Capitol Hill Blue Forums Thread Like Summary - Masks, after vaxx, after delta

I wore masks away from home until I was vaccinated. Then I generally dropped them until delta brought us joy.

Now I’m having a discussion with a family member. She has dropped masks entirely, because she “doesn’t give a damn about people who are too stupid to get vaccinated.” We’re submitting our questions to the family epidemiologist.

In the meantime, I’m curious. (Obviously I realize these are personal questions; I understand if you’re not interested in responding.). I am asking for your personal thoughts/actions The thinking behind your decisions is always welcome.

1) Are you currently wearing a mask
a. At work
b. Away from home
c. Around large groups of people
d Not at all, or only when required

2) If you are currently wearing a mask, what circumstances would make you comfortable to stop wearing it?

3) If you are not wearing a mask,what would prompt you to start again?

I’ve assumed that everyone here is vaccinated, but I realize there are various reasons that may not be true.

They reviewed a good paper on TWIV the other day. Tons of data looking at a comparison of live Alpha and Delta variants in cell cultures. So they do now have actual data about Delta invading cells quicker and replicating faster to produce more virus. Of course, this is in cell cultures, and those cultures do not have an immune system! And those cells are from the kidney of an African green monkey, and are used because very few primate cell lines can be grown in cultures.

But still, this is the first confirmation by experiments that Delta probably spreads better than earlier variants. The idea that it is more virulent has been found to be false. If you are not immune and hospitalized for a Delta infection, it is about the same as being hospitalized for any other variant. There are a lot of people who have been infected previously or vaccinated now, and doctors know a lot more about treating Covid patients, so your chances of dying are much lower these days. We also have MABs, which can be VERY effective if you can get them soon enough.

Most deaths are from the unvaccinated, and these folks tend to deny they have Covid until MABS can't help.