Officiating Post COVID-19 ???

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Interesting how all the virus/social distancing virtue-signaling from the media has ceased in the wake of these protests.

What's the more important and urgent story right now? The pandemic, which may have plateaued leading many states to consider careful reopenings (we can finally get haircuts starting today in Connecticut), or to the civil rights protests (and/or riots) which are the worst I've seen since the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968?

While the "original sin" of the 400 year old plight of African Americans is a really big story (and should continue to be, even as the protests and/or riots calm down), so are the 100,000 American deaths caused by an infectious disease, a disease that we were ill prepared to deal with, and where we may have made some mistakes in dealing with it in its early stages.

What's the bigger story? Police precinct stations going up in flames and Target stores being looted, or hundreds of people not wearing masks and not social distancing while relaxing in a swimming pool drinking adult beverages while the commander-in-chief, and many others, enjoy a couple of rounds of golf with no flagsticks, no sand trap rakes, no nineteenth hole appletinis, and pool noodles in the holes?

Also, compare the "reopen" protesters to the civil rights protesters. Not many peaceful, long gun carrying "reopen" protesters wore face masks, while many civil rights protesters (and/or rioters) are wearing face masks, as are most of the media covering the protests.

This pandemic is not over, and may not be over until there is a vaccine. We still have to be aware and be careful, or it may come back, and if it comes back during the next influenza season, especially if it's a particularly bad flu season, we're really going to be in for a really big problem. Hopefully, we may be better prepared deal with a combined "second wave"/bad flu season, we already have our masks, and our hand sanitizer.

Watch the civil rights protests (and/or riots) on television, or participate in the protests (hopefully peacefully), if you want, but keep washing your hands, wear your face mask (to protect others, especially others at high risk, like me), and if anybody gets within six feet of you start a five second count.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Also, compare the "reopen" protesters to the civil rights protesters. Not many peaceful, long gun carrying "reopen" protesters wore face masks, while many civil rights protesters (and/or rioters) are wearing face masks, as are most of the media covering the protests.

Not many of the "reopen" protesters were setting fire to their cities and destroying businesses and their owners' (who had nothing to do with the incident) lives, either.

See, I can cherrypick, too.

Also, if you do your research you can clearly see how the importance of masks (especially porous cloth ones) is overstated and in many cases simply used as a political statement. I went to the doctor this morning and wore a mask because I assumed that was the expectation - not a single soul in the office had a mask on. Touching your mask and putting it back on all day long would seem to defeat the purpose according to common sense.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Not many of the "reopen" protesters were setting fire to their cities and destroying businesses ... Also, if you do your research you can clearly see how the importance of masks (especially porous cloth ones) is overstated ... Touching your mask and putting it back on all day long would seem to defeat the purpose according to common sense.

I don't believe that any of them were, which is specifically why I referred to them as "peaceful" and never even considered the possibility that some of them could be considered "rioters". Here in Connecticut, the worst they did was to slow down response times of some fire trucks and ambulances by blocking traffic.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... Not many peaceful, long gun carrying "reopen" protesters wore face masks ...

Surgical face masks will never stop the inhaling of the virus, especially any fine airborne aerosolized particles, but it will definitely stop the larger droplets from being sprayed several feet when the wearer is talking, singing (Connecticut Catholics are going back to church next week, but no singing), breathing deeply, coughing, or sneezing.

I wear my mask to protect others, especially others that may be at a greater risk than most of the population. I also know how to put my mask on and take my mask off properly (only touching the straps), and to only wear my mask for one day before laundering. I also believe that my mask has the added benefit that it reminds me not to, and makes it more difficult for me to, touch my face (mouth or nose).

I've named my mask Charleen (reference to Full Metal Jacket).