Wearing a mask has eradicated the Flu! Flu cases are almost nonexistent

[thehighking]

That's bullshit spread on social media. There is a small chance at best of PCR test picking up a cold or flu and it's more likely to score negative.

With the rarer antibody testing being a higher chance but still miniscule.

You just spread this stuff because you have a narrative it fits, you don't bother to check it because it facilitates your world view. Then you try and spread your feeble assessment of the world to others.

Tsk tsk.

Even if you have no illness the PCR test can have a false positive rate from 70% to 90%.

 

[spamking]

I usually get runny noses, coughs and a cold by this time of the season, so far nothing.

Social distancing, washing hands and the mask is working for me.

If anything catches on after all of this I really hope it's from a personal hygiene perspective.

 

[thehighking]

Mask stops you touching your face!

The reason they weren't recommending to wear masks at first was because they can increase your chances of getting the virus because you touch your face much more.

 

[spamking]

That's bullshit spread on social media. There is a small chance at best of PCR test picking up a cold or flu and it's more likely to score negative.

With the rarer antibody testing being a higher chance but still miniscule.

You just spread this stuff because you have a narrative it fits, you don't bother to check it because it facilitates your world view. Then you try and spread your feeble assessment of the world to others.

Tsk tsk.

Don't the PCR tests pick up dead virus DNA or RNA and often report that back as a positive result?

 

[spamking]

It should absolutely be mandatory for food workers in restaurants and fast food

Masks? Like gloves and hair nets?

 

[Phlog]

Even if you have no illness the PCR test can have a false positive rate from 70% to 90%.

The British Medical Journal reported above 80% accuracy in a meta analysis of 16 studies. Their data suggests your way, way off there.

 

[spamking]

I just said to my wife yesterday, none of us has gotten so much as a cold this season.

Social distancing can have that effect on folks . . . we still deal with allergies, etc. but not going to the theater and mall has been awesome.

 

[jx820]

It's probably not JUST the masks. Schools being closed may have a major impact as well. Kids a key factor in the spread of Flu.

Just the same, I think we should make masks a standard flu season response as well.

 

[Phlog]

Don't the PCR tests pick up dead virus DNA or RNA and often report that back as a positive result?

Its possible, it's been reported. I don't know the figures. Currently a false positive isn't seen as
Dangerous as false negatives but it's under study as we speak to determine cut offs.

IIRC viruses aren't really alive, more biological machines.

 

[spamking]

Its possible, it's been reported. I don't know the figures. Currently a false positive isn't seen as
Dangerous as false negatives but it's under study as we speak to determine cut offs.

IIRC viruses aren't really alive, more biological machines.

Right . . . active may have been a better choice of words than alive/dead.

Didn't the WHO recently change how they were going to count positive PCR tests? Requiring them to also show symptoms to be a legit positive?

 

[spamking]

Ha no, just the US. I always forget to get the flu shot though. I wonder if I am confusing the common cold with the flu?

 

[spamking]

Man flu, bit of a nasty cold or your immune system is weak pansy fucked.
I've only had proper flu 3 times. Where you're fucked for a fortnight.

Did you get pneumonia too? That's usually when I know I'm really, really sick . . . thankfully I've only had it like 3 times in my almost 50 years.

 

[spamking]

Oh look more whataboutism. Maybe a worldwide pandemic that's possible to spread rapidly to others isn't the same as obesity that isn't possible to spread to others.

What an inane comparison.

I mean it's a stretch to compare them sure . . . but are folks ultimately interested in fewer deaths in general or not? If they are, look at what is killing folks and address it regardless of whether it can be spread to others or not.

 

[koolinkunming]

Common knowledge to Facebook Karens, but actually fake news spread by those with an ideological position.

You just said yourself that those tests can test positive for cold and flu.

Moving on....

 

[The Audience]

Even if you have no illness the PCR test can have a false positive rate from 70% to 90%.

Its the other way around; youre more likely to be missed if youre actually positive, than to be mistakenly labelled as positive. Even the lower accuracy tests -including the rapid tests, tend to be very accurate in this regard.

 

[Phlog]

You just said yourself that those tests can test positive for cold and flu.

Moving on....

You see, this is why you can't have nice things.

I said: "There is a small chance at best of PCR test picking up a cold or flu and it's more likely to score negative."

Its not significant.

 

[The Audience]

I think its the mask, most people dont even social distance in my area or wash their hands, and in LA county we got record covid cases. I see people lined up at chic fil a only two feet apart and then when they eat under the tent they eat without washing their hands.

i eat fast food all the time mainly because i work shipping and travel from city to city and people do not social distance at all, i was in line at this burger joint a week ago and i had to tell the mexican woman behind me to stand on the dot she was right on my back and her mask was down not covering her nose. People Only wear masks because its mandated. Social distance helps big time but its hard to enforce as well as handwashing people dont like to wash they are lazy. Several businesses in my area had to temp close because workers tested positive for covids.

I cant speak to your own experience, but social distancing is clearly the most effective way of preventing some kind of virus to spread: if youre not around someone with an infection you cant catch it. Masks can help in those situations whereby its difficult to avoid people -such as in a shop, but their actual impact depends on so many factors. How it all relates to flu is more complicated than just putting it down to masks. The question about the continued wearing of masks after the pandemic is quite interesting. I think for a while after, it will continue, but people are sheep and once you see fewer and fewer people wearing them, they will probably be abandoned.

 

[TidWell]

I get the flu vaccination every year and haven't had the flu in close to 15 years . . . just had my second COVID shot yesterday.

How did you get the vaccine you a frontline worker? Out here in California you have to get on a waiting list they said we need at least 100 million Americans vaccinated to achieve herd immunity as well as millions more already infected and recovering with some form of immunity.

im still going to wear masks though, covid mutates apparently to a more contagious form like in Uk and SA.

 

[Mike]

I mean it's a stretch to compare them sure . . . but are folks ultimately interested in fewer deaths in general or not? If they are, look at what is killing folks and address it regardless of whether it can be spread to others or not.

Its an apples and oranges comparison not rooted in logic. Saw someone legit say why isn't cancer considered a pandemic the other day. It IS NOT just about death rates. That's the entire point. It's about the potential of rapidly spreading the virus through communities and overwhelming our already overburdened healthcare system.

This whataboutism isn't helpful and shows a fundamental inability to logically assess the situation.

 

[Mike]

You see, this is why you can't have nice things.

I said: "There is a small chance at best of PCR test picking up a cold or flu and it's more likely to score negative."

Its not significant.

This situation has really exposed this widespread tendency for people to think in a really black and white way, and automatically dismiss anything that conflicts with it. Whether there's any statistical significance or not. Seen a lot of people citing anecdotes, and saying those should drive policy and responses world wide.