The utility company sent a tree trimming crew to cut limbs back from the power lines. They have a sign they post near their parked truck requesting social distancing. Not a mask in sight, though.
N95 is the US standard and KN95 is the Chinese standard. Functionally they should be practically identical. I believe FDA or CDC or one of those agencies recently approved KN95 as a substitute for N95 due to shortages.
That said, IMHO there’s always legitimate concern over knockoffs and shortcuts not meeting standards for anything manufactured in China unless it’s from a known good/reliable vendor.
That’s my concern, @anomander I have an opportunity to buy some of the KN95s, and I wonder whether it’s some knockoff. I don’t really have a problem that they are made in China as just about everything we use is made in China. I just don’t want a false sense of security from it. I am considering flying next month, and knowing I had a N95 mask would make me feel safer, for sure.
Long article but one everyone should read.
‘The C.D.C. Waited ‘Its Entire Existence for This Moment.’ What Went Wrong?’
“Located in Atlanta, the C.D.C. is encharged with protecting the nation against public health threats — from anthrax to obesity — and serving as the unassailable source of information about fighting them. Given its record and resources, the agency might have become the undisputed leader in the global fight against the virus.”
“Instead, the C.D.C. made missteps that undermined America’s response.”
“Here is an agency that has been waiting its entire existence for this moment,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, a former associate commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration who for years worked closely with the C.D.C. “And then they flub it. It is very sad. That is what they were set up to do.”
“In Miami Beach, densely packed with tourists, older residents and service workers, Mayor Dan Gelber dreads the prospect of new outbreaks. While he appreciated the reopening guidance that the C.D.C. published recently, Mr. Gelber, a Democrat, said he wished the agency would also lay out specific steps to follow if cases surge again.“
“It’s almost as if they just said, ‘Open up and figure out whether it’s a good idea or not afterward,’” he said of the C.D.C. “We don’t have a net here.”
How can the public health people force a restaurant to keep customers 6 feet apart after all social distancing was ignored during street marches? Social distancing is over.
Not in my world it’s not. Went to the grocery store yesterday and saw only one person without a mask, and everyone giving each other space.
@Youdon’tsay, google “how to tell if KN95 mask is fake” or something along those lines and you get lots of hits telling you how to know the difference.
I wouldn’t worry too much about Miami. Even though social distancing was only late adopted and fairly weakly enforced, fatalities have been very, very low. Calculated IFR has been about 0.31% in Miami-Dade, implying that the risks for all but the oldest and most vulnerable are practically nil.
Individuals will still socially distance voluntarily. But for a city or county to deny a church or any other group of people the right to assemble would be to apply the law unequally. I didn’t even hear any public admonishments about how dangerous these crowds were as far as spreading the virus. 6 feet is 6 feet no matter who is not six feet apart. Shouting and chanting is no different than singing as far as exhaling the virus. How can there be criticism of those who would attend one sort of large gathering that could spread the virus and not another? That’s why I should say (more precisely) that enforcing social distancing by force of law is over.
The Supreme Court disagrees with you.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/us/supreme-court-churches-coronavirus.html
Interesting that our (UofSC) basketball coach Frank Martin said he tested positive in May. Only felt a little fatigue and was tested in preparation for elective surgery. I feel like there are more stories like that out there.
If people who attended that large pool party or people attending protests only feel tired will they think to be tested? If not we might underestimate the infection rate at these events unless people get sick enough to be hospitalized.
That was before.
The SC decision makes sense to me, but I do think that the protests erode any justification for preventing houses of worship from holding outdoor services, if that is still forbidden anywhere. It is fair to say that a grocery store isn’t comparable to a church service, in terms of risk, but much harder to make that case for an outdoor prayer service vs. an outdoor protest.
I read that about Frank Martin (and read his statement). Even though I’m a fan of another SEC team, Frank Martin is one of my favorite people. I saw him with Jerry Stackhouse last winter chatting before a game. That was one imposing duo of guys!
Can anyone point me to a scientific study that says that 6ft is optimal?? Old guidelines for flu-like diseases were 3 ft, and there has been some limited studies implying that 20+ ft might not even be enough for COVID-19.
Thanks in advance.
SCOTUS has not changed it’s ruling.
@Nrdsb4 you would think so, right? The fact that I can’t find what I’m looking for on Google about this particular brand is what has me suspect. I’m going to pass on this particular offer.
Read Justice Roberts’ (the swing vote) opinion. His opinion was based on the fact that then the state was treating large group gatherings equally. So there was no discrimination. And no the Court will not revisit that opinion until another case comes up. If now a large gathering were shut down, the unequal treatment would be grounds for keeping any large gathering open.
Then they can bring another case, but highly unlikely the Court will take it up again.
Not in my part of Maryland. Masks are just under 100% from what I have seen. Actually, I’ve seen one group of 5 in noncompliance and they were asked to leave the store. Not sure it was by the staff or by customers, but they left a full cart in the aisle and exited.
People step aside outside on walks and in stores.