Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   Wow....quite a question Date:   4/23/2020 9:24:51 AM

Lots of people manage to survive on emotion...it's called liberalism, which I know is not your issue.  And I'm glad you're not cowering in fear but a whole heck of a lot of people are.  But I was merely responding to your question about why I keep bringing this up.  I actually think it's not only important given the decisions that have been made based on wildly incorrect models, it is critical to the decisions to come about opening up the economy.  And understanding what motivates decision makers is equally important in understanding whether what they are proposing makes sense in toto as opposed to their narrow self interest and motivation.

As for your personal decisions about wearing a mask, etc. I think those are very prudent and reasonable.  I would reiterate though that the mask is of limited protection so I recommend you keep up with the other measures.  I see some people wearing masks and not social distancing probably because they think the masks will protect them.  Unless it's N95 or above they are wrong.  And the people wearing their home made masks are getting almost no protection.  And the people wearing latex gloves are doing nothing to prevent the spread because the virus will adhere to the gloves as well as to skin.  They only help if you change them every time you touch a surface.  Unless personal protective equipment (PPE) is used properly and properly disposed it accomplishes almost nothing and can make things worse if they give people a false sense of security.

A final note on my prognostication.  Clearly I could be totally wrong and things could explode as the shelter in place rules are relaxed.  I worry about that a lot and am glad every day I am not the one that has to decide between saving lives by avoiding an economic depression versus saving lives from the virus.  I do believe based on my evaluation of the information available that it is reasonable to relax the rules.  And I will tell you I am much less worried about the Wuhan virus this spring than I am if it comes back next year in some mutated and more deadly form like the Spanish Flu did.  I hope and pray it's like SARS and just disappears.  Hope for the best and plan for the worst.