05-07-2020, 12:47 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-07-2020, 12:47 PM by danbrotherston.)
(05-07-2020, 12:14 PM)ac3r Wrote: I really think masks should be obligatory when entering shops, workplaces and on public transit like they are elsewhere around the world. It's one of the best ways we can keep the number of active and new cases low. If you have two Covid-19 positive people walking around Costco doing their shopping who have no mask on, they are almost guaranteed to infect other people. The R nought of this virus is still 1.4 to 3.9 in Canada, so we really need to be careful. Not everyone is social distancing when they are out. Sometimes, it's quite frustrating to do shopping when I have to be hyper vigilant because people keep getting in my space. For every person I see with a mask, I see 2-3 or more without one.
I think I'm going to have to ask for a few citations here.
For one, I'm actually curious as to where you are finding these R values. I've heard lots of speculation, but no sources, and frankly, no real methodology for how to actually estimate these values.
Second, this claim that masks are "one of the best ways to keep the number of new cases low" really needs evidence, I don't know of any public health agency saying this in Canada at least, and I really know of very little data at all, to suggest this is the case. AFAIK social distancing and isolation is still far and away the number one tool for reducing spread.