I'm interested in getting people's opinions on this theory I heard about masks and their part in the fight against Coronavirus.
So, apparently, one theory about wearing masks during this crisis is that they can let in traces of the virus into your body, which is enough for your body to create the antibodies to the virus without it completely overwhelming you. That way, if you do contract the virus, you are less likely to get severe symptoms and more likely to make a full recovery. This is one theory that might explain why more people are testing positive for the virus, but the death toll is slowly starting to drop.
While I think all the conspiracy theories surrounding this disease are rubbish, this theory does make a little sense and I believe there may be some truth to it. Although 1.This one's not really a conspiracy and 2. It may be totally wrong, but the science behind it does make a bit of sense.
What do you think? could there be some truth in this or do you think it's nonsense ?
Everything we know shows that viral load is really important. Wear a mask, take a vitamin D supplement and go about your business. Cheap and easy measures that reduce your risk a lot.
Whatever the answer is for the decline in actual morbidity, it'll have to owe to multiple factors. There's the 'death lag', the fact that many of the most vulnerable people (e.g., elderly) were the first to die, the fact that younger people are now more likely to be infected and less likely to die, that population density is supposedly what explains how the big cities were hit first, etc. (And, of course, by concentrating on deaths, we are ignoring the chronic diseases that people of all ages are suffering after Covid.)
As an aside -- and getting into slightly weirder hypotheses -- I've seen research that suggests the 'default personality' of a region might account for increased exposure, i.e., values of extraversion and conscientiousness.
I lived in Japan for 3 years back in the 1980's in the city of Yokohama (just south of Tokyo) and it was probably as crowded back then as it is now?
Anyway, my age was 11,12,13 years old. Many times i rode the subway trains going various places. Often you would see at least ONE person wearing EXACTLY the same mask as what various governments are recommending everyone wear world-wide. I asked my classmates who had lived in Japan all their life what was the meaning of this? They explained that these people had some kind of cold, and they wore that mask to reduce spreading the germs that they have.
There are some arguments that if you get a decent droplet of covid-19 into your eye (or some other unprotected muscous membrane, etc) then a mask covering your nose and mouth did not prevent your infection. And you can stay at home to avoid this. And you can social distance to reduce the chance of this. And you can get as far away from people who are coughing or sneezing (but they might just be having an allergy or a cold/flu that is non covid-19)
In July, both of my roommates (and one additional "couch surfer") all tested positive for covid-19, but my test was negative. There might have been a day or two where i felt slightly sick and MANY days when i didn't feel my best, but i'm 47 years old. Did i have covid-19? Or is that just an effect of my age?
I seem to have a better than average immune system, but i also have a super strong non-denominational religious belief (semi-christian buddhist shite... yes, i made that up JUST NOW) if i die, i am going to a better place, but * he * (she? it? ohmmm?) apparently has some VERY specific plans for me (how many times i can count "i could have / should have / might have died")
A lot of my covid-19 opinions are based on the blog of "ranconteurreport" (written by a prior Marine now working as an Emergency dept nurse)... for example "Aesop" (what the blog writer refers to himself as) was mentioning odd happenings in Wuhan China LONG before the news started talking about sick passengers on a luxury cruise puttering about Asian coastal waters.
I think A LOT of other things, but this posting is getting pretty long already!
Love you, too
