gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

You need to present your evidence so there can be a knowledgeable discussion. Otherwise you’re just blowing smoke.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Our cases and hospitalizations in NC are climbing by the day, just as you would expect (if you don’t stop it early, the numbers just grow almost geometrically as more and more people infect more and more people). My son is a HS teacher with a pregnant wife, and we are waiting to hear if our county is going to open schools for regular or online classes initially in August - every surrounding county is starting as online only. This is the first time in his career he’s not at all enthusiastic about getting back into the classroom.

I feel really sorry for the students. Our county is struggling to get tablets or laptops into every student’s hands that doesn’t have one and trying to insure internet access for them all, and of course, all contact sports have been cancelled - tough news for those kids hoping to go to college on athletic scholarships. We live in a metropolitan area with 3 major and 6 smaller universities within 20 miles with a total student population of probably 150,000 students, and with that age group’s rising infection rate, and often their disdain for mask wearing or social distancing, I fear it’s going to get much worse when school starts in spite of the school’s best efforts. I just pray we get a proven workable vaccine eventually.

drobvit Loc: Southern NV

Well, part of the increase is that testing has increased. So, of course, more cases will become evident. Also, a lot of places are not making the distinction between those with antibodies ( already had Covid-19) and those with active disease. I'm not belittling this situation but numbers are getting pumped up for reasons I will not pursue... especially with ostriches.
I do wear a mask in public but, having a beard, it is much much less effective than its N95 rating. As is the case with every other beard owner. I'm sure the CDC, and Fauxi, will eventually mandate that everyone be clean-shaven to help save the world.

jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Taiwan got a very early start. They didn't believe the CHIComs and what they were saying about the China virus. They stopped travel from China very early and kicked out all Chinese and got a very early start on limiting the virus. They had very few infections to begin with. Trump did the right thing and banned travel from China, but the virus entered the US and spread thru the population for some time - esp on the east coast from Europe - before it was realized what was happening. Once it had spread to the extent it had, the possibility of containment as in Taiwan was well behind us. I hardly see how you can place all the credit of the Taiwan containment on the use of masks, as it was just one of several steps taken.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I don't feel that my beard seriously hinders my cloth mask;
tests have shown that a sewn cloth mask like mine keeps any virus within a foot or two of me, so there is no reason someone like us to shave.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Your biases are noted. So is your lack of knowledge of the nature and hazards of community spread.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I’m mostly paying attention to the number of hospitalizations, and to a lesser extent, the percentage of those tested that are proving positive (currently close to 10% in our state). The testing is less than ideal because of the long turn-around time - currently about 7 days for the nasal swab test here (LabCorp reportedly has a 300,000 - 500,000 test backlog, depending on the day), and by that time, the person my have infected many others. The antibody test results are available overnight, but they take ~2 weeks from infection to turn positive, so not much use for contact tracing either. With ~100,000 cases in NC, And the test result delay, I don’t see contact tracing being practical. We have let this get out of hand, and it’s going to be very difficult to get it under control without more draconian lockdowns. I don’t think the seriousness of this is being overstated, I can easily imagine 1M+ US deaths and an economic disaster (and I’m generally an optimist).

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Covid came up on fb and I made a statement that I didn't think there would be a solution until there was a vaccine, at which time I conjectured the anti-vaxxers would pop out of the woodwork. One of my fb friends indicated that she would NOT be getting the vaccine. I mean, c'mon. We're doing everything in our power to shoot ourselves in the foot, so to speak, and help this this thing spread. Apparently common sense actions impinge upon our freedoms. Conservatives spouting this nonsense would have been considered liberal wackos back in the fifties.

jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I would love to see those tests you allude to

jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Infection cases are being overstated by poor test reporting, political concerns and that hospitals get $19K from the feds for each positive case.

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

We "think" it may be safe and smart...we don't actually know that. Even the doctors argue the point and a good doctor friend of mine told me that the medical profession says that the masks are better than nothing. Every single person walking into our post office touches the door handle while wearing a mask. Are they exposed? Probably. Walmart? Gas station nozzles? We touch these things every day without a thought and then cuss at strangers who don't see fit to wear a mask. In truth we have no freaking idea of whether we are protected or not.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

That’s some wonderful conspiracy nonsense you spout there.

drobvit Loc: Southern NV

Missed the sarcasm?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Proof?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The 'Dems' are not "pushing for" higher hospital admissions!!
The 'Dems' are not "pushing for" ICU over-crowding.