Isn't it likely that, as time goes on, that the most successful mutations will result in a virus that is more transmissible, but causes milder (non-fatal) illness? If I remember my evolutionary theory correctly, this combination would result in the most favorable set of characteristics for any parasitic entity (i.e., "don't kill the host").
And the con was in NYC, where (based on my visit last month) there are free rapid antigen tests widely available. I saw a stand advertising them outside Queens Center mall. It seems pretty easy to get tested in NYC on a regular basis.
You mentioned using higher-quality masks, but then you refer to surgical masks. They are, indeed, better (meaning more protective) than cloth masks, but they aren't the most protective. In late 2021, both N95 and South Korean KF94 certified respirators are available and highly affordable.
I suspect many people will find the KF94s easier to use because they attach with ear loops. The N95 standard requires head straps.
Note that according to tests (e. g. by "The Mask Nerd" Aaron Collins) you can wear these for up to 60 hours with no measurable effect on function (unless you're in a very dirty environment). Just let them "rest" for 24 or 48 hours between wearings, which is long enough for any trapped SARS-CoV-2 to become nonfunctional. That brings the cost of masks that offer excellent protection down to well under a dollar a day--and that last figure assumes you actually leave your home every single day, which is not true for everyone in 2021.
Collins' tests indicate that some of the Chinese-made KN95 respirators are excellent ... and some are barely even filtering. The trouble is that both the US and South Korean governments actually verify the ability of N95 and KF94 respirators to remove 0.3 micron particles. The Chinese government defines a standard, but doesn't regularly test actual products. Also, some of the KN95s on Amazon are just plain counterfeits some anonymous third party is selling.
Oh, yeah, another thing (being verbose today, sorry): the anime con that the Minnesota man attended ended on 22 November. If there was a superspreader event there, we'd have already seen many, many cases. Coincidence? Caught it somewhere else?
Would I get tested, had I attended the con? Yes. Would I be very worried? No.
Note that I did attend a convention, Philcon, that weekend. Seem to have survived. (I actually took a rapid antigen test last weekend, because I was about to do a three-day video shoot this week. Negative.)
Isn't it likely that, as time goes on, that the most successful mutations will result in a virus that is more transmissible, but causes milder (non-fatal) illness? If I remember my evolutionary theory correctly, this combination would result in the most favorable set of characteristics for any parasitic entity (i.e., "don't kill the host").
And the con was in NYC, where (based on my visit last month) there are free rapid antigen tests widely available. I saw a stand advertising them outside Queens Center mall. It seems pretty easy to get tested in NYC on a regular basis.
Hi, John,
You mentioned using higher-quality masks, but then you refer to surgical masks. They are, indeed, better (meaning more protective) than cloth masks, but they aren't the most protective. In late 2021, both N95 and South Korean KF94 certified respirators are available and highly affordable.
I am paying about $1.20 for my KF94-grade masks from https://kollecteusa.com/
The ones I get are rated at 99.8% removal of the most penetrating particle size range, in actual wear on a human face.
You can also get N95s for under a dollar (!) here: https://shop.projectn95.org/gerson-n95-respirators-3230-box-of-50/p
I suspect many people will find the KF94s easier to use because they attach with ear loops. The N95 standard requires head straps.
Note that according to tests (e. g. by "The Mask Nerd" Aaron Collins) you can wear these for up to 60 hours with no measurable effect on function (unless you're in a very dirty environment). Just let them "rest" for 24 or 48 hours between wearings, which is long enough for any trapped SARS-CoV-2 to become nonfunctional. That brings the cost of masks that offer excellent protection down to well under a dollar a day--and that last figure assumes you actually leave your home every single day, which is not true for everyone in 2021.
Collins' tests indicate that some of the Chinese-made KN95 respirators are excellent ... and some are barely even filtering. The trouble is that both the US and South Korean governments actually verify the ability of N95 and KF94 respirators to remove 0.3 micron particles. The Chinese government defines a standard, but doesn't regularly test actual products. Also, some of the KN95s on Amazon are just plain counterfeits some anonymous third party is selling.
Oh, yeah, another thing (being verbose today, sorry): the anime con that the Minnesota man attended ended on 22 November. If there was a superspreader event there, we'd have already seen many, many cases. Coincidence? Caught it somewhere else?
Would I get tested, had I attended the con? Yes. Would I be very worried? No.
Note that I did attend a convention, Philcon, that weekend. Seem to have survived. (I actually took a rapid antigen test last weekend, because I was about to do a three-day video shoot this week. Negative.)