The Texas State Fair has been cancelled.

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

That wasn't right. 10,000 new Texas cases today.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

PartyBear said:

---

The Texas State Fair has been cancelled.

---

Ironic that CDC says the OU/UT game is still a go.

PartyBear said:

---

The Texas State Fair has been cancelled.

---

Wow!!!!! Just to be safe, I think we should cancel all weddings and funerals until 2024. Just to be safe!

Aliceinbubbleland said:

---

PartyBear said:

---

The Texas State Fair has been cancelled.

---

Ironic that CDC says the OU/UT game is still a go.

---

Can't show BLM support on nationwide TV at State Fair???

Suppress capitalistic State Fair?

There's a lot that goes into these big Marxist decisions

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

Toilet seats

blackie said:

---

The politicians that had the power to call the shots or override those of local officials have let this get out of hand. They tried to sit on the fence between economy and public health. In doing so they succeeded at neither resulting in likely more deaths and destroyed families and a blown up economy. Of course they had tremendous help from the public which probably could have cut this thing way down without as much damage to the economy by just following personal guidelines. But they are too independent to do that simple thing, and the politicians are too political, afraid to upset their base to mandate anything until the horses were already out of the barn....and it is questionable if they will even enforce what they have now mandated.

The final story is a long way from being set or told, but right now our handling of this compared to other major countries, outside of Brazil has been an episode of the Keystone Cops.

---

Well said.

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

Got an E-mail from the South Texas Blood Bank saying the next time we donate, we will get a free Covid-19 antibody test. The results will be available in 14 days. I am not eligible to give again for another 30 days. Thought this was interesting.

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

---

I don't know if he is, but you certainly seem to be thrilled that the virus is still prevalent and a threat.

Oldbear83 said:

---

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

---

I don't know if he is, but you certainly seem to be thrilled that the virus is still prevalent and a threat.

---

I know you're one that proffered that theme until you later changed your mind. No, you're just trying to use your standard ad hominem attack strategy when you have no facts or compelling argument. I'm alarmed that our leaders in this country have failed to recognize the significance of the threat and to marshal an effective response.

TexasScientist said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

---

I don't know if he is, but you certainly seem to be thrilled that the virus is still prevalent and a threat.

---

I know you're one that proffered that theme until you later changed your mind. No, you're just trying to use your standard ad hominem attack strategy when you have no facts. I'm alarmed that our leaders in this country have failed to recognize the significance of the threat and to marshal an effective response.

---

Translation: You are mad because I called you out on your hypocrisy.

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

---

No. I don't make predictions, generally speaking. I'm a different bright person.

Are you the dim person who thinks we need to shutter our world to prevent the spread of a disease that only meaningfully impacts 0.26% of our population - primarily diabetic pensioners with COPD?

TexasScientist said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

---

I don't know if he is, but you certainly seem to be thrilled that the virus is still prevalent and a threat.

---

I know you're one that proffered that theme until you later changed your mind. No, you're just trying to use your standard ad hominem attack strategy when you have no facts or compelling argument. I'm alarmed that our leaders in this country have failed to recognize the significance of the threat and to marshal an effective response.

---

The response is fine, except that it may be overblown. The right course of action is to continue to let the virus spread. The important number here is not the number of cases, but the number of deaths. The greater the spread of the virus without an equivalently growing number of deaths (precisely as we are seeing now) is a very VERY good thing. Hand wringing over increased positive test results in the absence of associated deaths is just more politicization of the virus and goal post moving.

July 4 Total 1,308 | COVID 568
July 5 Total 1,307 | COVID 589
July 6 Total 1,362 | COVID 600
July 7 Total 1,364 | COVID 615

FWIW I use disposable and not cloth masks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cloth masks to medical masks in hospital healthcare workers (HCWs). The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between medical masks and cloth masks.

Setting
14 secondary-level/tertiary-level hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Participants
1607 hospital HCWs aged 18 years working full-time in selected high-risk wards.

Intervention
Hospital wards were randomised to: medical masks, cloth masks or a control group (usual practice, which included mask wearing). Participants used the mask on every shift for 4 consecutive weeks.
Main outcome measure
Clinical respiratory illness (CRI), influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection.

Results
The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

Conclusions
This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.

Jacques Strap said:

---

FWIW I use disposable and not cloth masks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cloth masks to medical masks in hospital healthcare workers (HCWs). The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between medical masks and cloth masks.

Setting
14 secondary-level/tertiary-level hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Participants
1607 hospital HCWs aged 18 years working full-time in selected high-risk wards.

Intervention
Hospital wards were randomised to: medical masks, cloth masks or a control group (usual practice, which included mask wearing). Participants used the mask on every shift for 4 consecutive weeks.
Main outcome measure
Clinical respiratory illness (CRI), influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection.

Results
The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

Conclusions
This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.

---

The fact that medical masks work better than cloth masks seems pretty unsurprising.

What does penetration by particles mean? I had been operating under the assumption that any mask reduces the amount of respiratory transmission and limits the distance of the same. Does this study call into question my hypothesis?

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

FWIW I use disposable and not cloth masks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cloth masks to medical masks in hospital healthcare workers (HCWs). The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between medical masks and cloth masks.

Setting
14 secondary-level/tertiary-level hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Participants
1607 hospital HCWs aged 18 years working full-time in selected high-risk wards.

Intervention
Hospital wards were randomised to: medical masks, cloth masks or a control group (usual practice, which included mask wearing). Participants used the mask on every shift for 4 consecutive weeks.
Main outcome measure
Clinical respiratory illness (CRI), influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection.

Results
The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

Conclusions
This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.

---

The fact that medical masks work better than cloth masks seems pretty unsurprising.

What does penetration by particles mean? I had been operating under the assumption that any mask reduces the amount of respiratory transmission and limits the distance of the same. Does this study call into question my hypothesis?

---

Micron size for virus.

COVID is small enough to get through cloth easily and contains it when moist.

We all need N95 or better or were apparently actually making this worse according to the study.

Booray said:

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Jacques Strap said:

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FWIW I use disposable and not cloth masks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cloth masks to medical masks in hospital healthcare workers (HCWs). The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between medical masks and cloth masks.

Setting
14 secondary-level/tertiary-level hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Participants
1607 hospital HCWs aged 18 years working full-time in selected high-risk wards.

Intervention
Hospital wards were randomised to: medical masks, cloth masks or a control group (usual practice, which included mask wearing). Participants used the mask on every shift for 4 consecutive weeks.
Main outcome measure
Clinical respiratory illness (CRI), influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection.

Results
The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

Conclusions
This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.

---

The fact that medical masks work better than cloth masks seems pretty unsurprising.

What does penetration by particles mean? I had been operating under the assumption that any mask reduces the amount of respiratory transmission and limits the distance of the same. Does this study call into question my hypothesis?

---

What I got out of it was that cloth masks are not good.
Quote "Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection.".
Now I'm not sure if that means cloth mask are worse than no masks but it reaffirmed to me I don't want to use the same mask day after day. I maybe go to the store 1x to 3x a week so throwing 3 masks away is not big deal. Disposable masks may not help but cloth masks may actually hurt.

Jacques Strap said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

FWIW I use disposable and not cloth masks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cloth masks to medical masks in hospital healthcare workers (HCWs). The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between medical masks and cloth masks.

Setting
14 secondary-level/tertiary-level hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Participants
1607 hospital HCWs aged 18 years working full-time in selected high-risk wards.

Intervention
Hospital wards were randomised to: medical masks, cloth masks or a control group (usual practice, which included mask wearing). Participants used the mask on every shift for 4 consecutive weeks.
Main outcome measure
Clinical respiratory illness (CRI), influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection.

Results
The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

Conclusions
This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.

---

The fact that medical masks work better than cloth masks seems pretty unsurprising.

What does penetration by particles mean? I had been operating under the assumption that any mask reduces the amount of respiratory transmission and limits the distance of the same. Does this study call into question my hypothesis?

---

What I got out of it was that cloth masks are not good.
Quote "Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection.".
Now I'm not sure if that means cloth mask are worse than no masks but it reaffirmed to me I don't want to use the same mask day after day. I maybe go to the store 1x to 3x a week so throwing 3 masks away is not big deal. Disposable masks may not help but cloth masks may actually hurt.

---

Couple of notes I got from it that would caution against saying don't use cloth masks:

There was not a "no mask group' so it is impossible to say whether the cloth mask was better or worse than no mask

This was a 2011 study and no flu transmission was traced in any of the study; the authors felt that rhinovirus was a good stand in for the flu and other diseases transmitted by respiration.

The study was was conducted in health care settings where workers wore the masks continuously in the two tested arms vs workers who only wore masks when protocol called for it in the control arm--it was unclear to me what type of masks the control arm was using.

Compliance was self-reported

hand washing practices not factored in although, fro some reason the cloth mask workers reported significantly less hand washing than the medical mask wearers (14 v. 11 daily)

No investigation of possible transmission outside of the health care environment

The quality of the cloth mask was variable

I was also unclear on risk of infection being greater for cloth masks v the control arm (it makes perfect sense that it is greater than the medical mask arm). There is verbiage about the pathogen getting on the surface of the mask and being transmitted by touching that service or breathing it in; but the point I don't understand is how does breathing out into a mask that retains some of the particles increase your rick of infection--if it came from your mouth you are infected already anyway.

blackie said:

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The politicians that had the power to call the shots or override those of local officials have let this get out of hand. They tried to sit on the fence between economy and public health. In doing so they succeeded at neither resulting in likely more deaths and destroyed families and a blown up economy. Of course they had tremendous help from the public which probably could have cut this thing way down without as much damage to the economy by just following personal guidelines. But they are too independent to do that simple thing, and the politicians are too political, afraid to upset their base to mandate anything until the horses were already out of the barn....and it is questionable if they will even enforce what they have now mandated.

The final story is a long way from being set or told, but right now our handling of this compared to other major countries, outside of Brazil has been an episode of the Keystone Cops.

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Facts.

LTbear said:

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We're No. 1! We're No. 1! ... and 2 and 3 and 5 and 8 and 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 and 14 and 16 and 17 and 19 and 22 and 25.

All while Western Europe, which was hit harder than we ever were, has essentially contained the virus by accepting science and not acting like selfish *******s.

Jacques Strap said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

FWIW I use disposable and not cloth masks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cloth masks to medical masks in hospital healthcare workers (HCWs). The null hypothesis is that there is no difference between medical masks and cloth masks.

Setting
14 secondary-level/tertiary-level hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Participants
1607 hospital HCWs aged 18 years working full-time in selected high-risk wards.

Intervention
Hospital wards were randomised to: medical masks, cloth masks or a control group (usual practice, which included mask wearing). Participants used the mask on every shift for 4 consecutive weeks.
Main outcome measure
Clinical respiratory illness (CRI), influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection.

Results
The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

Conclusions
This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.

---

The fact that medical masks work better than cloth masks seems pretty unsurprising.

What does penetration by particles mean? I had been operating under the assumption that any mask reduces the amount of respiratory transmission and limits the distance of the same. Does this study call into question my hypothesis?

---

What I got out of it was that cloth masks are not good.
Quote "Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection.".
Now I'm not sure if that means cloth mask are worse than no masks but it reaffirmed to me I don't want to use the same mask day after day. I maybe go to the store 1x to 3x a week so throwing 3 masks away is not big deal. Disposable masks may not help but cloth masks may actually hurt.

---

I read this to be a study of infection rates for those wearing masks, not who they infected. So it's kind of not on point for our current purposes. I'd like HCWs not to get sick though, but I don't think American HCWs use cloth masks at work anyway.

N95 masks suck super hard. No way the average person would make it 8 hours a day with one on. Uncomfortable is not the right word.

nein51 said:

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N95 masks suck super hard. No way the average person would make it 8 hours a day with one on. Uncomfortable is not the right word.

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Agree.

I see store workers wearing their masks so loose that they may as well take it off.

Bearitto said:

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TexasScientist said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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TexasScientist said:

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Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

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Osodecentx said:

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Booray said:

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Osodecentx said:

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Booray said:

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Jacques Strap said:

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I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

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I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

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Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

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Must be all the public transportation.

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How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

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Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

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I don't know if he is, but you certainly seem to be thrilled that the virus is still prevalent and a threat.

---

I know you're one that proffered that theme until you later changed your mind. No, you're just trying to use your standard ad hominem attack strategy when you have no facts or compelling argument. I'm alarmed that our leaders in this country have failed to recognize the significance of the threat and to marshal an effective response.

---

The response is fine, except that it may be overblown. The right course of action is to continue to let the virus spread. The important number here is not the number of cases, but the number of deaths. The greater the spread of the virus without an equivalently growing number of deaths (precisely as we are
seeing now) is a very VERY good thing. Hand wringing over increased positive test results in the absence of associated deaths is just more politicization of the virus and goal post moving.

---

In addition to nearly 10,000 new cases in Florida, Texas reported over 9,500 cases and California reported more than 8,500 new infections. California and Texas also each reported a record one-day increase in deaths.

It was the second day in a row that U.S. deaths climbed by more than 900 in a day, the highest levels seen since early June, according to the tally.
https://news.trust.org/item/20200709004308-v2n88

You should rethink what you are saying. Trump's strategy is to let the virus run wild, ignore it, deflect attention from it, in the hopes of salvaging the economy and his chances for re-election.

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

TexasScientist said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

---

I don't know if he is, but you certainly seem to be thrilled that the virus is still prevalent and a threat.

---

I know you're one that proffered that theme until you later changed your mind. No, you're just trying to use your standard ad hominem attack strategy when you have no facts or compelling argument. I'm alarmed that our leaders in this country have failed to recognize the significance of the threat and to marshal an effective response.

---

The response is fine, except that it may be overblown. The right course of action is to continue to let the virus spread. The important number here is not the number of cases, but the number of deaths. The greater the spread of the virus without an equivalently growing number of deaths (precisely as we are
seeing now) is a very VERY good thing. Hand wringing over increased positive test results in the absence of associated deaths is just more politicization of the virus and goal post moving.

---

In addition to nearly 10,000 new cases in Florida, Texas reported over 9,500 cases and California reported more than 8,500 new infections. California and Texas also each reported a record one-day increase in deaths.

It was the second day in a row that U.S. deaths climbed by more than 900 in a day, the highest levels seen since early June, according to the tally.
https://news.trust.org/item/20200709004308-v2n88

You should rethink what you are saying. Trump's strategy is to let the virus run wild, ignore it, deflect attention from it, in the hopes of salvaging the economy and his chances for re-election.

---

The virus should run wild and we should lock up only the sick and old. A wise man who understands statistics would see this. I see you are not either.

Bearitto said:

---

TexasScientist said:

---

Bearitto said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Booray said:

---

Jacques Strap said:

---

I hope this is the beginning of a down trend but need more down days to confirm the trend.
Texas cases are off the July 4th peak the last two days.
7/4 8,258
7/5 3,449
7/6 5,318

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

Fatality Trends (Peak was 5/14 @ 58). Maybe the Docs have figured out better treatments these past few months. Hope so. Maybe the cases are up in the low risk age groups, Maybe there is a lag. Time will tell.
7/1 57
7/2 44
7/3 50
7/4 33
7/5 29
7/6 18

https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83

---

As to the first point, holidays and weekends usually show declines. Today's case numbers will be more telling.

---

I hope you are wrong. I fear you are correct

---

173 today in McLennan County, including 25 Baylor athletes. Of the 25 Baylor athletes, only 4 are asymptomatic.

5,300 statewide.Texas hospitalizations have doubled in two weeks to 8,698.

https://www.kwtx.com/app/2020/07/04/local-health-district-confirms-2-more-covid-19-deaths/

---

Waconew cases are doubling every 6 days

---

Must be all the public transportation.

---

How can you be so flippant about these thousands of deaths in Waco? This pandemic is incredibly deadly to EVERYONE.

---

Aren't you the bright person who said the virus would be gone this summer?

---

No. I don't make predictions, generally speaking. I'm a different bright person.

Are you the dim person who thinks we need to shutter our world to prevent the spread of a disease that only meaningfully impacts 0.26% of our population - primarily diabetic pensioners with COPD?

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I've never said we should shutter our economy. We should do like the successful countries that have brought it under control without shutting down. South Korea is a good example. The EU after a slow start now has it under control. 2/3rds of the US adult population has underlying conditions. Your method would result in unnecessary deaths.

You gonna force contact tracing on people? In this country??