(1/10)
Q: Does wearing a #clothmask protect me, or protect others?
A: Mostly others, but if we all wear them in places where maintaining an adequate distance from others is challenging, we can all potentially protect each other.
(2/10)
The key to understanding this is distinguishing transmission via ingress vs. egress.
For the most part, discussion of mask use early in the pandemic focused on preventing INGRESS: transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from sick individuals to #healthcare workers
(3/10) #ppe, such as medical-grade respirator masks, can prevent aerosol transmission to health care workers who must be in close contact with patients and/or perform medical procedures. (hence the emphasis on making sure such masks are available to this group).
(4/10)
Increasingly, focus has turned to preventing EGRESS: transmission of the virus from mask wearers to the outside world in settings where maintaining the recommended distance of 6 feet apart is difficult.
(5/10)
The authors of the article below note, "The good news is that preventing transmission to others through egress is relatively easy. It’s like stopping gushing water from a hose right at the source"
(6/10)
While the peer-reviewed evidence of the effectiveness of cloth mask use remains limited, the authors point to some preliminary findings showing that, "even a cotton mask dramatically reduces the number of virus particles emitted from our mouths—by as much as 99 percent."
(7/10)
This reduction provides two huge benefits. Fewer virus particles mean that people have a better chance of avoiding #infection, and if they are infected, the lower viral-exposure load may give them a better chance of contracting only a mild illness."
(8/10)
The authors continue "Models show that if 80 percent of people wear masks that are 60 percent effective, easily achievable with cloth, we can get to an effective R0 of less than one." and "Mask use in combination with physical #distancing is even more powerful."
(9/10)
While these studies have not yet been peer-reviewed, they suggest that even without 100% effectiveness, use of cloth masks in settings where #socialdistancing is challenging can help lower egress, thereby protecting those around you (and their mask can help protect you).
1/ Q: Has almost everyone been infected with COVID by now?
A: Recent estimates suggest around 58% of the population in the US and over 70% in England have been previously infected, with BIG increases during the Omicron wave.
3/ ➡️ During the Omicron wave from December 2021-February 2022, this estimate increased from 33% to 58%.
➡️ Rates vary a lot by age, ranging from 33.2% for those over age 65 to 75% for those under age 18.
2/ Not likely. If your kids are suddenly getting sick a lot, this is likely due to “catching up” on exposures rather than a weakened immune system.
3/ Many families w/ young kids have been hunkered down for the better part of 2 years– a good % of a young child’s entire life. While isolation had *many* downsides, we can agree that not having to suction snot out of infant noses or clean up norovirus puke was a happy upside.
1/ Q: Are cases peaking? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve).
2/ ➡️ And if the downward slope is *slower* than the rise, we will see *more* cases during the decline from a surge.
3/ Burning fast could be a silver lining of super transmissible #Omicron. Cases rose & fell quickly in S. Africa (w/ hospitalizations & deaths still lagging). The UK appears to have turned the Omicron corner. Many US states appear past their peak in cases, w/ regional variation:
Unfortunately, this includes New Year’s Eve plans. The perfect storm of a new variant & holiday get-togethers is hitting communities & health care w/ FORCE! Testing is in short supply.
3/ Health care is under extreme pressure with surging cases. If you can avoid even one additional contact, you are helping. This is a temporary and urgent request (from a health care provider).