A little mask-math:
If you go to an indoor gathering of 100 people, and 2 of them are asymptomatic but positive for COVID-19, what are your chances of contracting the novel coronavirus if no one is wearing a mask?
Answer: It depends.
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If you go to an indoor gathering of 100 people, and 2 of them are asymptomatic but positive for COVID-19, what are your chances of contracting the novel coronavirus if no one is wearing a mask?
Answer: It depends.
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It depends on how close you are.
It depends on how much people are laughing, or singing, or talking.
It depends on your general health, and underlying preconditions.
It depends on how closely-packed the room is.
It depends on how long you stay.
2/
It depends on how much people are laughing, or singing, or talking.
It depends on your general health, and underlying preconditions.
It depends on how closely-packed the room is.
It depends on how long you stay.
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But what we DO know is, your chances are not zero.
You have a pretty fair chance of infection, which may take 2 weeks to become apparent. And you also have the opportunity to pass that infection along to your family and friends.
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You have a pretty fair chance of infection, which may take 2 weeks to become apparent. And you also have the opportunity to pass that infection along to your family and friends.
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We also know that, in many parts of the country, the idea that only 2 members of your gathering are infected is pretty optimistic.
The CDC estimates that 20M Americans are or have been infected.
How do you like your chances now?
Still cheerful?
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The CDC estimates that 20M Americans are or have been infected.
How do you like your chances now?
Still cheerful?
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Let’s change it up.
Let’s make everyone wear a mask.
What does that do to your chances?
Worn appropriately (covering nose and mouth) masks are 50-70% effective in reducing transmission.
That means that whoever has the virus is less likely to pass it on.
5/
Let’s make everyone wear a mask.
What does that do to your chances?
Worn appropriately (covering nose and mouth) masks are 50-70% effective in reducing transmission.
That means that whoever has the virus is less likely to pass it on.
5/
You may get to make it out infection-free!
So how does the math add up now?
You’ve all reduced your chance of contracting the virus at least by half, and if you’ve faithfully worn your mask, you’ve further reduced the chance of passing it on.
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So how does the math add up now?
You’ve all reduced your chance of contracting the virus at least by half, and if you’ve faithfully worn your mask, you’ve further reduced the chance of passing it on.
6/
So is it a chance worth taking?
A mask is like a seat belt. You may not like wearing it, but it may save your life.
The virus is like our current government, and doesn’t care if you live or die.
So change your chances by wearing a mask, and change the government.
A mask is like a seat belt. You may not like wearing it, but it may save your life.
The virus is like our current government, and doesn’t care if you live or die.
So change your chances by wearing a mask, and change the government.
