Yeah, the 'mind control serum' thing is just a joke I made up. That you thought it's possible it was a real conspiracy theory says a lot about the current moment in America.

I think a large number of Americans feel similarly to how you feel, in terms of vaccine. It makes me concerned we're going to be living with this for much longer than anyone thinks.

If Americans are unwilling to take the vaccine -- and some polling suggests that's the case for up to 70% of people -- I think we're in a lot of trouble.

I interpreted "mind control" as a catchall for all the various conspiracy theories. There are people that believe them, but the real problem is the people who are uncertain about safety. Since vaccines typically have taken 5 years or longer to develop, trying to make one in a year or less is definitely "warp speed". Some of the time savings comes from overlapping phase 1 and 2, and going directly to phase 3. Some comes from starting manufacturing during phase 3, on the hopes of a good result, but being willing to discard everything you have manufactured if it fails in phase 3. These are all riskier from a financial standpoint than proceeding linearly, since if the product fails at some point, you have spent more, but really don't compromise the medical aspect.

Normally Phase 2 trials can last between several months up to 2 years, while Phase 3 typically takes 1-4 years. Phase 2 is supposed to evaluate short term effects. Phase 3 is supposed to evaluate longer term effects:
https://www.clinicaltrialsandme.com/resources/how-long-do...

If Phase 3 is cut short, at say 5 months, will you really know the longer term effects? That is where there would seem to be a compromise with some risks.

As a comparison, in 1976 they rushed out a vaccine for an anticipated Swine Flu epidemic. After 25% of the people in the country had been vaccinated (including me), they stopped administering it when it was determined that vaccinated people had an elevated risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. As an interesting side note, they used a jet injector to administer that vaccine. Rather than needles, a gun used high pressure air to inject the vaccine directly through the skin.

I wish we were capable of focusing on literally any approach at all.

It's all of the half measures, late closings, early reopenings, stupid hydroxychloroquine conversations, ridiculous debate over whether masks are an erosion of liberty, and a subpar testing strategy that have us where we are.

I mean, the President retweeted a quack doctor claiming hydroxychloroquine is a cure yesterday. A Republican Senator said his mask gave him Covid. We're 150,000 deaths into this crisis and PPE is a political issue, still. And the President is pushing the idea that Doctors are working against him. Still.

And for what it's worth, given how many people are completely unwilling to put a piece of thin cloth over their nose and mouth, I don't think "completely change your exercise and diet habits" is a super viable strategy here. People have thrashed around like children about being asked to put forth the tiniest bit of effort for the greater good. Nothing about that makes me super bullish about a strategy that involves improving one's immune system through dedication and hard work, especially in a country with obesity and heart disease rates of the US.

Frankly, the idea that Americans just "go exercise" and "eat healthy" would be a much bigger miracle than science producing a vaccine. Science has produced reliable vaccines for 200 years. Americans have a 200 year history of being fat and unhealthy. I know which side of that action I'm taking.

I agree 100% about exercise and diet.

Aside from improving your overall health in general,Covid seems to hit overweight people particularly hard.

Exercise helps reduce stress and provides "structure".

Just wish someone would enlighten our Governor about the benefits of exercise.

He refuses to open gyms,fitness centers or indoor pools.

I'm a gym rat.
Over the years I've built a full gym in my garage.
A lot of people don't have that available.

Its really tough on people who swim.

My gym doesn't have A/C.
That makes lifting tough.
That's one of the big reasons I joined Gold's.

Same thing,trying to run when its in the 90's with high humidity isn't fun.

But the guilt I feel if I skip working out is a lot worse then the discomfort.

I would have thought that,when it comes to covid,with pool water being chlorinated,swimming would be one of the safer activities at a gym.

I just heard an interview with Dr.Fauci on the radio about PPE.

He emphasized the purpose of wearing a mask is to prevent the wearer from spreading the disease to others.
It has minimal benefit in preventing the wearer from getting infected.

Social Distancing works both ways.

Apparently, a lot people get covid by touching, or droplets hitting ,their face or eyes.
So,he also said he's now recommending people also wear goggles.

There's an interesting article in today's The Record by Jim Beckerman of USA Today about the physical and psychological affects (positive and negative) of wearing masks.

It won't link,but,if you google his name the article comes up on "muckrack"

I don't remember if I posted this here.

My wife has Asthma.

She can only wear a mask for a limited period of time before she has trouble breathing,even in A/C.

The other problem,her tolerance decreases the more she wears one throughout the day.

She's a nurse,so it can be a real problem when she is treating Covid patients and has to double mask (N95 and Surgical),especially in homes without A/C.

Usually,when she's having a problem breathing in a store, she'll just let it hang from 1 ear.

She just bought a face shield that goes under her chin.
That works better then a mask.
She can wear it in a store,,but they're not "certified" so she can't use it when she treats patients.

Given my wife's situation I never make any judgement when I see someone in a store without a mask.

In NJ, outdoor dining allows people to sit in a tent,be socially distant, and eat and drink without a mask.

You're also don't have to wear a mask outside if you can SD.

Don't see much difference walking through a store to pick something up.

When you say "safest thing",you have also have to take into account the mental health of people.

Social isolation can be as dangerous as covid.

Yes, there are people who have valid reasons for not wearing a mask. Most of those people prefer not to be in stores, but sometimes they do need to go. The reason I brought up the people who can't wear a mask is because it is just as wrong to bully a person who is not wearing a mask as it is for a person who has no reason not to wear a mask to refuse to wear one. There are entirely too many physical confrontations over masks, and that includes both assaulting clerks or bus drivers who ask customers to wear masks, and assaulting people without masks.

We are all in this together. Let's find a way to make it work.

This is a fairly narrow view of public health. You yourself pointed out this morning that wearing a mask provides protection to those around you, not to the wearer. So it kind of is your business and can become a pretty bleak business to be in really quickly.

1.You're right.
Why worry about the people who are feeling socially isolated because of masks ?
They don't count.

The statistics showing the increases in suicides,alcoholism or abuse (marital and children) because of the isolation of people felt,beginning with the lock downs aren't important,since we're dealing with the "greater good".

As I've posted,my wife is a visiting nurse.
A number of her patients,especially seniors, who have lost the most person to person contact, talk about how isolated they feel.

This is empirical,but the majority of people we've seen dining at restaurants are older.
(Younger people are still doing take out)

Some comments we've heard:

I needed to get out to see people again.

I wanted to be someplace where I could see people's faces.

2.You left out the other states like NY and Conn. where indoor dining hasn't resulted in any spikes in Covid.
NJ also opened Casinos.
People sitting there for hours is no different then indoor dining.
Again,no spikes.

The spikes in NJ have come from illegal house parties and similar gatherings.
Even our Governor had to admit these parties are going on because he's keeping bars, restaurants and other "gathering" places closed.

So people need a way to "blow off steam"

3.Again,their store,their rules.
If you're not comfortable seeing people shopping without masks,you don't
have to go in.
As far as epidemiologists,let them open a business and try to make a living,before saying anything but someone who is.

4.Yes,wearing a mask provides protection to those around you.
I wear one where I'm required to.
I follow the rules when it comes to masks.

But some people can't wear one.
That's a fact.
If they have a reason not to,fine.

The local news has reported a number of incidents where mask confrontations
have turned violent.

Apparently some people feel they have the right to ask someone why they're
not wearing a mask.
Legally,they don't.

If you think someone should be wearing a mask,call the police and let them handle it.

I don't know how much good a mask does or doesn't do.
But right now its the rule.

Although,as I posted,now Fauci wants googles to part of the rule too.

What's next ?
We all get to wear Tyvek suits ?

This morning's numbers show 13 red-level counties in Ohio, down from 23 a week ago. Athens County is now at orange level; earlier this week it was red level, bordering on purple (the highest level for covid infection). Masks are certainly helping. But rural areas -- where mask use is a little more lax -- are starting to show increases.

New York and Connecticut have air filtration requirements, you have to account for the AC and how long droplets and aerosols stay in the air. We have to learn how to be uncomfortable now to be comfortable later. We have to stop being freedumb in our quest for freedom. People with asthma can wear mask, masks do not obstruct breathing. If you just consider other peoples sacrifice, wearing a mask is nothing. I lived in a tent in Afghanistan for 7 months others have done 15 months, McCain was a prisoner of war. Be a leader, wear a mask and practice good hygiene.