Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Covid-19 Hero?

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Covid-19 Hero. Do you have what it takes to be one? Hint, you don’t have to be an essential worker to be a Covid-19 hero. It’s easier than that.

A Real Covid-19 Hero Wears A mask

There’s crazy talk going around town politicalizing the wearing on a mask. Politicalizing safety is stupid and dangerous. The bottom line is as follows:

If you care about the people you come in contact with you wear a mask.
If you’re an insensitive, arrogant jerk you don’t.
You either care or you don’t.
You will protect people or you will harm them. Simple enough right?
Wearing a mask protects the people you love and care about from a killer disease. And like that, you are a Covid-19 hero.

Rule of the house

I tell my daughter, “wear your mask when you are coming for a visit.” The same goes for my granddaughter. The exception is when they are staying for a few weeks. In that case, my daughter checks everyone’s temperature days before coming home. Once they arrive we have our own protocol for the duration of the visit.

So far, this has worked well, no one has come down with the virus.

Outsiders

In my post The Days In May and Covid-19 In The Black And Hispanic Communities, I spoke about the people I saw during my walk. One person wearing a mask while the person did not. In one case both people have masks but only one is wearing it. The other has the mask pulled down under her chin.

Let’s look at this

The person wearing the mask is protecting the person without the mask. But that same person is in threat of catching the virus. This is because the mask is not designed to protect the wearer from the virus. So is the person without a mask saying, “I don’t care if I give you the virus”? Think about it.

Better Scenario

Prove to the people in your circle that you are there to protect them. Wear your mask. Be that protector you know you can be. And make sure everyone that talks to you respects your efforts and wears a mask too.

Medical or Other Excuse

Without going into a long background story I know what it’s like to see what happens to someone who cannot tolerate a mask. Usually, the person does not know they cannot wear a mask until they try to put one on. My daughter does not like anything on her face but she can tolerate wearing a mask for a time. Someone who is claustrophobic cannot. If this is you then you probably cannot wear a mask. This is one reason a person cannot wear a mask. Most assuredly there are many more.

The problem is that there is no way to show this to the outside world. Wearing something that identifies you as exempt from wearing a mask could invite problems from insensitive jerks. So that is out. Well, what are you going to do?

Stay 6 ft Apart

The only answer seems to be the 6-foot rule. When I’m talking to someone that can’t wear a mask I maintain social distance from them. Sure I get the look but no one has complained. And yes, it feels awkward but we do what must be done.

Social Distancing Update

According to the latest research 6 feet may not be enough in some cases. The recommendation now is a minimum of 6 feet. And to complicate things a little more that are charts to help you figure out social distancing.

For example, six feet may be okay in an outdoor setting with no talking. But a greater distance is recommended if there is loud talking, singing, etc.

Click on this link below to read the article and see the chart. This article has a “stoplight chart” and another color-coded chart showing safe distances under different conditions

The 6-foot social-distancing rule is based on nearly 80-year-old science. Scientists at MIT and Oxford have created a traffic-light system to use instead.

Get Tested

For those who can’t wear a mask for medical reasons, make sure to get tested. Because you can’t wear a mask the odds that you will infect someone is great if you contract the virus.

Note: If you had the virus and now have the antibodies keep in mind that studies have shown that antibodies protection is not permanent. And there have been cases of reinfection after recovering from the virus. In short, having survived the virus does not guarantee immunity.

The Virus Is Not Defeated

For those that think that the virus is defeated, they are wrong. Nope, they are wrong. No. No. Stop right there, they are wrong. And they could be dead wrong if you get my drift.

And if you think this is a free country and you can do what you want in a pandemic, well you are wrong.

Read: It’s a Free Country, The Excuse for Not Wearing A Mask, and learn why.

Don’t Cross The Vapor Trail

One last item, I want to introduce you to a term I coined. It’s called crossing the vapor trail. What is a vapor trail? This is the moisture trail you see coming off of jet planes in flight. It looks like clouds forming off the wing. That “cloud” is water vapor.

The Vapor Trail and Covid-19

How does this relate to Covid-19? We know that when a person speaks, breathe, cough, etc. particles left behind float in the air. As that person walks they leave a stream of particles, a vapor trail. When you cross this person’s path you cross their vapor trail. Because they did not wear a mask and you are not wearing a mask you inhale the virus.

Note: Research says that when you’re outside the chance of getting the virus is less. This is true however when you are outside and pass by someone that coughs those germs are still in the air. When you breathe in that air you breathe in the germs.

In Theory

The following is my theory on how this works with Covid-19.

A person with the virus crosses your path. That person is not wearing a mask. Unless something happens to blow the airborne particles away you will cross their vapor trail. This applies inside or out.

Avoiding The Vapor Trail

So what do you do? Avoid crossing the vapor trail of someone not wearing a mask. I have seen people cross the street or walk in the street to avoid crossing the path of someone without a mask. And of course, there is the head lowering technique. Which may or may not include holding your breath. Whatever the case people are avoiding unmasked persons when possible. Or should I say avoiding the vapor trail?

It’s War

Cheeto Boy got one thing right, this is a war. Either you are in it to win it or you are in the way. He chooses to be in the way. What about you? It’s time to choose a side.

Strength lies in your ability to protect others. Weakness is saying you don’t give a damn.

Strength is wearing a mask, weakness is not.

Be Strong Wear Your Mask… Correctly.

Be a Covid-19 Hero

and remember

THE VIRUS IS STILL HERE AND IT WANTS YOU!

Comments, Questions, Suggestions?

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