Covid 19

As usual, if you want to discover the motivating factor behind this cynical “leadership”, you just need to follow the money. Just like Ron Paul invested in Remdesivir, after receiving insider information back in February of 2020, well before the American public knew about the dangers of Covid, DeSantis is taking it one step further as proof of his “loyalty”. This is because way back when Donald Trump got hospitalized with Covid at Walter Reed, he was hawking Regeneron as a treatment. Please say “Regeneron” just one more time:



After the Presidential publicity boost, Regeneron stock of course, went up in value, but then never gained as much ground as I’m sure these investors would have liked, and so, back in January 2021, it lost value, thereby disappointing those politicians who had invested in it.

Now to be fair, these investments could come from EITHER PARTY because our current laws allow our elected “leaders”/profiteers to gain financially through investments like these, and just so long as they file their papers in time disclosing these investments, like Rand Paul did a couple of days ago, everything is just “peachy”.




As the Regeneron stock continued to flatline, and went nowhere, investors were left crying in their champagne on their yachts, until DeSantis comes riding in like a “shining knight on a white horse”. DeSantis, now playing the role of “hero rescuer”, (not so much the “hero” coming in to “rescue” Covid victims, but moreover, as a “financial hero and rescuer” to disappointed billionaire investors) has seen a HUGE OPPORTUNITY in the floundering Regeneron stock. It’s not only a way for him to make money in the stock market, but he will also breathe new life into the value of the stock for others, especially Donald Trump. In playing this “financial hero” role, DeSantis not only curries favor with Trump, should he decide to run for higher office in the future, but solidifies his loyalty within the party, and its constituents. It’s really just your simple, everyday, political “back-scratching” maneuver that will reap untold financial and political rewards for DeSantis, while the unvaccinated continue to die. (And if Regeneron doesn’t work, there’s always that horse paste at Tractor Supply!) And since DeSantis has put Regeneron back in the public spotlight, financial media outlets pick up the story, and amplify it, to further inflate investment potential, as Jim Cramer did so well yesterday:



It is curious though, how trading volumes in Regeneron stock started spiking a couple of weeks ago, way before DeSantis made his announcement yesterday about Regeneron treatment availability through statewide, mobile units. And it hardly takes a rocket scientist to see the pattern of personal financial interest taking precedence over the interest of public health. In fact, the corruption and abuse of public office is about as transparent as it gets. (Well, gee Willikers! Would you look at those volume increases? What in the world could have ever caused THAT to happen?)



Prior to DeSantis’s announcement yesterday, which sought to financially revive Regeneron on the stock market, and offer it as an “alternative” treatment, interest in Regeneron faded for a darn good reason, since it neither “cures” nor “prevents” Covid infections. In other words, a person can still die of the virus, even though they have received Regeneron treatments from DeSantis’ nifty mobile units. And realize that it only took them 16 months to come up with THAT “brilliant” idea, after more than 600,000 Americans had already died! Masks are cheap, the vaccine is FREE, but yet DeSantis has discouraged these proven cost-effective, preventive measures in favor of $1500 Regeneron treatments. Why?

As Florida hospitals, and pediatric ICUs fill up with Covid patients, DeSantis is walking a political tightrope right now. He must put forth the OPTICS that he has tried to do something tangible about Covid for the “record”, while Florida hospitals become overrun with Covid patients. But the “treatment” that he is offering is just another “roadside attraction”, that would fill a carnival barker’s pockets, but has nothing to do with the American tradition of defeating the common enemy of communicable diseases, through our proven vaccine developments. And if you need proof that the love and worship of “money is at the root of all evil”, the cynical profiteering of DeSantis, and others, has got to be it.

 

Of course, the usual religious logic of these people is "God will take care of it all." Well, suit yourself, but with regard to the vaccine, "I'll have another round, thanks!"

 

God takes care of a lot of things, including giving us all a vaccine that would prevent our death, and those of our families, but Kidwell’s request for prayers for himself and his wife right now, who is hospitalized with Covid, after he has done everything in his power to discourage people from protecting themselves, is beyond certifiable. I will say a prayer for his children though, but I’ll hardly say a prayer for any parent who leaves a gun on the kitchen table with a bullet in the chamber.

 

Broward County, Florida: 4 educators died within about 24 hours from Covid-19 complications
By Dakin Andone and Leyla Santiago, CNN 2 hrs ago
The week before classes begin, four educators in Broward County, Florida, have died within about 24 hours of each other from Covid-19 related complications, local education officials said.

Three teachers and a teaching assistant died from Covid-19-related complications within the span between Monday night and Wednesday morning, the president of the Broward Teachers Union, Anna Fusco, told CNN.

At least three of the educators were unvaccinated, Fusco told CNN affiliate WFOR. The vaccination status of the fourth wasn't immediately known.

Broward County School Board Chair Rosalind Osgood was aware of several teachers' deaths, telling CNN on Friday: "We got information on Tuesday that was reported to us. I know of three of those teachers that passed away from Covid in Broward County."

"I was also told that they were unvaccinated," Osgood said when asked whether three of the teachers were not vaccinated.

The teachers' deaths come just days before classes start in Broward County, among the country's largest school districts, and as coronavirus cases surge in Florida and other states, driven by the Delta variant and low vaccination rates. The confluence is reigniting debates over Covid-19 mitigation strategies as a new academic year begins.

Broward County Public Schools has had 138 employees test positive for Covid-19 since August 1, according to the school system's Covid-19 dashboard, which was updated Thursday. Classes are set to begin next week, according to the school calendar; employees began planning on Wednesday.

The school district is using funds to incentivize staff to get vaccinated, Osgood said.

"But there are a lot of people that have still not gotten the vaccination," she said. "And it is becoming a deadly thing for them not to be vaccinated."

"You need to get vaccinated," Osgood said. "This disease will kill you or leave with you a lifelong complication that not only impacts you but also impacts your family and the people that you love and care about."

The district already had found itself in the headlines in recent weeks for steps taken on mask mandates: Earlier this week the school board voted to maintain a mask mandate approved late last month, despite an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis effectively prohibiting such a requirement in school districts.

The order -- the subject of several lawsuits -- required the state's health and education departments to make rules giving parents, not schools, the ability to choose whether their children should wear masks.

"The eight of us on our board are adamant that we cannot have people in schools without masks," Osgood told CNN Friday, "because we are living backlash of people dying with Covid."

"You can't take a risk with peoples' lives," she said. "We feel strongly that the lives of our students and staff are invaluable, and we're not willing to play Russian roulette with their lives or take a risk of losing people because we have people in schools without masks."

 

Once a person gets the vaccine, the chances of getting reinfected now stand at a minuscule 0.01%, and investors and politicians CAN’T MAKE ANY MONEY from people, or gain any more political currency through their rhetoric, once people are protected by the vaccine. This is why DeSantis saw both a financial, and a political opportunity, in resurrecting Regeneron as a “treatment” - not a prevention, mind you, and definitely not a cure. DeSantis and his cronies, will stand to make millions from Regeneron, but unvaccinated American adults and children will still die needlessly in the coming weeks. As Americans, we have fallen a very long way since Dr. Salk developed the polio vaccine in the 1950s, and left it as his contribution and legacy to American public health, and also to the world. He didn’t hawk “alternative” treatments, like so many are doing now, just to make “bank”, which is truly sad to see.

 

Polio resulted in something like 5000 cases of paralysis a year and when the vaccine was made available people rushed to get it. It is still a requirement for children to attend school in the US. Compared to Covid-19 which killed some 375,000 Americans in one year, but a large percentage of the population is still refusing to take the vaccine for Covid-19 after another 245,000 Americans died this year.

 

Hundreds of students in Palm Beach County forced to quarantine because of COVID days after school starts
BY LI COHEN

UPDATED ON: AUGUST 13, 2021 / 3:42 PM / CBS NEWS



Just a few days into the academic year, over 1,000 students in Palm Beach County, Florida, have been told to go into quarantine because of COVID-19 cases at their schools. The number of kids sent home grew from 440 on Wednesday to 1,020 on Friday, the district reported.

As of Friday, there were 134 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 26 employees and 105 students, according to the district's COVID-19 dashboard. The cases have been confirmed in 60 of the district's facilities and K-12 schools.

The number of COVID cases spiked dramatically within the first week of school. On Tuesday, when classes started, there were just five confirmed cases among the district's staff members, CBS affiliate WPEC reported.

Palm Beach County is the 10th largest school district in the U.S. and the fifth largest in Florida, with more than 197,000 students. The district did not immediately respond to CBS News' request for comment.

Florida Department of Health says anyone in K-12 schools who is symptomatic or tested positive, or who is a close contact to someone who has, should be immediately excluded from facilities. Anyone who has COVID cannot return for at least 10 days. Those exposed can return after a 14-day quarantine from the date of last exposure, or after seven days if they get a negative test.

Students in quarantine will not be able to take part in virtual learning, according to WPEC, and instead, will have to make up their work.

Palm Beach Superintendent Michael Burke told MSNBC this week that the district's goal was to "get our students back in person on our campuses." But, he said, "we've gone as far as we can within the state law to require face coverings for both our students and staff."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mandated last week that school districts cannot require children to wear face masks, which have been proven to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

"The governor's got to take responsibility for establishing the ground rules we're operating under," Burke told MSNBC. "This ability for families to opt out is leading to more cases which is ultimately going to send more kids home and deprive them of the typical classroom experience."

Three days before the first day of classes, Burke issued a statement to parents, guardians and staff, saying that the county was seeing a "rapid rise" in confirmed cases and hospitalizations. Despite the governor's executive order banning districts from enforcing mask mandates, Burke said that masks will be required in schools and on buses for all students. Parents and guardians can opt out, Burke said, and those who do have to send a signed note to the their child's school.

All staff are required to wear facial coverings indoors and on district transportation with no option of opting out, Burke said.

Florida Department of Health data shows that cases have been drastically increasing for several weeks. From July 30 to August 5 in Palm Beach, state data shows that there have been 7,787 new cases of COVID-19. Sixty-three percent of those who are eligible have been vaccinated in the state.

 

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/fe...GzPBi1rWwrBRwR1umXdCQbLiLa9NKidQ3fedLj7Bxp5BE

Federal data shows Raleigh, Durham ICUs close to capacity

Posted August 12, 2021 12:19 p.m. EDT
Updated August 12, 2021 7:35 p.m. EDT

Data released this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and compiled by the New York Times shows ICU beds in short supply in the Triangle.

WakeMed, Duke Health Raleigh, Rex, Duke Regional and Duke University and University of North Carolina hospitals report capacity directly to the DHHS. Four of the six show 95 percent or more of ICU beds occupied in the past week.

Rex and UNC hospitals reported 80 or more percent of ICU beds occupied.

"It's always a pretty high stress thing to try and see as many people as possible, and trying to find beds for everybody," said Dr. Matthew St. Marie, a senior resident at UNC Health.

The real difference is the number of people coming in, who don't have COVID who are here for other things is dramtically higher now," he added.

According to the New York Times, about one in 5 U.S. hospitals with intensive care units, or 583 total hospitals, recently reported that at least 95 percent of their I.C.U. beds were full. In the week ending Aug. 5, an average of 74 percent of intensive care hospital beds were occupied nationwide.

The data includes all people in the ICU, regardless of the cause, and shows that capacity is being pushed to the limit at a time when COVID-19 cases are on the rise.

On Thursday, 2,409 people were being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across North Carolina, and 5,900 new cases were reported.

The number of people hospitalized for the virus has tripled in just three weeks.

Both Duke University Hospital and Duke Health Raleigh Hospital reported no available ICU beds.

Duke University Hospital Chief Medical Officer Lisa Picket said this limits their ability to take patients from other hospitals and puts a strain on resources and staff.

"Here's another big mountain to climb over and so, they're really exhausted and frustrated that, here comes another wave and we haven't had time to heal ourselves," said Pickett.

Pickett said she's worried it may not be the worst of it.

"This Delta variant is terrible, and we don't know how much worse the next variant could be," said Pickett.

"It does seem like this Delta variant is tending to hit people faster and harder and at a younger age," said St. Marie.

WakeMed, with the highest number of COVID-19 patients (60) had just three ICU beds available.

Dr. Eric Eskioglu, chief medical and scientific officer at Novant Health, said health system is on track to match or exceed the surge of COVID-19 cases they saw in their hospitals in January.

"Unfortunately, we have more than a 1,000% increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions today compared to just three weeks ago,” he said. “The average age of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is also 44, down from 61 in January. More than 90% of patients hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated, and they are sicker than the patients we saw during earlier surges. Entire families are presenting in our emergency rooms for COVID testing. This surge is still preventable. I urge and plead with everyone to get vaccinated now."

While cases are climbing quickly, the vaccination rate is increasing only slowly. A little over 60% of adults in North Carolina has had at least one vaccine dose and 58% are fully vaccinated.

"I have not admitted [and] I don't know any of my colleagues who have admitted any patient who has COVID who has been vaccinated," said Pickett.

 

More cynical gaslighting optics coming from Florida Governor DeSantis who has issued an “emergency warning” as Tropical Depression, Fred (not even a hurricane!) moves into Florida. Never mind that many Florida hospitals, including pediatric ICUs, are already overrun with Covid patients right now and are nearing capacity, no thanks to him. But DeSantis has to “do something” that makes him appear to be “concerned” about public safety, so I suppose that this storm came along at just the right time for him to take advantage of, in order to bolster waning public support, and gaslight them at the same time. And does DeSantis not understand that “meteorology” is a branch of science that forecasts weather models and dangers, just like “epidemiology” forecasts the danger and spread of communicable diseases? It’s all SCIENCE!

 

The Covid anti-vaxxers are paying China for fake vaccine certificates .... who would have thought it.

US border agents in Tennessee have seized thousands of counterfeit Covid-19 vaccination cards
By Alaa Elassar, CNN

US Customs and Border Protection officers in Memphis, Tennessee, have seized thousands of fake Covid-19 vaccination cards so far this year.

"Every night" officers are seizing shipments from Shenzhen, China, headed to New Orleans, Louisiana, containing dozens of blank counterfeit vaccination cards, CBP said in a press release Friday.

The cards have spaces where the recipient can write their name, birth date and vaccine information. The cards also come with a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logo on the top.

"However, there were typos, unfinished words, and some of the Spanish verbiage on the back was misspelled," CBP said. "How else did they [CBP officers] know it was counterfeit? It was imported by a non-CDC or medical entity, and this was not the first time they had seen this shipper."

Patrol officers working at the Area Port in Memphis confiscate multiple fake vaccine card shipments -- sometimes up to 15 -- every day, according to CBP. The packages are often labeled as "Paper Greeting Cards/Use For-Greeting Card" or "PAPER PAPER CARD."

So far, Memphis CBPO have seized 121 packages containing 3,017 cards, according to CBP.

"These vaccinations are free and available everywhere," Area Port Director of Memphis Michael Neipert said in the release. "If you do not wish to receive a vaccine, that is your decision. But don't order a counterfeit, waste my officer's time, break the law, and misrepresent yourself."

"CBP Officers at the Area Port of Memphis remain committed to stopping counterfeit smuggling and helping to protect our communities," Neipert said. "But just know that when you order a fake vaxx card, you are using my officers time as they also seize fentanyl and methamphetamines."

Vaccination cards were not designed to be long-term proof of Covid vaccinations, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Forging the cards is a federal crime, punishable by a fine and up to five years in prison for forging government seals found on the card.

 

Tweet from a nurse caring for Covid patients and losing one:

 

No, people WITHOUT masks are peeing on everyone else .....

 

Which are the first 2 situations

 

yep and the problem...lol

 

Remember if you wear a mask, you are not going to "pee" on people because your mask is protecting them .....

 

Found this interesting


https://ovc.uoguelph.ca/pathobiology/people/faculty/Byram-W-Bridle

Professional Experience & Honours
Dr. Bridle received graduate training in immunology at the University of Guelph and then postdoctoral training as a viral immunologist at McMaster University.

Some of Dr. Bridle's noteworthy honours include:

• The Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award. This is the highest teaching award given by each North American Veterinary College; the recipient is chosen based on a vote of the second, third and fourth year veterinary classes.
• Terry Fox Research Institute New Investigator Award
• Being elected to be an honourary class president for the Ontario Veterinary College's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine classes of 2017 (Violet Komodos) and 2023 (Opal Otters)
• Zoetis Award for Research Excellence

 

Some real research on the subject:

Peer-reviewed studies

1. Researchers (including a CDC doctor) for a February 2021 article published by the Journal of the American Medical Association reviewed data from 10 previous studies conclude mask wearing substantially reduces spread. They write that wearing a cloth mask can reduce transmission of exhaled droplets from infected wearers into the air by around 50% to 70%. Additionally, masks were shown to help prevent uninfected wearers from inhaling large respiratory droplets. Overall, the authors found mask wearing’s main benefit is source control, which protects others by reducing the number of respiratory droplets released, rather than respiratory protection, which protects the wearer.
   
2. Universal mask adoption for people when in public is recommended by the authors of the “An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19,” first published in January by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. Researchers poured over at least 150 other studies, models and findings to draw their conclusion: “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 virus reproduction levels to below 1, thereby reducing community spread if such measures are sustained.” Additionally, they posit that mask wearing mandates could add $1 trillion to the U.S. GDP by preventing business closures.
   
3. A high-speed laser-light video experiment in the New England Journal of Medicine caused oral fluid droplets to appear as flashes in the light. When observed, between 227 and 347 oral fluid droplets flashed when participants said the words “stay healthy” without a mask. When the same phrase was spoken with a mask, “the flash count remained close to background level.”
   
4. A June 2020 University of Iowa study published in the Health Affairs medical journal estimated over 200,000 COVID-19 cases were prevented in May after masking was mandated in several states. For this experiment, researchers used data analysis and models to measure community spread before and after a mask mandate was enacted. Data found that within 1-5 days after a mandate was issued, daily case rates dropped nearly one percentage point. Within 21 or more days, they dropped two.
   
5. A symptomatic traveler with a dry cough traveled from Wuhan, China, to Toronto, Canada, while wearing a mask, Canadian Medical Association Journal researchers reported in an April 2020 response to a February 2020 study. None of the 25 passengers considered “close contacts” aboard the flight contracted the virus. This study indicated that droplet transmission was likely more prevalent than airborne transmission.
   
6. A June 2020 study in medical journal the Lancet reviewed 172 other studies from 16 countries and found that while different masks offer different effectiveness, masks overall result in a “large reduction in risk of infection.”
   
7. Research in the journal Science addressed one key claim by mask opponents: that masks don’t work because they can still let quite a bit of respiratory matter through. The study explains, however, that the amount of particles that can come through a mask are dependent on environment and how infected a certain area is. For example, a highly infected group of individuals in a closed space will result in more particles being present overall, including through a mask. Nevertheless, face masks were found to effectively limit probability of COVID-19 transmission.
   
8. A study published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies found that out of a total of 19 randomized controlled trials of communities, masks were effective—even without hand washing.
   
9. Authors of a Science Advances journal study found that some masks—particularly neck gaiters—could disperse large droplets into smaller, more airborne droplets. However, surgical masks, cotton masks and bandanas were found to cause a reduction in transmission and a significant delay between when they left one person’s mouth and when they were detected.
   
10. An article in the medical journal Respirology concluded (based on 10 previous studies and data) says while questions remain, there are “a range of reasons to advocate public mask wearing.” Authors noted that while masks protect wearers from droplets more than airborne particles, studies of influenza spread show masks are about 40-95% efficient. While they believe more information is still needed, they conclude that although cloth masks are inferior to medical masks, they’re “certainly better than no masks at all.”
    
11. Models created by the authors of a January 2021 study in the Frontiers in Medicine journal indicated wearing face masks showed favorable outcomes in reducing infection rates. Most importantly, mathematical models indicated a big decrease in mortality when population mask coverage was near-universal. This was true even if mask type were less effective types.
    
12. A November 2020 article published in the Environmental Pollution journal concluded mask wearing is effective at preventing contact, droplet and possibly airborne transmission of COVID-19. Based on their research—through review of existing data—they urged government officials to further emphasis the importance of masking.
    
13. An October 2020 study in Extreme Mechanics Letters found that cloth face coverings, particularly masks with multiple layers, have over 70% blocking efficiency. Multiple-layered fabric was found to stop droplets with more than 94% efficiency, which is equitable to that of medical masks.
    
14. A scenario in Nature Medicine projected what would happen if each U.S. state implemented and achieved 95% of public mask use—this resulted in the lowest projected cumulative death toll. Under this scenario, no states reached daily death rates of eight deaths per million. Other projections found that even if lockdowns/restrictions were not mandated, “any additional coverage that can be achieved through mask use will save lives.”
    
15. Authors of the “How effective is a mask in preventing COVID-19 infection?” study published in Medical Devices & Sensors examined transmission of droplets through various masks, ultimately finding that correctly wearing masks—despite the varying effectiveness of different types—can largely reduce overall risks of infection and boost protection.
    
16. Consumer-grade masks (cloth, bandana) with modifications can offer protection that’s almost the exact same or even better than non-N95 medical masks professionals use. That’s according to the researchers in a December 2020 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Modifications in fit was the main contributor to increased effectiveness, researchers wrote.
    
17. The Annals of Internal Medicine published a study indicating that while researchers don’t have enough data to rule that cloth masks stop transmission of respiratory droplets from coming in through a mask, there’s “convincing” evidence to say that cloth masks do reduce particles from going out of a mask and contaminating air and surfaces. The researchers explain: “Every virus-laden particle retained in a mask is not available to hang in the air as an aerosol or fall to a surface to be later picked up by touch.”

 

1. While authors of a December 2020 Eurosurveillance infectious disease journal review of 74 sources decided more data and research is needed, they ultimately estimated face masks to offered up to 15% reduction in disease transmission in their sample pool.
   
2. The authors of this April 2020 study found that Taiwan recorded only 348 COVID-19 cases at that time, while Singapore recorded 1,114. Only Taiwan encouraged masking at the onset of the pandemic, according to the Emerging Infectious Diseases-published study. While researchers say the reduction was “marginal,” they believe the reduction could still produce substantial results, especially if implemented early on. Researchers acknowledge limitations to the study, saying a small sample size was used and there was “suboptimal” adherence to mask wearing among participants. They write: “Taiwan had the foresight to create a large stockpile of medical and surgical masks; other countries or regions might now consider doing so as part of future pandemic plans.”
   
3. In a study in Journal of Travel Medicine, published by Oxford University, researchers found that while mask effectiveness varies depending on type and fit, cloth masks were suitable for non-healthcare workers and could prevent transmission of infection, especially during early onset. The authors argue that a model showed that even if face masks are only 20% effective and only 25% of the population used them, infection would be reduced by 30%.
   
4. A March 2021 study looked at the impact of New York City’s April 2020 executive order mandating mask wearing for all in public. At that time, NYC was the epicenter of infections in the U.S., the study published in Journal of Urban Health explains. Results showed that NYC’s mask mandate prevented 99,517 infections and 7,978 COVID-19 deaths. Additionally, researchers say if the order had been implemented just one week earlier than that, 111,475 infections and 9,017 deaths would have been prevented.
   
5. This Hong Kong study published in The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease laments the lack of support for masking in Western countries, as many Asian countries accept and have normalized mask wearing for decades. The researchers point to a previous study cited to dispute benefits of face masks—particularly cloth masks—because they’re considered far less effective than surgical masks. The authors argue that while cloth masks are less effective than surgical masks, the difference is about 70% versus 90%, which they say is still a “very meaningful benefit.”
   
6. Authors of a December 2020 study published in Future Microbiology felt strongly about their findings on mask fit, which found they significantly reduce particle transmission when worn properly. They write: “Quantitative analysis of the most efficient and effective face masks (in terms of both fit and fabric) will undoubtedly help to stem the spread of not just SAR-CoV-2 but also any illness spread through respiratory particles.”
   
7. Researchers in this study of efficacy of different materials used for homemade masks found, as expected, different materials have different capabilities in preventing transmission. The laboratory study was performed in West China Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, China and published in October 2020 by the PLOS One scientific journal community. The lab tested various materials and layering for filtration. The study found that while homemade masks did not meet surgical mask standards, the filtration efficiency and pressure difference inside did. They write: “…homemade masks using available materials, based on the results of this study, can minimize the chance of infection to the maximum extent.”
   
8. This BMJ-published study from New South Wales, Australia, used simulation scenarios to deduce that when used together, masking, high community testing and contact tracing are effective at controlling COVID-19 transmission. The researchers predictions and models lined up pretty closely with how case numbers played out in New South Wales.
   
9. Mathematical models were generated based on huge swaths of data for this study published in Nature Communications. These models found: 1) Even limited distribution of masks offering only 25% protection and containment would result in significant drop in death rates, 2) Even if only 10% of people used the masks offering 25% protection, the death rate would drop 5%, 3) If people used homemade masks that offered even 5% protection and containment, death rates would drop from 2.5 to 2.26 percentage points. Places requiring public masking could also expect a 3-5% reduction in deaths, researchers write.
   
10. In this study published in the European Respiratory Journal, researchers examined information from several countries to determine the differences in spread among those who masked and those who largely didn’t. They urge lawmakers and residents to heed mask guidelines, as it’s a favorable alternative to shutdowns and prolonged social distancing. The authors “strongly support the use of cloth masks as a simple, economic and sustainable alternative to surgical masks as a means of source control for general community use, so that disposable surgical masks and N95 respirators can be reserved for use in healthcare facilities.”
    
11. A September 2020 study published by the Association for Psychological Science reviewed several previous studies to determine why many people refuse or resist doing so when, they believe, face masks and social distancing have been proven to help slow disease spread. Researchers of the study, which centered on empathy, reviewed many previous studies to come to the what before examining the why.
    
12. Using data from 15 previous studies, researchers in this Lancet-published study write: “This study supports universal face mask use, because masks were equally effective in both health-care and community settings when adjusted for type of mask use.” While the authors acknowledge that surgical and N95 masks are more effective than cloth masks, data indicate universal mask wearing can reduce the rate of infection, even with moderately effective ones. Additionally, researchers cite data showing mask wearing in Beijing homes prevented secondary transmission, if worn before symptoms appear.
    
13. The Beijing study cited in #38 was published in May 2020 by BMJ Global Health—it followed 335 people in 124 families that had at least one family member with a confirmed COVID-19 case. Authors found that after nearly a month in the same household, face mask use by all parties before symptom development was 79% effective in transmission reduction.
    
14. This study published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases medical journal concluded that while cloth masks are inferior to surgical masks and shouldn’t be used by healthcare workers, they are a suitable option for community use. Fit and material are key, researchers write, indicating that fabrics with high thread count and fine weave should be used—in addition to several layers of the material.
    
15. These New York University Abu Dhabi researchers examined the resistance of mask wearing in Spain during the early stages of the pandemic. Here, while exploring how attitudes and biases affect decisions to wear masks, explain that many still resist “despite growing evidence of the effectiveness of face mask use against transmission of respiratory viruses.” Based on their research, the authors urged governments to create programs to improve mask-wearing compliance.