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"Which mask works best? To visualise droplets and aerosols, UNSW researchers used LED lighting system & a high-speed camera, filming people coughing and sneezing in different scenarios — using no mask, 2 different types of cloth masks, and a surgical mask..." (see more)"
See also, "Scientific Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2" from the Centers for Disease Control, 11/10/20.
The more interesting new words you will come across in this article are: on the rise, risky, a minor reaction, itching, swelling, a mild, severe [reaction], anaphylaxis, a state of shock, wheezing, dizziness, vomiting, pulse, blood preasure, to drop, airways, hospital admissions, [increased] threefold, to see [a 72%] rise in [the number of hospital admissions], to be aware of [food allergies], to pinpoint, self-reported data, food intolerance, prevalence, the "gold-standard" test for [a food allergy], to involve [feeding], a [clinical] setting, time-consuming, costly, to come [with risks], peer-reviewed sources, the rate, the range [of foods], to widen, to go by the name of ["the hygiene hypothesis], to give a wide berth, appalling, siblings, hay fever, eczema, declining [family size] household amenities, cleanliness, the gut, [to increase] the likelihood of [meeting] the microbiota, [born by] caesarian section, the birth canal, [an allergic] disorder, to lower the risk, to develop an allergy, to coin [a phrase], biocide-treated timber, plasterboard, to bear [no relation to], a failure, dual-allergen exposure, a detour [into], to end up with [guidance], dust, to trigger [a response], an infant, early-onset [eczema], to handle, a window of opportunity, an EpiPen, to caution [women] against [eating peanuts], pregnancy, a conclusive link, to change tack, barely, vulnerable to [food allergies], to deprive ourselves [of Vitamin D], a Goldilocks [scenario], amid [a rise in food allergy cases], to yield, promising [results].
I love newspapers. A print newspaper is best, but I can tolerate reading a daily paper that is on-line when it looks like the real thing and is not just columns of articles that you have to link to and hope you didn’t miss anything interesting.
I enjoy the randomness of coming across stories like this one -“Traffic-stopping turkey becoming social media star” on page 2A of today’s Detroit Free Press or “Feds remove protections for wolves; U.P. hunt on?” on page 4A. Will Michigan reinstate a wolf hunting season in the Upper Peninsula? Are cats and dogs next???
The following articles are a sampling of stories that caught my eye. I have provided links to the on-line versions of these articles, so that you don’t have to go out and buy an actual print newspaper.
From the Detroit Free Press, October 30, 2020:
“Michigan sets new restrictions on dining, gatherings as COVID-19 cases rise” by Dave Boucher and Kristen Jordan Shamus
Here is a little background to this story: The Michigan Supreme Court, on 10/2/20, struck down the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act that the Governor used as her authority to issue directives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling, however, did not affect other laws relating to public health. Most of the Governor's directives have been re-issued by the head of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
There are other issues, such as extending unemployment benefits, that have been approved by the legislature and replace similar directives previously issued by Governor Whitmer.
Local public health authorities have issued orders that continue those previously ordered by the state. Local businesses and public agencies are also allowed to make rules to preserve health and safety.
Michigan is now experiencing a severe spike in Covid-19 cases. According to the article,
“Cases throughout the state are up almost 94% in the last 14 days, according to data accumulated by the New York Times. As of Wednesday, the seven-day average number of positive cases was 2,365. At its peak in March, the seven-day average never topped 1,800 cases, according to data analyzed by the Free Press.
“Hospitalizations and deaths are also on the rise. More than 500 Michiganders have died from COVID-19 in October, compared with less than 300 in September. Michigan saw more deaths this month than any since May, according to state health data. “
More stringent restrictions have been ordered:
"The regulations include new restrictions on the number of people who may dine together at a bar or restaurant and establish requirements for eateries to keep contact information for dine-in customers.
"The order, issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, is intended to mandate mask wearing while in public, limit crowd sizes at private gatherings and in business, and generally promote actions that will stop the spread of the disease.
"The order does not apply to polling places or anywhere else that someone may try to cast a vote. Masks are recommended but not required for people who choose to cast a ballot in person on Tuesday, when polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. “
“Michigan Court of Appeals denies Benson appeal, says open carry at polls is legal”, by Paul Egan, 10/29/20.
The Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued a directive to ban the open carry of firearms at the polls.
You may remember pictures from April 2020 of armed men in the state capitol building in Lansing screaming at security guards during demonstrations demanding an end to restrictions to control the spread of Covid-19. Armed men were also allowed to stand in the gallery over the heads of the legislators while the legislature was in session. One legislator had the foresight to wear her bullet proof vest, just in case the situation turned really ugly. At least one of the armed men photographed in the gallery was later arrested in a plot to kidnap and kill Governor Whitmer.
This was all legal under MIchigan's open carry law, although restrictions are allowed in public areas under certain circumstances. Action by the state legislature to restrict the open carry of firearms might have stopped this threatening behavior in the state capitol.
Needless to say, tensions are high and Benson’s directive makes sense to prevent threats of violence at the polls. Her orders were overturned in court, however. Then the Michigan Court of Appeals denied Benson’s appeal of the ruling.
According to the article,
"The open carry of firearms will be permitted at the polls on Election Day, under an order issued Thursday by the Michigan Court of Appeals... "
"...In declining to hear the appeal, the panel said that although concerns about voter intimidation involving firearms are valid, the state already has laws to handle that.'Voter intimidation is — and remains — illegal under current Michigan law,' the panel said.
"Also, 'brandishing a firearm in public is — and remains — illegal under current Michigan law.' Therefore, 'anyone who intimidates a voter in Michigan by brandishing a firearm ... is committing a felony under existing law, and that law is — and remains —enforceable by our executive branch as well as local law enforcement.'"
In addition,
"'Just today, a poll released by the Detroit News and WDIV-TV indicated that 73% of Michigan voters say openly carried guns should be banned near polling places,' Nessel spokesman Ryanend nu Jarvi said. 'The merits of this issue — which impacts all Michiganders — deserves full and expedited consideration by our state’s highest court.'...
“Though Benson's directive remains without force under the Thursday order, existing state law could still prohibit some Michiganders from openly carrying firearms at some polling places. Schools are often used as polling places and guns are generally prohibited on school grounds, though concealed pistol license holders are allowed to open carry on school property.”
Here’s some good news:
"Surprise out-of-network medical bills now illegal in Michigan" by JC Reindl
“When receiving successful treatment to prevent preterm labor, Stacy Leick of White Lake Township underwent a 3D baby ultrasound at a hospital that was in-network with her health insurance company.
"Three months later and back home with her new baby girl, she received an unpleasant surprise in the mail: a $750 medical bill.
"Unknown to her, the radiologist who may have read the ultrasound was a visiting doctor and therefore not in her insurance company's network — so her insurer wouldn't pay his full charges.. The doctor's billing company then went after her for the unpaid balance.”
…"That sort of surprise should no longer happen in Michigan because of new legislation signed into law last week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after it passed through the state Legislature by wide bipartisan margins.
"The laws forbid medical providers from sending big surprise bills to patients who received emergency care outside of their insurance network, a practice known as balance billing."
Here is a link from the Detroit Free Press to a USA Today article on voting rights, just in time for the November 3rd, 2020 election:
"Know your voting rights: Here's what to do if you encounter intimidation at the polls on Election Day" by Josh Peter, USA Today, 10/28/20
This article covers the basics:
"Voters who already have their ballots are encouraged to return them as soon as possible — by mail NO LATER than Oct.19, or by hand delivering to their clerk’s office or ballot drop box. Ballot drop box locations for individual jurisdictions can be found at Michigan.gov/Vote. All absentee ballot return envelopes must be signed by the voter to be counted."
"...After...Oct. 19,2020, the online registration portal at Michigan.gov/Vote will include several warnings that voters must register in person to vote by or on Nov. 3, with instructions on how to do so."
Where are my clerk’s offices?
Where are my ballot drop boxes?
Where is my polling place?
Am I registered?
What's on the ballot?
Now Vote.
*************************
from The DD News Blog 2012:
***************************************
Death by Severe Autism
October 19, 2020
In the wake of senseless tragedy, a psychiatrist reflects
on severe autism’s painful realities.
By Lee E. Wachtel, MD
With the presidential election only two weeks away, our country stands at a tremendous crossroads during an era of unprecedented health and social challenge. Our lives literally seem at stake. As Republicans and Democrats spar on hotly contested issues ranging from Covid-19 to racial and social equity, climate change and the Supreme Court, disability activists are also jockeying for power and planning their next steps in whatever administration the American people elect.
I had been quite excited to participate in some of these political advocacy initiatives, until I was upbraided and accused of “ableism” and hurting others’ feelings when I asked what plans might include those with severe autism and intellectual disability. I was informed that “severe” was an unacceptable term, and as discussion of this topic was deeply upsetting to some individuals, I would be dismissed from the committee if I mentioned it again.
Let's be clear. There is obviously, without any doubt, such a thing as severe autism. The tragic death of autism advocate Feda Almaliti and her autistic 15-year-old son Muhammed (often called “Mu” or “Hammoudeh”) in a house fire in the early hours of September 26 underscores this reality, and also just how critical it is to never back down. We must never allow the plight of children and families dealing with severe autism to be suppressed by advocates who actively seek to downplay the serious mental challenges that ended up killing both Mu and his mother.
Feda, her sister Maysoon and Maysoon's daughter safely exited the burning home, but Feda ran back inside and upstairs to save Mu. Maysoon described what happened next:
“I ran back to the front door to scream for Feda again- as if that would help her come down faster. I can hear the popping of glass and the faint noises of Hammoudeh crying, “No, No, No" in response to Feda pleading with him. ‘HAMMOUDEH COME ON WE HAVE TO GO, NOW, WE HAVE TO GET OUT NOW!’
“The crying and screaming start to fade, probably not lasting more than thirty seconds. Then it stops and all I can hear is myself screaming for Feda and the words ‘my family.’ The realization of how useless and helpless I became made me sick and I wondered if my heart would give out any second.”
In other words, Feda ran back into the burning two-story structure to coax her 6’2”, 280-pound autistic son out of his room and down the stairs. But he would not budge, and Feda stayed. When the fire officials found the bodies, Feda was embracing Mu.
After a colleague and autism parent commented that “Autism killed Feda and Mu,” I had the chilling recognition that these two incredible people died a horrific death precisely because a severely autistic and intellectually disabled kid was unable to transition from point A to point B.
I’ve worked with autistic youth for nearly two decades and have seen countless behavioral protocols developed with intricate layers of reinforcement to gain compliance with necessary daily transitions. Yet while I’ve had kids plop down in the road or tantrum naked in busy airport hallways, I’ve never had any autistic child suffocate and burn for failure to move.
Typical teens in this crisis would have immediately run down the stairs. Indeed, most people with autism would have done so as well. The autism and disability advocates who attend college and graduate school, tweet their condemnations of autism parents, and campaign for policy reform and who are largely capable of high levels of independent stewardship, would have not hesitated. And those with physical handicap without severe mental and intellectual disability would have grasped the urgency of the situation and likely followed a planned and practiced exit strategy.
Feda Almaliti was an autism trailblazer beyond compare, and her autistic son Mu was cherished for his infectious joy. But by any reasonable measure, his autism was completely unlike that of the autism self-advocates. It was severe – Feda herself described him as “Autistic as F&@#” — and was compounded by severe intellectual disability. Most importantly, in a dire situation his severe impairments rendered him incapable of taking a simple action to save his own life. If Mu had mild autism, and lesser intellectual disability, I have no doubt he would have heeded his mother's words and fled the fire. Mild and severe. More and fewer IQ points. It all matters. It matters so much that in this case it meant the difference between life and death.
My one hope is that this tragedy may actually serve as a lesson to disability activists who dismiss the reality and plight of the severely disabled while narrow-mindedly pursuing their own agendas. There are so many Mus and Fedas out there facing horrendous hardships. Dismissing their realities — as I was essentially asked to do by current disability leaders — would not only have been a grave violation of the medical ethics to which I adhere, it would carry potentially devastating consequences for national disability programs and policy.
Whichever administration is in power after the election, they need to hear about severe autism. They need to hear about it loud and clear. Lives are on the line.
“Officials have been able to control COVID-19 transmission rates by implementing policies that encourage residents to eat and drink, exercise and spend time with friends and loved ones at a safe distance outside.
“But health experts are concerned cases could spike again as cooler temperatures in the fall and winter force people back indoors.
“The nation's leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, also is concerned upcoming holiday celebrations could increase transmission rates and advised Americans to skip any big Thanksgiving plans.
“Speaking to 'CBS Evening News' Wednesday, Fauci cautioned against 'gathering together in an indoor setting' with large groups of out-of-town guests. 'It is unfortunate because that’s such a sacred part of American tradition – the family gathering around Thanksgiving,' he said. 'But that is a risk.'“
The article goes on to explain how improving ventilation indoors, prevents transmission of the virus:
“Dr. Lewis Nelson, professor and chair of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said one of the main reasons there’s a higher risk of transmission indoors than outdoors is lack of ventilation.
“'Natural air currents outside disperse virus particles more quickly and effectively than inside. There’s minimal to no air circulation indoors, allowing virus particles to linger in the air or fall on high-touch surfaces.'…
[See more on this subject: "Ventilation and air filtration play a key role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 indoors" by Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 10/19/20]
The article also encourages the continued use of masks and social distancing and emphasizes keeping an eye on community transmission rates:
“Although mask-wearing, social distancing, hand hygiene and increased airflow can reduce the risk of transmission indoors, these mitigation efforts aren't 100% effective, especially if community transmission rates are high.
“Barry Bloom, research professor of public health and former dean of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, recommends residents keep an eye on transmission rates in their area to determine if it’s safe to go to an indoor public setting.”
In general, the recommendations for preventing spread of the virus remain the same, whether indoors or outside in public spaces and for the same reasons. The Covid-19 virus is very contagious and is spread from one person to another, mostly through the air in droplets and aerosols that contain the virus. The droplets and aerosols are expelled by a contagious person during breathing, talking, singing, exercising, and other activities.
The likelihood of contracting the virus increases with the amount of virus one is exposed to over time. Without a cure for the disease or the availability of vaccines, preventing the spread of the virus relies on some standard public health measures such as quarantining people who are known to be infected, wearing masks, physical distancing, and improving ventilation to lower the concentration of the virus to safer levels. Frequent hand-washing takes care of virus that may be picked up from contaminated surfaces and transferred to ones nose, mouth, or eyes.
From what I understand, when the virus lodges deep in the lungs, it replicates and spreads infection to the rest of the body. An infected person may have no symptoms at all or their symptoms may be catastrophic. Short of death, survivors of the virus can have severe damage to organs and in some people it appears to be a chronic disease, but it is too soon to know exactly what the long term effects are from contracting the virus.
Masks have been as much maligned as Dr. Fauci. Depending on the mask, even a homemade two-layered cloth mask is a good barrier to spreading the virus. It does not filter out separate virus particles, but it does prevent the transmission of droplets, which is where the virus lurks in most instances. The primary purpose of wearing a mask is to protect others if you happen to be contagious and don’t know it. It may also help the wearer of the mask by stopping droplets from a contagious person, but this is not the primary purpose for wearing a mask.
While masks are not recommended for very young children or for people like my disabled sons who cannot remove the mask themselves, they can be worn safely by most people. My boys have worn masks to medical appointments, but they are always with a caregiver who would recognize if a mask was causing them distress.
Contrary to reports from people opposing mask mandates, masks have not been found to lower oxygen levels or raise CO2 levels. See “Fact check: Experts say face masks don't cause oxygen deprivation, neurological damage” by Devan Patel, USATODAY, 10/17/20:
“‘While masks can block particles like respiratory droplets and aerosols that might contain coronavirus, they do not block gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide,’ said Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech and an expert in airborne disease transmission. ‘A recent study of people wearing surgical masks while walking around found no significant changes in carbon dioxide in their breath nor oxygen in their blood, compared to walking without a mask.’”
The article concludes,
“Though the neurological damage described can occur when there is oxygen deprivation, medical experts say there is no evidence linking either to wearing masks.
“Medical studies have shown a link between COVID-19 and those very neurological effects, meaning the decision to not to wear a mask puts people at a higher risk of experiencing them.”
So what are the arguments against wearing a mask? This is a YouTube video of citizen anti-mask activists from Palm Beach County, Florida, on June 26, 2020. I find their arguments bizarre and not helpful in getting to any understanding of why mask wearing may be harmful or unwarranted, other than they just don't like being told what to do: Mask wearing is "against God’s will”, they say, and it is “practicing the devil’s law”; requiring masks is a crime against humanity; social distancing trains us up to follow military protocol; it’s all Bill Gates’ fault and 5G has something to do with it; and surely satanism, pedophilia, and death will follow mandates for the wearing of masks.
Wearing a mask in public spaces to prevent the spread of a contagious virus does not infringe on anyone’s liberty any more than following laws that require us to stop at red lights or to wear shoes in restaurants. It is in fact an easy and inexpensive way to slow the spread to get the virus under control so that the economy can recover. This happened in Arizona when the state took measures to stop the spread of the virus:
"COVID-19 cases in Arizona dropped 75% after mask mandates began, report says" by Stephanie Innes, Arizona Republic,10/9/20.
I don’t like wearing a mask for long periods of time, but I owe it to the people who have to work in places where they come in frequent contact with the public, including grocery store clerks, the pharmacist where I pick up my medications, medical workers who take care of my son Danny when he lands in the ER for uncontrolled seizures, and many more. For people who cannot tolerate a mask for whatever reason, there are many alternatives to buying essential items that don’t involve in-person shopping. Even church services have been modified to ensure social distancing and safety.
Getting control of Covid-19 has dragged on for far too long. When it appears that there is no end in sight, the danger is in giving up and giving in to a wildly out of control pandemic. We deserve better than that and the control of the virus is still within our grasp while we wait for vaccines, better treatments, and cures.
