to provide a link. I chose the Kimberly-Clark brand as it is a name I know from their other products.
I made about 400 cloth masks to give away at the beginning of all this and the lastest version I made had a pocket to add a filter. What I liked to use for the filter is the non-woven polypropylene material which you can purchase at Amazon as well. It is the same material used in the reuseable grocery bags, so you can cut one of those up if you just need a couple. I made double layer cotton with a double layer of polypropylene material. You can wash the polypropylene a few times, but avoid the dryer. That being said, I have a pile of my cloth masks with inserts around here and we are using the N95’s on the rare occasions we leave home.
Soprano2
@Ceci n est pas mon nym: We had choir last year, with masks and spaced on the stage. It was a weird experience, to say the least, but as far as they know there were no infections from being in choir. We know a lot more now than we did when that choir in Seattle was infected.
JPL
@James E Powell: Truth be known, she didn’t have to say Republicans when talking about anti-vaxxers , or anti-maskers.
Another Scott
ObOpenThread. So, I’m doing some reading and see:
Yes!! It’s important to keep reality in mind when doing calculations!!1 They are an important tool, but reality has the last word.
:-)
That is all.
Cheers,
Scott.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Another Scott: “I reject your reality and substitute my own!”
Citizen Alan
@Bex: How can we be up to Lambda?!? What the hell happened to Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, and Kappa?!?
On a related note, how weird is it that can remember the Greek Alphabet from being a fraternity pledge in 1987 but not half my current passwords?
MomSense
I’m just really angry at the unvaccinated. We all need to be able to get on with our lives and that requires people to be responsible and considerate – seemingly impossible for too many Republicans. I’m also processing the IPCC report which is devastating.
Ksmiami
@MomSense: I didn’t want to get out of bed after reading it.. oh well Crows will take over next I guess
MomSense
@Ksmiami:
Same. ?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Ksmiami:
Cole’s already on that.
James E Powell
@JPL:
I guess we disagree – courteously. The message is “Republicans are making this pandemic worse and making it last longer because they want chaos.
We have to say Republicans and we have to use their electeds’ names.
Mallard Filmore
@Percysowner:
Oh, what I could do with this …
“Nudity required! Clothes forbidden! Anyone properly masked up is exempt.”
JPL
@James E Powell: I didn’t hear that segment, but I have seen her interviewing conservatives before, and she is prepared and tough. I hope that I’m right, and most people can understand the bullshit that the republicans are spreading
Maybe I’m just naive.
mrmoshpotato
@Percysowner:
Oh hooray! These murderous motherfuckers!
James E Powell
@JPL:
It’s possible I am overreacting because I almost never watch news, but I want them to say Republicans, not politicians or lawmakers or congress or the other terms that allow for a “both sides” interpretation.
I fervently hope you’re right, but Republicans have been spreading their bullshit without being held accountable for it most of my life.
Spanky
Oh look! Another idiot sucking up msm bandwidth:
raven
My bride had a scare and the test came back negative. . .not the rapid one.
O. Felix Culpa
@raven: Congrats on the negative test and positive doggie results!
NotMax
Mentioned again for those (such as your truly) who do not care for ear loops. While there are specifically created loop extenders which turn those type of masks into the strap behind the head type, and while they might not appeal to everyone, have found these, repurposed, to be useful (as well as for all intents and purposes infinitely adjustable), and cost next to nothing. No need to unVelcro them when removing the mask, just set ’em and forget ’em.
debbie
@raven:
They were and then they weren’t.
My doctor requires paper masks. If you walk in with only cloth, they’ll give you a paper mask to use with.
debbie
I get my masks from United Medical Supply. Unfortunately, they seem to be out of stock on everything except Level 1 masks.
gene108
@MomSense:
There’s not much to process in the IPCC report. We squandered the last 30 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the bill’s coming due.
On the bright side, with global birth rates declining, we should see a decrease in human population in 50 to 100 years, which should put less pressure on the environment.
Africa is the only continent that’s experiencing high birth rates still. Invest vigorously in family planning there and population growth will reverse faster.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
@Soprano2: What was your rehearsal space like? Also masked and spread out I presume?
Bishop Bag
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Hey Bill, haven’t been following the site much, but about a week ago you mentioned coming up to the Alabama Hills to photograph the Persiad? Meteor showers…
The Owens Valley is completely full of smoke now from the Dixie Fire. I would not recommend coming up here if you are planning on doing any star or meteor photography for the time being. We are currently unable to see either the Sierra or the White Mountains from Bishop.
Ksmiami
@?BillinGlendaleCA: hmm I guess the term “murder of crows” is apt.
trollhattan
More dipshittery.
Perhaps goes without saying that Covid galloped through the state prisons. Mom of one of my kid’s friends is a nurse at Folsom Prison (no idea if she plays guitar) and dreaded going there before there was a vaccine, because covid patients were all she dealt with.
StringOnAStick
I’m from Mess County (Grand Jct) and never plan on returning. It was red neck when I was a kid and worse now. I have two wonderful friends who still live there, last spring he tried to buy parts at an irrigation supplier and they refused to serve him because he was wearing a mask.
my RW Bircher dad still lives there, marinating in FOX all day at age 89. It’s pretty clear that he lied about getting vaccinated and thinks his better than N95 cartridge mask will save him. My evangelical wing nut sister the retired nurse keeps an eye on him, and I’ll get she’s not vaccinated either thanks to FOX and church. I can’t even talk to him anymore because his FOX intake means he’s always on an anger hair trigger (more than usual, which was always bad).
He’s planning on flying to CA to help a nephew convince his very senile older brother to agree to a home, but he hates his brother because he’s a lifelong liberal and these trips focus incredible abuse on the older brother. I figure delta is going to sort this out and at this point and after decades of his being a narcissistic bully to everyone, I just don’t care anymore.
James E Powell
@JPL:
Following up. I watched Wolf Blitzer and he & the reporter doing the story made it plain: Republicans are making things worse in order to pander to Trump’s base.
Thank you Wolf & the other guy. I unclenched my fist.
JPL
@James E Powell:?
Brachiator
Coming late to another great thread.
I am not certain that “higher quality “masks” are that big a deal.
I was looking at some old, pre-pandemic stories about how about a quarter of the population refused to get flu vaccines, typically for stupid reasons. And so with Covid, health officials may need to deal with the reality that a certain fraction of the population will be unreasonable vaccine resisters and no amount of coercion or persuasion will work for them.
StringOnAStick
@Brachiator: That’s likely true. That means that sooner or later all of us will get it because these refusers means it’s never not going to be out there simmering somewhere.
I’m going to try to put catching it off for as long as possible, in the hopes of better post-exposure treatments being developed.
Brachiator
@trollhattan:
Based on what medical evidence?
Scout211
@Brachiator: What medical evidence you ask?
Apparently everyone is entitled to their own medical evidence. //
Like DeSantis:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/09/us/florida-desantis-school-mask-mandates/index.html
Another Scott
ObOpenThread – AlJazeera:
This is my shocked, shocked face. I would assume that similar things are going on with UK real estate.
Cheers,
Scott.
Seanly
In a spot of good news RE: masking, my Fortune 500 employer just sent out an email that only fully vaccinated employees may return to offices or travel for work (though that’s greatly reduced from pre-pandemic levels anyway).
They have fully embraced work from home, ditching lots of corporate rentals. My own office went from a floor & 2/3 to just the full floor. The floor they kept was only about 1/3 for cubicles – the rest is meeting spaces, quiet rooms, lunch & public areas. Other engineering firms in the Boise area are back at 100% capacity.
I do miss collaborating – especially with my junior staff. I used to do little sketches of this or that for the bridge and just can’t do that in Teams or Bluebeam very well. However, I more prefer not to catch Covid even if I am vaccinated.
Felanius Kootea
@gene108:
Makes no sense. Africa’s birth rate has declined over the last few years to 32 births per 1000 people in 2021. Africa’s death rate in 2019 was 274 per 1000 people. We’re not talking replacement levels.
European Union/OECD birth rate per 1000 in 2019 was 9.3 and death rate per 1000 people was 10.4.
Brachiator
@Scout211:
Yeah. When I asked that question, it was with a ton of anger, bitterness, frustration and snark.
I hate the stupidity of the anti vaxx crowd.
Citizen Alan
@gene108:
Just wait until the Supremes get done with Roe v Wade and Griswald, and we’ll see what happens to the US birthrate.
Percysowner
@Citizen Alan: Yep. I’m keeping a fair amount in my bank account so that when my granddaughter hits adolescence I can take her to 1) a state that still allows birth control or 2) another country i.e. Canada,etc that will give her a long term implant, assuming Alito, Thomas, Kavannaugh, Gorsuch and ACB wil declare that a) abortion is unconstitutional for the entire country and b) birth control is really abortion and against the Constitution, which is really not that far a reach.
I HATE them so much. My one hope is that we box Trump in enough that he will give up the evidence that he took money for each and every appointment he made. because why else would he give someone a lifetime appointment so they can “shape” i.e. ruin the country. My second biggest dream is that he kept evidence that McConnell and other Repubs were in on the grift, because why not make money when money is there to be made.
I know, I’m waiting for my properly fitted tin foil hat to be delivered.
rikyrah
@lowtechcyclist:
I feel you
206inKY
Amen! I remain convinced that I owe my life to the unknown jackel who alerted us to the existence of N95 masks in the comments way back in January 2020, a good two months before any hint of a mask shortage. I bought two boxes and survived on it for a year when very few folks in Kentucky were masking.