A considered opinion, including quarantine.

Apart from the advice I quoted above from 'New Scientist', have you not considered the effect of a mask in preventing you touching your face?

I note you wrote "to help capture the microscopic particles that are germs and biological weapons" when germs and biological weapons are the same thing (I know that releasing millions of polar bears could be classed as a 'biological weapon' but it is reserved for the use of pathogens) - so perhaps we would all be advised to follow the more scientific opinions on this matter.

You talk about air getting through masks - air is composed of very small molecules but viruses (especially if enclosed within droplets) are larger. Let us not get into what % are pure virions and what % are within droplets as no-one knows, so can we just acknowledge that SOME will not get through and it might be few enough, if any, to prevent the wearer of a mask from dying or suffering a horrible illness.

Secondly, a mask will prevent a person touching their mouth and nose, a major route of entry for viruses picked up by touching currency, handles, surfaces – almost anything. If you can walk around all day and NOT ever ONCE touch your face then indeed you have a skill most of the rest us do not have.

It is really important that people have freedom to say what they want but when the non-knowledgeable try to deny something that might just save lives, it saddens me.

If the subject was electronic warfare and @Rye83 had written about it, I would not make it my job to contradict him – when he knows the subject and I do not. If the subject he was writing about involved saving lives then even more so.

But it is your right not to wear a mask and I hope you do not get infected – but please, find out something more about viruses and masks before advising people not to wear them.

In WW2, millions in London went into shelters - some shelters got hit (the bomb 'passed though') and people died, some maybe fell down the stairs getting in - yes, people died, but we should be thinking of how many SURVIVED compared with the numbers who would have died if people had walked around and kept saying "Don't bother with shelters, bombs are big and can get through. Just cover your head with a scarf and 'have fun with it."

 

Hope, for those living in Negros, that this is extended to Negros Occidental. This will be a major aid to keeping everyone safe.

 

https://www.negor.gov.ph/

Provincial Government of Negros Oriental is with Rujonel Cariaga and Melit Hilay.
2 hours ago
Provincial Government of Negros OrientalAdvisory #FYI

This will take effect 12:01AM, March 17, 2020!

1. STATE OF CALAMITY. The Province of Negros Oriental thru the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has passed a resolution putting the whole Province under a state of calamity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. CLOSING OF BORDERS. All borders, ports, and airports of Negros Oriental are now declared CLOSED, effective immediately and shall remain in full force and effect until April 14, 2020. Entry of persons shall be restricted except to the following: (1) all duly identified residents of Negros Oriental, its cities and municipalities; (2) health workers responding to emergency; (3) members of the PNP, PCG, BFP and all branches of the AFP; (4) persons travelling for urgent medical or humanitarian reasons; and (5) persons transporting essential goods, supplies and medicines;

A. Deny entry to all non-residents of the Province of Negros Oriental, with or without symptoms of COVID-19;

B. Allow entry to all returning residents of the Province of Negros Oriental, with or without COVID-19 symptoms. All returning residents shall be required to present a valid government issued identification card prior to entry.

All returning residents must be checked for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and undergo the following:

(A) A 14-day home quarantine;
(B) Endorsement to the Barangay or LGU where they reside; and
(C) Monitoring by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs)

3. EXTENSION OF NO CLASSES. It is hereby ordered that the suspension of classes in all levels for both private and public academic institutions shall remain in full force and extended until further notice.

4. REGULATION OF AIR, SEA, AND LAND TRANSPORTATION. All air and sea travel are hereby BANNED during the effectivity of this executive order. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is hereby directed to ensure that all airports in Negros Oriental remain closed until further notice. The Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Ports Authority are also directed to ensure that all ports in Negros Oriental remain closed until an order to reopen shall have been issued.

BY AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR:
Bimbo G. Miraflor
PIO-NEGOR

 

S

So why are you all worked up? There is no evidence that this virus is transmitted from man to ape.

 

Okay, you spotted the flaw - but I am worried about my descendants.

 

The link to the NYT would not open for me unless I subscribe so I didn't read it.

If your statement is correct that's really good news. It means the pandemic has more or less passed us by. I don't believe it has but that's just my opinion.

You may find many faults in the article/animation for social distancing but that does not invalidate the concept. There are so many things that are yet unknown.

You do have several good points the one I liked the best was to have the old farts quarantine themselves and let the those that don't believe in social distancing do their thing.

 

Just hope they don't run out of Viagra.