Mask-Wearing On The Rise In U.S., But Not Social-Distancing, Federal Survey Finds
By: Rob Stein (NPR. org)
We are wearing masks. Masks simply are not enough. Masks are not going to stop spread of the virus. Masks are not going to control the pandemic.
President Joe is pushing a fiction that blames the public (particularly Trump supporters) for the latest spread of the virus. While President Joe tries to frame mask wearing as a partisan issue, it just ain't so. The virus is spreading while people are wearing masks. President Joe is lying already. And moon-eyed press reporters are quite willing to spread those lies and misinformation to affirm their political biases.
Finding information on the effectiveness of mitigation efforts has been difficult. The experts certainly are not going to report information that contradicts their political biases, either. The number of infections are increasing so the experts foist an assumption that people are not wearing masks and a willing press spreads those assumptions as fact. That might serve a political bias but doesn't serve the public.
Mandating what people are already doing won't accomplish anything other than scoring political points. Controlling the pandemic is going to require much more than politics. President Joe spreading misinformation won't control the pandemic. And the experts telling President Joe what he wants to hear as a way to obtain more Federal funding only puts the public at greater risk.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
More Americans may be wearing masks than early last spring, but other recommended behaviors to stop the pandemic's spread haven't kept pace, according to a new federal survey. And young people are the least likely to take needed steps to stop the virus, the data suggest.
The proportion of U.S. adults reporting wearing face masks increased from 78% in April to 89% in June, according to the nationally representative survey released by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday.
But the survey found either no change or a decline in other behaviors aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, such as hand-washing, social distancing and avoiding public or crowded places.
"Interesting data," Dr. Carlos Del Rio, a professor of global health and epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, wrote in an email to NPR. Del Rio was not involved in conducting the survey, which appears in this week's issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "Results are encouraging," he says, "but I wish they were better — especially among younger people."
The survey, conducted by the CDC in April, May and June, questioned more than 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
Young people were the least likely to engage in any of the recommended behaviors, which could help explain the increase in infections among this age group over that time period, the scientists say.
Although younger people are less likely to suffer the most serious complications of COVID-19, the infection can still be serious in some cases; and even those with mild cases or who are asymptomatic can spread the virus to older people, who are most vulnerable.
"These findings underscore the need to prioritize clear, targeted messaging and behavior modification interventions, especially for younger adults, to encourage uptake and support maintenance of recommended mitigation behaviors proven to slow the spread of COVID-19," the researchers write in the MMWR report.
Overall, most adults reported engaging in most or all of the six recommended behaviors: hand-washing, staying 6 feet away from other people, mask wearing and avoiding public or crowded places; they'd canceled or postponed social or recreational activities, they said, and avoided some or all restaurants.
But aside from the increase in mask-wearing, all other recommended behaviors decreased from April to June except for "avoiding some or all restaurants," which did not change significantly.
People ages 60 and older were most likely to comply with recommendations, while those ages 18 to 29 were least likely.
For example, mask-wearing increased from 83.7% in April to 92.4% in June among those ages 60 and older.
"There's more we must do to reduce infection, but that's an astounding increase — from 0% in less than eight months," Thomas Frieden, a former CDC director wrote of the increase in mask-wearing, in an email to NPR.
Still, among those ages 18 to 29, mask-wearing only increased from 69.6% in April to 86.1% in June.
Respondents who said they wear masks were more likely to follow other recommendations. And among those who did not report mask use, all other recommended behavior declined significantly from April to June, the survey found.
"Older adults might be more concerned about COVID-19, based on their higher risk for severe illness compared with that of younger adults," the researchers say.
Young adults might also be less likely to engage in mitigation behaviors because of "social, developmental, and practical factors," they say.
"Significant declines in self-reported mitigation behaviors among those not reporting mask use suggests that a minority of persons might be increasingly resistant to COVID-19 mitigation behaviors," the scientists conclude, "or unable to engage in mitigation behaviors because of the constraints introduced by their return to work, school or other settings."
Tags
Who is online
73 visitors
Honesty takes a holiday. Expert assumptions are not facts. And President Joe is spreading misinformation.
Bullshit. Masks work.
If masks worked then why are we experiencing increased spread of the virus? We've been led to believe that people are not wearing masks but that just ain't so. People are wearing masks as the reported survey shows.
The claim that we are experiencing a second or third wave of infections because people are not wearing masks is a fiction, a false assumption, a blatant lie.
Yes, masks work but masks aren't enough to prevent spread of the virus and control the pandemic.
Now you are going to believe surveys?
I can show you on my local news how people are going to festivals and carnivals and almost none of them are wearing one.
And I can show you pictures of all the Biden supporter's celebrations where many of them are not wearing masks. And Trump's rallies are a super spreader? LMMFAO. It's a goose/gander thing. If one is, so it the other. Period.
Please. Spare the members and readers the holier than thou representations...........SMH
Perhaps we're seeing an increase in cases because some people are not wearing masks like they should! That, and/or less social distancing. Those 2 simple methods can be quite effective in reducing cases, if people actually and consistently adhere to them.
I never put any labels on political affiliation. All I said was I see people gathering and not wearing them in my home state while infections are on the rise.
The only party a virus cares about is that there is one where it can spread.
I misrepresented not one thing. You on the other hand are trying to make it something other than it is.
Ask doctors and nurses....
Depending on the mask, 67-95% effective. Even more so if worn in layers. And definitely better than the 0% effectiveness of not wearing a mask.
There's a reason why they always wear masks in hospitals, clinics, during procedures, ect.. so they set a good example to follow.
Quite possible. People are likely touching their faces more, too. Kinda hard to avoid touching the face when donning, removing, and adjusting a mask. While admittedly speculation, wearing face masks may also increase touching the face. Seems like that would be a suitable thing to study.
Masks are effective within a limited context. But there is a lot more involved than simply wearing the mask.
Masks are quite effective, as expelled droplets are the primary means of spreading Covid. Distancing and hygiene only further reduces the risk.
Controlled laboratory studies are not a substitute for real world observations. But that is beside the point that the seeded article indicates that people ARE wearing masks.
That's the important point highlighted by the seeded article; people are wearing masks. The assumption that the current wave of new infections has been caused by people not wearing masks is not supported by the seeded article. If the reported information indicates that people are wearing masks while the number of new infections are increasing then there is a contradiction somewhere.
If people ARE wearing masks and the number of infections are rapidly increasing then it follows we've missed something. Spreading misinformation about people not wearing masks will only compound the error.
Not enough people are wearing masks or are wearing them inconsistently. If infections are on the rise, then clearly some are not wearing masks. And having a mask which doesn't cover both the mouth & nose doesn't count.
Either people are not wearing masks properly or masks are not as effective as we've been led to believe. But those two possibilities are the result of real world observations that has not been addressed by controlled laboratory studies.
At the end of all the scientific arguments we still don't know. The reported survey information indicates people are wearing masks. The number of reported infections are increasing. On the surface, those two pieces of real world information suggest that increasing mask usage correlates with increasing infections.
We've missed something. President Joe's politics of blaming people for not wearing masks won't clarify the contradiction in real world observations. President Joe is spreading misinformation to score political points.
Nerm, masks are effective when utilized properly and lab testing only demonstrates and reinforces that. Asks have been used effectively in real world applications for decades. Mask use is not something new. They work when used and used properly. So I'm not sure what the question is regarding their efficacy. So if infections are on the rise, then that means people are not wearing masks as some might claim or they're not wearing them properly. Also possible they're not practicing proper social distancing or hygiene. And yes, people who don't wear masks do share blame for the spread of Covid. Until an effective vaccine is developed and distributed, masks are the next best method to prevent the spread of Covid. There's really no question or doubt about that.
That's EXACTLY what I was about to say. I see people ALL DAY LONG that don't have their noses covered!!! What's the damn point then?
I'll bet those people will say they do wear masks, because the mask is 'on' them. It's just not covering what needs to be covered.
Please do
Yes. I wonder if MUVA knows why doctors/nurses/techs mask up and cover up in the OR?
I can guarantee that many of them say they're "wearing" them and not really wearing them properly. What baffles me is that a lot of the people I see without them or only covering their mouths are often in the high risk categories.
And then we have this:
Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings—Social Distancing Measures
and this:
Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings—Personal Protective and Environmental Measures
Real world observations are not coinciding with controlled laboratory studies. There are contradictions between the two types of observations.
That is an assumption and not evidence or fact. As I pointed out earlier with my own assumption, wearing a mask increases touching the face. So, wearing a mask properly won't avoid the risks associated with touching the face. Both situations are scientifically supportable but without evidence we still don't know.
That possibility is also highlighted in the seeded article. Masks are only one component. And if social distancing and hygiene are necessary components then how effective are masks? Will a universal requirement to wear masks really control the pandemic?
See why President Joe is spreading misinformation to score political points? President Joe is following assumptions and not evidence. We need to do a lot more than just wear a mask. Masks, alone, are a half measure, at best.
Notice that Joe Biden is not wearing the mask properly? The results from lab testing are based upon properly fitted masks and not real world situations as illustrated by Joe Biden.
I would take Biden's mask over someone who is not wearing a mask. If Biden is infected, his wearing of a mask inhibits the spread of the virus to others.
His mask should be pulled up slightly higher. But it covers his mouth and nose. Some people don't even do that or not even wear a mask at all. But I've already said if someone doesn't wear a mask properly, then it defeats the purpose. So what are you arguing exactly?
The mask is supposed to be fitted around the nose. That's the purpose of the metal strip. Adjust the mask position on the face and then pinch the metal strip to fit the mask on the face.
Leaving gaps around the nose does make breathing more comfortable but the improper fit reduces the effectiveness of the mask quite a bit. The gaps around the nose allows spread of the virus in the same manner as a vent valve on an N95 mask.
One of our local fire departments used to have an outdoor haunted trail ride for Halloween as a fundraiser. This year, they did an indoor haunted house.
Brilliant.
Here is Biden showing us how to properly use our masks.
Also, there’s no point wearing one if you think people won’t see (apparently).
Biden is not even the only one who does this (sanctimoniously preaches mask wearing while not wearing one himself). A number of these politicians do it.
His bad. It is important that Biden do better than Trump in setting an example. Clearly many in the USA follow the lead of the PotUS (good or bad).
Wearing a mask is a good thing. But this person is not “wearing a mask” . . .
. . . any more than this person is “wearing pants.”
And not wearing a mask (or pants) is a bad thing.
Of course not. Masks are only one measure. Nobody has suggested that wearing masks is sufficient to control the pandemic. Social distancing is actually far more effective than masks.
I can see you will not be objective with a president Biden.
Cynical much?
I disagree with mandates, but I also disagree that people are already wearing masks as we all should. What is needed is continued education and encouragement for everyone to do their parts and wear masks when social distancing is not enough. A president Biden should support the governors and mayors who will in turn provide justification for all stores, restaurants, bars, etc. to enforce prudent measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Of course.
Man this is some serious bullshit Nerm. You are claiming that Biden is lying to the American people by encouraging everyone to wear a mask and social distance and noting the obvious fact that these measures do mitigate the spread of the virus. They alone cannot stop the virus (we need herd immunity) but they are the best measures we have until we have an available vaccine that has made its way through the population.
How about we go with common sense based on what we have been able to determine via science and stop playing partisan games with something as serious as a pandemic as this seed is doing?
That's the part I love about all of this.