This bullet point is a misrepresentation (though to be fair, I haven't heard the actual podcast yet).
If both parties are wearing a cloth mask, it
doubles the safe contact time, and so they continue to be effective for casual contact (out and about in stores, etc.)
Secondly, the article this is from states that this specifically applied
only to the new highly infection omicron variant.
ref:
https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/...-stop-covid-19
So an accurate statement would be:
- It's now being acknowledged that specifically for the omicron variant, cloth masks are mostly useless for long-term exposure of > 30 minutes of contact
Also any attempt to retroactively apply what we know about this new omicron strain to past incarnations of COVID-19 is intellectually disingenuous, and flys in the face of a mountain of studies, and the overwhelming consensus of experts around the world:
Quote:
Conclusion
Our review of the literature offers evidence in favor of widespread mask use as source control to reduce community transmission: Nonmedical masks use materials that obstruct particles of the necessary size; people are most infectious in the initial period postinfection, where it is common to have few or no symptoms (45, 46, 141); nonmedical masks have been effective in reducing transmission of respiratory viruses; and places and time periods where mask usage is required or widespread have shown substantially lower community transmission.
The available evidence suggests that near-universal adoption of nonmedical masks when out in public, in combination with complementary public health measures, could successfully reduce Re to below 1, thereby reducing community spread if such measures are sustained. Economic analysis suggests that mask wearing mandates could add 1 trillion dollars to the US GDP (32, 34).
ref:
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118#sec-22
If you have evidence to refute the conclusions of the group of experts at the National Academy of Sciences, and the
141 studies & papers that they cite as references on the effectiveness of masks, but all means, present it.
What I do agree with you is that we clearly need to treat each strain of the virus as its own unique thing, and adjust our behavior based on the unique characteristics of each strain.
If we acknowledge that, by inference, it is also incorrect to then apply what we know about the current omicron strain to previous incarnations of the virus.
The advice from experts continues to be consistent:
Quote:
What we can do
When it comes to understanding the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination, Dr. Laguio-Vila suggests reorienting our expectations about how to approach both the virus and the vaccine.
“There was a great hope that this vaccine would be a silver bullet,” Dr. Laguio-Vila said. “But now, I think we need to readjust our expectations based on what we are learning. For us to expect zero infections when half of the globe is vaccinated, there is a hubris in that. This is a humbling virus that we are learning to prevent and evade using science. We need to evolve our understanding as much as the virus evolves.”
As we work to keep our minds open, there are steps we can continue to take to ensure we are as well protected as we can be against COVID-19.
Get vaccinated: COVID-19 vaccines are available at local pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and other locations in many of our communities. This is proving to be the best form of prevention we have against the virus.
Get boosted: If you are 18 years old or older and received your COVID-19 vaccine at least two months ago (Johnson & Johnson), or five months ago (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), you are now eligible for a booster shot. For 12 to 17 year olds who received the Pfizer vaccine, the booster shot has also been approved.
Wear a mask: Properly wearing a medical mask while at indoor public locations can reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19
Practice good hand hygiene: Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after spending time in public spaces. This means rinsing for at least 20 seconds.
Physical distancing: Stay six feet or more apart from other people in public spaces.
-- Maryrose R. Laguio-Vila, MD, Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease
ref:
https://hive.rochesterregional.org/2...een-vaccinated
