# How soon will you give up what precautions? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [February 23, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008 "2022-02-23T15:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/61 "2022-02-25T01:46:25Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I would rather see some statistics about how well the different masks actually work. There’s a lot of good data here: [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eE2BERAvRzs28kG87ft3a27FS9-gHvdC](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eE2BERAvRzs28kG87ft3a27FS9-gHvdC) It’s a Google drive folder maintained by Aaron Collins, who has been testing masks live on YouTube for the past two years. He’s been references by a lot of serious news sources, and is apparently pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/62 "2022-02-25T01:48:43Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > The big change in social distancing was not on busses, it was so many schools going remote. No where else crams so many people into such small spaces for such a long period of time, who then travel to so many different households. Haven’t most schools been in person this flu season, though? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/63 "2022-02-25T02:13:21Z")
According to the CDC, there’s been an estimated 22k flu cases in the US this season. That’s very low, but its not like last year. My county reports 1000 positive cases so far . . .last year we had 2. And that’s starting with very little flu circulating at the start of the season. > **[Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm)** > > Learn more about the weekly influenza surveillance report (FluView) prepared by the Influenza Division. I’m sure masking (and sanitizing, and the distancing we can do) is making a big difference. But the effect was more dramatic when schools were practically empty. EYA: 20k is still a lot less than the tens of millions we used to get, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/64 "2022-02-25T02:41:11Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > According to the CDC, there’s been an estimated 22k flu cases in the US this season. That’s very low, but its not like last year. My county reports 1000 positive cases so far . . .last year we had 2. And that’s starting with very little flu circulating at the start of the season. It’s interesting to compare that to Canada. The US has a lot more people pushing to stop using masks, and have lifted mandates in a lot more places. Canada, by and large, still has such mandates in place, even if they’re not perfectly applied. And see that? The US influenza rate is much higher than Canada. We’ve increased a slight bit since last year, but it’s still so low as to be hard to see on the graphs I linked to. Real-time science! ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/65 "2022-02-25T03:45:17Z")
I’m keeping my masks for a while yet. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/66 "2022-02-25T07:39:05Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > What other changes do you think likely to have affected the incidence of colds and flu? Surely not vaccination. Fewer people on the subway? That affects a very small fraction of the US population, and we’ve had a huge drop in flu. More general awareness of the risks of spreading bugs? I’m in favor of continuing that one, along with masking. Others have given examples of other factors that may have had an effect. The subject of masking appears to have collected an unfotunate political symbolism and claims of effectivesss and ineffectiveness that are rarely backed up with solid data and often inflated or favourably interpreted according to one’s beliefs. I don’t think that is helpful. The most common claims for mask effectiveness under real world conditions have been based on studies that were incomplete at best. I’ve read them. They make it clear that it was not possible to quantify the protective effect from the mask as distinct from other behaviours that the mask wearer might undertake. There is however, an underlying established science that does suggest they have some beneficial effect. It would be a stretch on behalf of anti-mask people to say there was none. So In short, we don’t really know what effect mask wearing has had in and of itself. Is it reasonble to say it has had some effect on the prevalance of various infections? Yes. Is it a fact that it is a _substantial_ effect or the _largest_ effect of all preventative measures? We don’t know, we haven’t quantified it in isolation. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/67 "2022-02-25T11:59:28Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Others have given examples of other factors that may have had an effect Hand sanitizing? The US hasn’t closed anything this flu season. Restaurants are no longer distanced. We aren’t major users of public transit as a nation. So it’s basically masks and working from home and not going out when you feel sick that are the only plausible drivers that i can think of. I’d be happy to keep all three of those. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/68 "2022-02-25T12:14:31Z")
But even if we assume masks are 90% of that, the place they are having the biggest impact is schools, where children and adults have to wear them all day. Its a big deal to ask kids to spend 12 years not knowing what most of their classmates really look like, or being able to smile at each other. (And you really don’t when they wear the mask full time. We had an outdoor, no mask event and we were all shocked to discover how different, sometimes unrecognizable, our students were.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/69 "2022-02-25T12:22:37Z")
Hmm, that’s true. And yes. I’ve been coaching a class at a masked school, and the first time one of my students took off his mask to grab a drink of water i was shocked to learn what his lower face looked like. That is pretty weird. (I can tell when they smile behind the masks, though.) I wonder how retail cashiers and similar employees, who also spend all day in a masked environment, feel about it. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/70 "2022-02-25T12:55:45Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The US hasn’t closed anything this flu season. Restaurants are no longer distanced. We aren’t major users of public transit as a nation. So it’s basically masks and working from home and not going out when you feel sick that are the only plausible drivers that i can think of. Sure, no doubt those are all contributing to some degree. but of course the levels of flu _this_ season are also tied to circulating levels from _last_ season which _was_ subject to mass closures and social distancing. I don’t think you can consider the two seasons in complete isolation (pun intended I guess) And don’t get me wrong, I have no doubt that _certain_ types of masking will have _some_ influence on infection levels. I just don’t share the level of certainty that others seem to have when they make claims on _how much_ influence they have had. I’ve not seen the evidence that would support such certainty. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/71 "2022-02-25T13:18:41Z")
I’m struggling to think of other significant factors. But @MandaJo makes a good point about the disparate impact that this year’s mask mandates have had on students. The college students i coach tell me they are expected to wear masks everywhere other than their bedrooms, or when actually eating. Their campus has a much lower rate of covid than the general community, and the masks probably contribute to that. (As does the college’s requirement they all be boosted, i would guess.) But is it worth it? They’d like to be able to relax at home, in their common areas, without masks. Even when I’ve had several days of mask time, i was able to go home, shower, and spend a couple hours unmasked each day. And i think that made a big difference to me. I bet it would to them, too. I like not catching colds in the last two years. But maybe the cost is too high. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/72 "2022-02-25T13:37:58Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And personally, I appreciate not feeling like shit for two weeks from the common cold, even though I’ve never worried it would kill me. Wearing masks is worth it to me to reduce that risk. But, it has occurred to me to wonder if normal exposure to cold viruses and such is important to keep our immune systems in good working order. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/73 "2022-02-25T13:44:51Z")
You mean like the hypothesis that it’s our lack of exposure to parasites that leads to food allergies? ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/74 "2022-02-25T13:55:07Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > > [@Horatius](#): > > > > The anti-maskers want masks gone as a statement that they were right all along, > > I would say they don’t want it gone, they want the mandate to continue and people ignore it; or t the very least they want it to continue but they get to ignore it to make a political point. If the powers that be remove the mandate because it’s time to go back to normal, then it proves they were wrong all along. Oh no, these folks are masters of mental flipflops. Around here the anti-maskers are claiming removing the mask mandate is “doing what’s right”. They say people are finally coming to their senses & realizing masks don’t work. They also claim many states regret ever doing it in the first place. Rational thought is not involved here. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/75 "2022-02-25T14:09:09Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > You mean like the hypothesis that it’s our lack of exposure to parasites that leads to food allergies? Something like that—like the “hygiene hypothesis.” > **[Asthma: The Hygiene Hypothesis](https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/asthma-hygiene-hypothesis)** > > Asthma: The Hygiene Hypothesis > **[What Is the Hygiene Hypothesis?](https://www.livescience.com/54078-hygiene-hypothesis.html)** > > The hygiene hypothesis states that early exposure to germs helps a child's immune system develop resistance to infections. Studies suggest that a lack of exposure results in higher rates of allergies and asthma. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/76 "2022-02-25T14:28:07Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve been coaching a class at a masked school, … One of my kids teaches music to toddlers (and their parents). She chose to require masks, even tho it turned away some prospective clients. I asked her the other day if she intended to change her policy, as it might increase her class sizes (and resultant income.) She said her current parents appreciated the masking, and even if relaxing that requirement might bring in new students, it might also turn away existing ones. An interesting conundrum. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/77 "2022-02-25T15:23:37Z")
I’m going to carry on wearing masks - It’s just that they are terribly comfortable. Washing hands, keeping distance from other humans, avoiding mass gatherings… I already had most of that before this all started. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/78 "2022-02-25T15:35:48Z")
I have worn a mask only in places where it is/was legally required. I’ve used some hand sanitizer occasionally in places where there was a dispenser – dentist or doctor office, a few stores, etc. Just back from 10 days in Florida and saw very few masks out and about; basically food service workers and some store employees. Stayed with my sister in a very socially active snowbird trailer park and no one wore a mask or even spoke about Covid during patio get-togethers or game night gatherings. Other than the plane and airport the only place I went where a mask was required was the gift shop at the power plant where the manatees gather in the warm water – people from all over the country standing shoulder to shoulder at the viewing area were mostly mask-free but the gift shop (I didn’t go in) required a mask and they were handed out for free. Unless something changes I will probably continue doing what I’ve done all along which isn’t very much. I’ve had Covid (had a cough for a while), I have antibodies, I am not fat or diabetic, I don’t have heart trouble or other health issues, I’ve had more than my expected three score and ten years, I’ve lost friends and relatives (who all had other health issues along with the Covid), I’m ready for all the crap to come to an end and I am willing to pay the price. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/79 "2022-02-25T16:06:31Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > … It’s just that they are terribly comfortable. … Is that what you meant to say? Masks aren’t horrible to wear, but I sure wouldn’t call them terribly comfortable. As weather warms, the fogging of glasses will be less of a problem. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/80 "2022-02-25T17:08:50Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > I’m ready for all the crap to come to an end and I am willing to pay the price. It’s a pretty horrible death. I recommend you be careless about some other health hazards, instead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008.md?page=5)