Coronavirus in Massachusetts (house, retired, health)

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

I was looking at my local data from the state Thursday data update. My town is still above 20 per day per 100,000 and New Bedford next door is up over 30 per day per 100,000. New Bedford finally hit 50% fully vaccinated and my town is barely much better at 54%. I see no reason to stop wearing an N95 mask indoors here despite getting my 3rd Pfizer jab several weeks ago.

Anecdotally, I will say that the mRNA vaccines are extremely good at protection. I returned from 10 days in the UK recently, where everything was wide open (no masking, no restrictions). Of necessity, I had to eat several meals indoors in often crowded restaurants. If I went to grocery stores, I would be the only one masked (either a simple blue surgical or KN95). On top of that, I often heard coughing / hacking outdoors walking around, and sometimes in the restaurants. Got tested twice (PCR) and 3 times (Antigen) and all came back negative. They say the vaccines don't "prevent" you from getting it, but my own experience says otherwise.

So I think an N95 is overkill, but it's certainly your prerogative and comfort level, if you do so.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

So I think an N95 is overkill, but it's certainly your prerogative and comfort level, if you do so.

I have tons of N95 masks. Why not use them? It's not like I'm indoors in public places many minutes per day. If I were in a place with a higher vaccination rate and lower infection rate, I'd ditch the mask. I have to assume half the people around me aren't vaccinated.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

I have tons of N95 masks. Why not use them? It's not like I'm indoors in public places many minutes per day. If I were in a place with a higher vaccination rate and lower infection rate, I'd ditch the mask. I have to assume half the people around me aren't vaccinated.

Yes, I too ordered a bunch of them. Just find them uncomfortable to wear. It does give me comfort that I have them on hand, if necessary (e.g. for a medical appointment).

[mdovell]

I don't mind wearing a mask but I have to say that if we want to return to the office provide a bit of a enclosed office space. The office phone I think at this point is dead. There's way too much spam going out there and most office communications should be in writing, usually by email.

I've had this type of conversation a few times

::ring::

I pick up

"Uh I can hear you"

"Well yeah I have my mask on"

"Why?

"Because I'm in the office with other people"

"You aren't at your home ?"

Yeah....

group conferences are confusing. So you want to limit the number in a conference room I get that. But then do you want my mask on or off if I'm viewing online while in the office? Also since I can hear you in real life I also hear you online with a 2-3 second delay. I'm not making this up.

I also have to wonder to places that have to hire cleaning staff for reopened office if they'll actually show up or encourage employees to do it. I highly doubt anyone wants to clean a bathroom (who pays for that time?) and commute (who pays for that time) to the same job they had for the past few years.

[BostonMike7]

We allow masks removed when sitting alone in your office/cubicle.


We’ve been open all through the pandemic and have an on-site cleaning crew during the day. Same individuals that were there prior to March ‘20 are still here today.

Since mar 20 we’ve only had five (known) individuals in my building who have gotten Covid, come into the building and then tested positive. No intra-office transmission is known. Last case was well over 3-4 months ago. With new hires in the last year, we are back to pre-Covid building capacity even though 10% of our staff are WFH.

Anecdotally most of our employees (and all of my direct team) are vaccinated. No company mandate in place. There is a level of comfort and TBH most of us want to see masks gone ASAP once we get over this latest surge.


Only place I wear a mask these days is the office and any other businesses requiring them, which isn’t many in my daily travels. However, I’m not really rubbing elbows with large crowds these days. Work, home, some errands, and seeing close fam/friends.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

Anecdotally, I will say that the mRNA vaccines are extremely good at protection. I returned from 10 days in the UK recently, where everything was wide open (no masking, no restrictions). Of necessity, I had to eat several meals indoors in often crowded restaurants. If I went to grocery stores, I would be the only one masked (either a simple blue surgical or KN95). On top of that, I often heard coughing / hacking outdoors walking around, and sometimes in the restaurants. Got tested twice (PCR) and 3 times (Antigen) and all came back negative. They say the vaccines don't "prevent" you from getting it, but my own experience says otherwise.

So I think an N95 is overkill, but it's certainly your prerogative and comfort level, if you do so.

If we want to talk personal opinions, I will add the vaccines are great at causing side effects. I know way more people having side effects from the poison shot than were hospitalized by covid, but nobody wants to talk about that.

I will take natural immunity every day of the week over a constant booster shot method.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

If we want to talk personal opinions, I will add the vaccines are great at causing side effects. I know way more people having side effects from the poison shot than were hospitalized by covid, but nobody wants to talk about that.

Yes, we've heard...many times.

Funny thing though...nobody else has a similar story. Just you.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

If we want to talk personal opinions, I will add the vaccines are great at causing side effects. I know way more people having side effects from the poison shot than were hospitalized by covid, but nobody wants to talk about that.

I will take natural immunity every day of the week over a constant booster shot method.

You must truly live in a bubble. I know dozens who have received the shot, including elderly parents, and not one had side effects lingering more than 2 days (including myself). On the other hand, I know 2 people who were admitted to the ICU with Covid, and 3 (unvaccinated) people who died from it. Ages 28, 44, 51--no pre-existing conditions that anyone knew of. "No one wants to talk about that?" Gee, could it be because no actual data supports that absurd statement, and in fact it's quite the opposite.

Natural immunity only makes sense for diseases that are relatively benign such as childhood chickenpox. For Covid? That's Darwinism at its finest.

[brk330]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

...I know way more people having side effects from the poison shot than were hospitalized by covid, but nobody wants to talk about that....

Where are these people? Why is it always read about/heard about/someone I know? Get these people on here to tell their own stories. If it actually existed it would be headline news. We all want to know.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

I will take natural immunity every day of the week over a constant booster shot method.

Why? Even though latest studies show that immunity by vaccination is far more effective (and obviously less dangerous) than natural immunity?