No One Really Knows

I think we must face it; there is a lot we do not know about the virus. For example; how is it really spread. By air, how far apart, is temperature a factor, etc. What about surfaces? What about the asymptomatic etc?

Now on the other hand we have an almost infinite number of experts opining on the latest trend. Take the mask as a point. Most masks, and I mean almost all, at best inhibit viral dissemination while allowing viral reception. Thus based upon limited studies the mask does not protect you it protects others. Really? Let us face it, we really do not know.

Now in a NHPR piece they author states:

I like to run. And bike. And go for walks. Especially during the pandemic. It's a time I can almost forget about the novel coronavirus. But some people are trying to make me feel guilty about outdoor exercise.  My own nephew said, "Uncle Marc, if you're infected and don't know it, you could be huffing and puffing out virus." Does he have a point? I talked to a half-dozen experts to see about the risks of outdoor exercise for the exerciser and for others — and whether masks are helpful.

This really is a bit of mask shaming. One suspects that if one is hiking up Mount Washington alone that droplets of the virus, assuming you are one of those asymptomatic, will have little chance of infection. But alas, know it all youth will shame adults while boozing it up at the local gin joint.

He continues:

But if you've not been touching anything or having a close chat with anyone during your outdoor exercise, it's OK to pull the mask down, says... , an internal medicine physician at Harvard Medical School. (He told me he had his mask pulled down when he was walking home and being interviewed on the phone by me 'cause no one was around.) But the experts suggest pulling the mask down without touching the front of it, just so you don't get in the habit of fiddling with the front of your mask over your nose and mouth (which is how you'd get infected). And of course, whatever you do, don't stick your finger up your nose or into your eye or mouth – that's how viral particles enter the body.

OK, I get it, but anyone who has say Level II exposure and training knows that the contamination occurs when disrobing from PPE. Further, if you have been in a contaminated environment and you are not infected, the surface of your protective garments may be infected and thus removal must protect you from this layer of infection.

Depending, you may want yo wash gloves, yes wear gloves, with isopropyl alcohol, IPA, let it stand moist from 20 seconds and then carefully proceed. But still, what do I know, there have been no accepted trials demonstrating effectiveness or efficacy.

Bottom line, we seem to have these persons giving advice from "friends" who themselves may have limited facts to deal with.

One further suspects at this point that given the limited antibody lifetime in previously infected people that vaccines may be useless and our only recourse is a therapeutic. But again, we really do not know.

Thus the only advice I would give is stay away from 20 year olds, they seem to have become the Petri dishes for pandemic propagation.