Let's get real. Any virus or cold is typically not as lethal or debilitating as Covid.
Where did I mention this above? I dont see where I said a cold was as bad as Covid. By "normal circumstances" I meant walking through a supermarket or the like; somewhere out in public with a normal interaction with others.
Minimum of close breathing, 10 minutes. That simply isn't factual when there is a cough or sneeze.
Again, we are talking coughing or sneezing aside, and with most normal adults covering up during a sneeze, this isnt really a consideration.
Thank you for your service!
I don't want to risk shortening an innocent person's life, by not masking when I'm around a lot of people.
Thats very noble, but again, your mask doesn't protect others, the wearers mask protects them (to a point). The CDC has said this and its even been on the not-so-reliable- CNN. And.......... eventually, we need to get back normal. Covid-19 isnt going anywhere, its going to be with us every winter in perpetuity. Every one will catch it at some point. There will sadly be some people who have been SO frightened by all of this that they will wear a mask for the rest of their lives. But for most, its not realistic.
So where does it end in your opinion?
This is all very much another part of the problem. Other countries besides ours are following the science much closer, but instead in this country, for whatever reason, they are completely focused on vaccines and masks and NOTHING else. Since you are working closely with MN state epidemiologists, they surely now have mentioned therapeutics? The therapeutics are really what we should be focusing on right now because if there is one thing we've learned, we cannot effectively stop the spread of Covid-19. Locked down, mask mandates and more vaccinated people than ever over the winter and we had the highest spike of cases ever during the pandemic, even the first spike,
why do you supposed that is, if everyone has been masked and we have the highest vaccination rates ever?