(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . *Imagine* Making Christmas Healthy Again [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-12-24 If everyone wore masks when sick, including (*gasp*) kids in school, for just two weeks before the holidays… I’m estimating that we could save thousands of lives, hundreds of thousands of medical office/urgent care/ER/hospital visits, and millions of ruined holidays with Covid, influenza, RSV, and the like. My Christmas plans are already down the drain as we won’t be seeing older, currently vulnerable family members with our current illnesses. Discuss. Imagine. You might say that I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. You might have heard that masks don’t work, but that’s another misleading conclusion. They are especially good for “source control” of aerosolized germs from people who are sick. In fact, just last month there was another compelling study from JAMA. When universal masking and testing requirements were ended in May 2023, there was a 25% increase in hospital-onset respiratory viral infections compared to the previous period. After reinstating masking for healthcare workers in January 2024 during a winter surge, hospital-onset infections decreased by 33%. That’s a 58 percentage point swing, something that we all know in politics would be like a gold mine. Plus, a new comprehensive review of over 400 studies across multiple disciplines confirms that masks and respirators effectively reduce respiratory infection transmission, with effectiveness increasing with proper and consistent usage. Why would masking when sick, especially before the holidays, be such a novel no-brainer? There's strong evidence that masking infectious individuals ("source control") helps reduce respiratory virus transmission. The physics of respiratory droplets and aerosols shows that masks act as a barrier, catching many infectious particles before they can disperse into the surrounding air. Both surgical masks and well-fitting cloth masks can significantly reduce the spread of respiratory droplets and aerosols from the wearer. Multiple studies during the COVID-19 pandemic found that universal masking policies in healthcare settings and communities were associated with reduced transmission rates. You can mine the 400 cited in the link above. Earlier research on influenza and other respiratory viruses showed similar benefits. The effectiveness varies based on: - Mask type and fit - Proper wearing technique - Length of exposure/contact - Environmental factors like ventilation - The specific pathogen involved While masks aren't 100% effective at preventing transmission, they're an important tool for reducing spread, especially in combination with other preventive measures like distancing and ventilation. They're particularly valuable in settings where contact with vulnerable individuals is unavoidable. And when haters cry about freedom and virtue signaling, I agree it’s important to have a choice of masking at this point, and that we should still strive to be virtuous people. And I’m sick of being sick for the holidays. A campaign to mask up for others when sick, especially for those two weeks before the holidays, starting in 2025? I hope someday you will join me, and the world will be as one. Healthy again, indeed. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/12/24/2293532/-Imagine-Making-Christmas-Healthy-Again?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/