The Lounge Covid Vaccination Discussion Thread

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by meeera

I hear you; I have high myopia and progressive lenses also. Have you tried the soap trick? If so and that's failed, try tape. I used it pretty routinely in theatre.

I haven't worn a mask since the beginning of June, so making it work is no longer necessary. So unless I need to visit someone in the hospital, I won't worry about it.

Went to calling hours yesterday, saw probably 150+ people waiting in line before and after us, not one mask anywhere. Still a few people using masks at church, those who still sit social distancing in the fellowship hall, watching a streamed feed from the worship center.

[OtinG]

Thankfully I seldom have to wear a mask anymore too. I stay home most of the time. I too have the progressive lenses, and they need to be in a specific location to see properly, without straining my neck anyway. I never found a good solution other than learning to use a breathing technique to lessen the fog, and it is only so effective. I'm just glad I'm retired and didn't have to wear a mask very often since I could stay home most of the time.

Air pressure is going to take the path of least resistance, and unfortunately that tends to be around the upper nose portion of the mask.

Everyone's face is unique, so chances of finding a great fit is pretty slim, especially with the cheaper masks. The cloth ones probably came from China, and most of those fit worse than the cheap surgical models. A rubberized mask would be too hot, heavy, and uncomfortable. At some point I just gave up trying different masks and made do with what I had.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Everyone's face is unique, so chances of finding a great fit is pretty slim, especially with the cheaper masks. The cloth ones probably came from China, and most of those fit worse than the cheap surgical models

The best cloth masks I have are those made by friends. Proper three-layer construction, axe style, and a great fit without much mouth contact.

[Greg Anos]

The only truly effective mask is a N-100 respirator.

Everything else is about like using a chain link fence to stop a mosquito.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Greg Anos

The only truly effective mask is a N-100 respirator.

Everything else is about like using a chain link fence to stop a mosquito.

Last time I looked at a N-100, it had an exhalation valve which makes it useless for the purpose of preventing you from spraying the neighbourhood with droplets. Given that an N95 mask blocks 95% of 0.3 μm particles and most of the droplets exhaled by humans are in the 5-10 μm and up range, suggesting a N-100 mask with an exhalation valve for less than a 5% increase in inbound filtration is risible.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Last time I looked at a N-100, it had an exhalation valve which makes it useless for the purpose of preventing you from spraying the neighbourhood with droplets. Given that an N95 mask blocks 95% of 0.3 μm particles and most of the droplets exhaled by humans are in the 5-10 μm and up range, suggesting a N-100 mask with an exhalation valve for less than a 5% increase in inbound filtration is risible.

I think there are some zones in Spain where they are forbidden because of the valve.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Greg Anos

The only truly effective mask is a N-100 respirator.

Everything else is about like using a chain link fence to stop a mosquito.

What the others have said, plus the N-100 is designed for use in construction and other industries when you need to avoid breathing in things like asbestos, lead, etc. They were never designed for healthcare.

The "everything else" you refer to are good at protecting others from your exhalations, and do a decent job with protecting you too, although no mask works as well as the N-95 for pandemic protection.

[poohbear_nc]

Interesting observation today - I visited my local ABC store (liquor store for non-North Carolinians) - where I had observed the highest incidence of customers no longer wearing masks.
The store employees have all remained masked and kept the huge plexiglass barriers up at the check out counter. They have now reinstated the "In only" and "Exit only" door signs, and made the aisle traffic one way again. I wasn't expecting it and nearly fell over a barrier.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Interesting observation today - I visited my local ABC store (liquor store for non-North Carolinians) - where I had observed the highest incidence of customers no longer wearing masks.
The store employees have all remained masked and kept the huge plexiglass barriers up at the check out counter. They have now reinstated the "In only" and "Exit only" door signs, and made the aisle traffic one way again. I wasn't expecting it and nearly fell over a barrier.

According to a CNN article, new COVID-19 cases are surging in 45 states:

Just as health experts predicted, the combination of unvaccinated people and the more contagious Delta strain of coronavirus has led to new Covid-19 surges.

In 45 states, the rates of new cases this past week are at least 10% higher than the rates of new cases the previous week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

In 34 states, new cases this past week are at least 50% higher than new cases the previous week.

The 4th of July holiday gatherings are likely going to drive those numbers up even more.

[poohbear_nc]

Yup! NC cases are increasing every day, and the percent of positive cases is over 5% again - which was the 'magic' figure to allow the mask mandate, and other restrictions, to expire. No talk of that now though.

Just got a fresh supply of KN95 masks - as long as there is a significant unvaccinated pool, the virus will keep mutating into more efficient strains.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Yup! NC cases are increasing every day, and the percent of positive cases is over 5% again - which was the 'magic' figure to allow the mask mandate, and other restrictions, to expire. No talk of that now though.

Just got a fresh supply of KN95 masks - as long as there is a significant unvaccinated pool, the virus will keep mutating into more efficient strains.

As one comedian said, "When you are out shopping, it's easy to recognize vaccinated people. They're the ones wearing masks."

Looking at NC's stats, it appears that 4.47 million (42.7%) are fully vaccinated and 500 thousand (0.5%) have had one shot. The other 6 million are willing to take their chances.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by DNSB

As one comedian said, "When you are out shopping, it's easy to recognize vaccinated people. They're the ones wearing masks."

Looking at NC's stats, it appears that 4.47 million (42.7%) are fully vaccinated and 500 thousand (0.5%) have had one shot. The other 6 million are willing to take their chances.

Yeah, given the fact that at the height of the pandemic in 2020, armed groups wearing camouflage demonstrated daily outside the governor's mansion and burned masks in the street - NC never had a ghost of a chance to reach anything close to herd immunity levels of vaccinations. You just gotta look out for, and protect, yourself.

[Hemmi]

Getting on an airplane on Friday. Just realized I always wear my glasses when I fly and I'll have to wear a mask too. I never got used to the fogging glasses, I just always wore my contacts.

Oh well, I nap on flights most of the time anyway.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by DNSB

As one comedian said, "When you are out shopping, it's easy to recognize vaccinated people. They're the ones wearing masks."

That is more than likely true in real life.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Gardenman

That is more than likely true in real life.

Not here. Very few people wear masks where I live, but 44% are vaccinated.

I'm vaccinated and I don't wear a mask.