Corona Virus: How Are We Doing?

[KnittyNorah]

Though the mask mostly protects other people from the wearer, rather than the other way around.

Depends which sort of mask you wear ...

 

[C R]

Depends which sort of mask you wear ...

I was thinking more that the mask doesn't protect from touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one's face.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Contaminated surfaces is so 2020. Aerosols (warning: simplification and definition danger)

 

[KnittyNorah]

I was thinking more that the mask doesn't protect from touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one's face.

Fomites REALLY aren't an issue of any significance.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I was thinking more that the mask doesn't protect from touching contaminated surfaces and then touching one's face.

Without going into the debate of what a mask protects from re Corona, it will only protect on first use, if you take it out of a sealed pack with washed hands.
Most folks keep their masks in their pockets between uses, I've seen plenty hanging from chins, loads on wrists while eating.
Even us working in the hospital, we take ours from a box.
The box is accessed by many, will they all have clean hands?

 

[classic33]

Without going into the debate of what a mask protects from re Corona, it will only protect on first use, if you take it out of a sealed pack with washed hands.
Most folks keep their masks in their pockets between uses, I've seen plenty hanging from chins, loads on wrists while eating.
Even us working in the hospital, we take ours from a box.
The box is accessed by many, will they all have clean hands?

Bit awkward keeping a half face mask in a pocket, let alone a full face one.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Bit awkward keeping a half face mask in a pocket, let alone a full face one.

How so?
How do you carry yours?
I guess not in a handbag

 

[classic33]

How so?
How do you carry yours?
I guess not in a handbag

They came supplied storage/carrying bags.

 

[C R]

Fomites REALLY aren't an issue of any significance.

Are aerosols the only significant form of transmission? Genuine question.

 

[fossyant]

Are aerosols the only significant form of transmission? Genuine question.

It seems to be with the current variants.

I work in a Uni, not caught it, touching surfaces.

 

[Ajax Bay]

aerosols the only significant form of transmission

Hopefully a knowledgeable person will come along, but
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsfs.2021.0072
There was early extreme reluctance to accept aerosol transmission as being important (droplets "2m" and fomites preferred) because stopping it (think hospital context) was/would have been massively difficult. Add to that 'aerosol' means different things (size of the particles in microns) to different sets of scientific/medical people (as opposed to 'normal' people) and different sets of protection measures.
Much easier to set up a protocol of mega-cleaning (aka 'doing something') rather than high level respirator protection.

 

[MrGrumpy]

I caught the current variant back beginning of June was very careful for 2 and a bit years . No idea where I got it or whom from. All I know was I had ditched face mask and was not not using hand gel anywhere near how I was back when this all kicked off .

Now as for the covid , first week I was not great. Not on deaths door , mild flu I’d say . Second week though was not good. Sinus infection, extremely tired. Work was not fun, came home went to bed every night . So yes it didn’t kill me , however it was enough to effect me and debilitate me.

So take that into our NHS and other services the public rely on . It’s easy to see how It could cause major problems for what is mild illness .

Kinda grinds my gears all the anti vax , it’s all a hoax made up ball aches. Folk just don’t want to see the bigger picture .

 

[KnittyNorah]

Are aerosols the only significant form of transmission? Genuine question.

Who knows if they are the ONLY significant one - I certainly don't although I'm sure someone does. But they are certainly the main one. Fomites, in and of themselves, appear to play a very minor part in the business.
That, of course, is at present and with current variants.
Things could change at any time.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I assert that aerosol transmission is the only significant current mechanism. If there is another significant one, please name it (and maybe a link to support that). (I'd define 'significant' as responsible for more than 10% of transmissions.)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35261731/
"respiratory viruses have three modes of transmission: contact (direct and through fomites), large droplets and aerosols."
The deduction to inform people's risk judgements/taking is that open space is good, ventilation is good (sufficient ventilation is, therefore, a key countermeasure, which can be also supplemented by air filtration when appropriate [86].), decent masks (FFP2 at least) are a mitigation to consider in enclosed close contact spaces, and no doubt others can add a few more.
I have stopped cleaning the supermarket trolley handles before using but still use the offered hand gel on entry and departure. One never knows what holiday maker from wherever might have been the previous user.

 

[Landsurfer]

MUST NOT RESPOND !!..... MUST NOT POST !!
I promised i wouldn’t ...... must keep quiet !!!!!!!!!!!