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Mask UP

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Mask UP
Posted by PJS1 on Saturday, April 11, 2020 7:41 PM
The New Jersey Governor – Murphy - has issued an order requiring all passengers on New Jersey Transit and private carriers to wear a mask beginning at 8pm on April 12th.  The order applies to all trains, buses, light rail vehicles and para-transit.
 
NJT will restrict the number of passengers to 50 percent of capacity to promote social distancing. 
 
NJT, as well as private carriers, will be required to provide each employee with gloves and face coverings. 
 
There are other requirements pertaining to restaurants and bars where patrons are walking into them to pick-up an order as opposed to picking up the order curbside.      
 
The governor admits that there are not enough masks for everyone, so a bandana, towel, etc. will be satisfactory. 
 
The idea is to keep persons that may be pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic from infecting others.   Until a week ago the CDC claimed that masks, with the exceptions of N95s, are marginally effective in stopping the spreading of COVID-19.  Now they are recommending the wearing of masks on a voluntary basis.  If they really work, I wonder why the CDC did not recommend that they be mandatory?
 
A government that orders people to wear masks when there are not enough to go around is irresponsible.  Or just plain stupid!

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, April 11, 2020 10:07 PM

PJS1
A government that orders people to wear masks when there are not enough to go around is irresponsible.  Or just plain stupid!

Both!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by MidlandMike on Saturday, April 11, 2020 10:24 PM

PJS1
...The governor admits that there are not enough masks for everyone, so a bandana, towel, etc. will be satisfactory.    The idea is to keep persons that may be pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic from infecting others.   Until a week ago the CDC claimed that masks, with the exceptions of N95s, are marginally effective in stopping the spreading of COVID-19.  Now they are recommending the wearing of masks on a voluntary basis.  If they really work, I wonder why the CDC did not recommend that they be mandatory?   A government that orders people to wear masks when there are not enough to go around is irresponsible.  Or just plain stupid!

Maybe the CDC decided that a marginally effective mask was better than nothing.  I'm not sure I understand your last sentence.  Didn't you point out that a mask was voluntary?

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Posted by PJS1 on Saturday, April 11, 2020 10:48 PM

MidlandMike
 Maybe the CDC decided that a marginally effective mask was better than nothing.  I'm not sure I understand your last sentence.  Didn't you point out that a mask was voluntary? 

I was referencing the Governor of New Jersey, who has made the wearing of masks or knock-offs on New Jersey Transit, as well as other places, manditory.

The CDC switched its long held position and is recommending them on a voluntary basis.  Although I am not normally a betting man, I would wager a dollar or two that the CDC switched its position because of political pressure.  

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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Sunday, April 12, 2020 9:51 AM

PJS1
~snip~
 
The idea is to keep persons that may be pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic from infecting others.   Until a week ago the CDC claimed that masks, with the exceptions of N95s, are marginally effective in stopping the spreading of COVID-19.  Now they are recommending the wearing of masks on a voluntary basis.  If they really work, I wonder why the CDC did not recommend that they be mandatory?
 
~snip~ 

Here's the fact people don't understand about the masks, they aren't to protect the wearer from getting the virus, they're to protect the wearer from SPREADING the virus.  By not projecting the droplets into the air when you breath if you're asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic you prevent others around you from potentially getting the virus.  It's also good to remember to not sneeze into the mask you're wearing, though you can cough into it to prevent projectile expulsion of the droplets.

Was it really that hard to understand why it's voluntary and why the CDC waited to make the suggestion?

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Posted by Convicted One on Sunday, April 12, 2020 10:36 AM

PJS1
There are other requirements pertaining to restaurants and bars where patrons are walking into them to pick-up an order as opposed to picking up the order curbside.         The governor admits that there are not enough masks for everyone, so a bandana, towel, etc. will be satisfactory. 

 

Wonder if armed robberies will  spike?

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Sunday, April 12, 2020 4:54 PM

GERALD L MCFARLANE JR

PJS1

~snip~
 
The idea is to keep persons that may be pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic from infecting others.   Until a week ago the CDC claimed that masks, with the exceptions of N95s, are marginally effective in stopping the spreading of COVID-19.  Now they are recommending the wearing of masks on a voluntary basis.  If they really work, I wonder why the CDC did not recommend that they be mandatory?
 
~snip~ 

 

Here's the fact people don't understand about the masks, they aren't to protect the wearer from getting the virus, they're to protect the wearer from SPREADING the virus.  By not projecting the droplets into the air when you breath if you're asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic you prevent others around you from potentially getting the virus.  It's also good to remember to not sneeze into the mask you're wearing, though you can cough into it to prevent projectile expulsion of the droplets.

Since it's been known that people can spread the virus before showing symptoms, it seems to be a no-brainer that wide spread mask wearing could be a big help. Cloth masks are certainly not medical grade, but any reduction in transmission rate early in an epidemic can be a big help.

Makes me wonder how much better NYC/NJ would have been if wearing of masks was strongly encouraged in late February or early March.

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, April 12, 2020 8:16 PM

Erik_Mag
Makes me wonder how much better NYC/NJ would have been if wearing of masks was strongly encouraged in late February or early March.

Or even if it was part of normal routine as it has been in some Asian cultures for years? 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, April 13, 2020 10:28 AM

I have not left the Yeshiva since 6 days ago, and before that there was a gap of five dqys.  When I went to a drugstore and two food stores 6 days ago I wore a face-mask given me a fellow student (married with an apartment on the campus) who is also a health-care worker and still works, wearing a face mask.  Today I planned to do the same thing, but anoher married student with car offered to do my shopping, and I took him up on the offer.  He wears a face-maks outside the Yeshiva.  As of today, it is mandatory.

All the other single students are at their homes.  The Yeshiva office is now also my bedroom.  The amount of office work now is minimal and does not interfere with my use, and the office has its own John.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 3:57 PM

Convicted One

 

 
PJS1
There are other requirements pertaining to restaurants and bars where patrons are walking into them to pick-up an order as opposed to picking up the order curbside.         The governor admits that there are not enough masks for everyone, so a bandana, towel, etc. will be satisfactory. 

 

 

Wonder if armed robberies will  spike?

 

So, it used to be if you walked into an establishment looking like that they'd call the cops ASAP.

NOW (depending on where you are) if you walk into an establishment and DON'T look like that they'll call the cops ASAP!  

Stop the world, I want to get off!

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 5:06 PM

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by oltmannd on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 10:08 PM

PJS1
The New Jersey Governor – Murphy - has issued an order requiring all passengers on New Jersey Transit and private carriers to wear a mask beginning at 8pm on April 12th.  The order applies to all trains, buses, light rail vehicles and para-transit.
 
NJT will restrict the number of passengers to 50 percent of capacity to promote social distancing. 
 
NJT, as well as private carriers, will be required to provide each employee with gloves and face coverings. 
 
There are other requirements pertaining to restaurants and bars where patrons are walking into them to pick-up an order as opposed to picking up the order curbside.      
 
The governor admits that there are not enough masks for everyone, so a bandana, towel, etc. will be satisfactory. 
 
The idea is to keep persons that may be pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic from infecting others.   Until a week ago the CDC claimed that masks, with the exceptions of N95s, are marginally effective in stopping the spreading of COVID-19.  Now they are recommending the wearing of masks on a voluntary basis.  If they really work, I wonder why the CDC did not recommend that they be mandatory?
 
A government that orders people to wear masks when there are not enough to go around is irresponsible.  Or just plain stupid!
 

Apparently, homemade cloth masks are worth 30% reduction. https://www.facebook.com/jenniferkastenmd/?__tn__=kCH-R&eid=ARCHvthGVU4Ww2kX-4JZKuUIMxYZZ7hxmkrya5cW-WV3hG0plIRFe4ri75WNM7-u2P9rJm1JGekq30d2&hc_ref=ARSf5VFNcYZjaIMZMrAz_YRX0SNBvVBbR1cGh4a4WYkWWC1azbmr-cJ2bydHSq5YqT0&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARAlH3VXLZY-Tl7_HCZXI65zEgWmt3bu_EHuaWZwO_2wPqORLgNxcV9B-UnYcFJ_Pk9VH7Asf08J5i_UcGU6fBR-h6_vhjFDnDkIV2Bxyw7fa45bATsmHJlK0oXb0hedFKvH9XpMKiuqAO4HmlliLngmnOC19gKtcpDnO8AeNKHKHQEuhetNydrm1a1m2iUODdoU4vzjuGkXxbtFDCe0g92S7Rhal8BdkIxmiLNqD2u9Kbh8L5M4YINtZ7JCvb_6Zq_i69BDYnTFccOmImP6mqIH8CG-MsW2YKgOwFFCVuhGZLvFEi7TcEU9umFUy6x81ysFN__pgUcMS22ku74

 

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 11:41 PM

I went to the bank to day as I had some checks to deposit and wanted to cash two others, there was a line...if you want to call it that, everyone was standing about 10 feet from each other.  Fortunately the ATM didn't have a line and the two checks I was depositing were from class action settlements, but I never did cash the other two checks because I'm 1: not going to wait in line and 2. not doing "social distancing" or going to wear a mask.  If they start mandating masks where I work I'm just going to tell them send me home and pay me, I'll refuse(it's my right to refuse to wear one, just like it's my right to not socially distance[there's that damned oxymoronic idea again] myself at work).  Please don't tell me to think of others either, I do, if they want to stay away from me, then go for it.

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Posted by zugmann on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 9:26 AM

Unreal. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 10:39 AM

I've got one of these in my militaria collection.  I've been thinking about wearing it just to see what kind of reaction I get.  Wink

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/58899-wwi-small-box-respirator-with-bag-n  

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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 10:35 PM

GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
If they start mandating masks where I work I'm just going to tell them send me home and pay me, I'll refuse(it's my right to refuse to wear one,...

Your employer has the right to require employees to wear protective equipment.  If you don't want to wear one, you have the right to go home, but your employer has no obligation to ever pay you again.

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:27 AM

MidlandMike

 

 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
If they start mandating masks where I work I'm just going to tell them send me home and pay me, I'll refuse(it's my right to refuse to wear one,...

 

Your employer has the right to require employees to wear protective equipment.  If you don't want to wear one, you have the right to go home, but your employer has no obligation to ever pay you again.

 

Well put.

When I was working, I had occasions to drive a fork lift, and I had to wear shoes with steel toe caps--which would have done nothing to protect my toes if they were run over.

Johnny

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 16, 2020 11:43 AM

Deggesty
 
MidlandMike 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
If they start mandating masks where I work I'm just going to tell them send me home and pay me, I'll refuse(it's my right to refuse to wear one,...

Your employer has the right to require employees to wear protective equipment.  If you don't want to wear one, you have the right to go home, but your employer has no obligation to ever pay you again. 

Well put. 

When I was working, I had occasions to drive a fork lift, and I had to wear shoes with steel toe caps--which would have done nothing to protect my toes if they were run over.

With that form of thought - you would have been surprised just how much protection to your toes steel toe boots provide versus regular shoes.  However, the steel toes won't protect the arch of your foot should that be the part you run over.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, April 16, 2020 12:03 PM

The best (and heaviest) safety shoes that I ever wore were required in the steel supply warehouse where I worked for a summer.  They had steel toes, steel soles and steel instep guards over the laces.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Thursday, April 16, 2020 12:13 PM

MidlandMike
 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
If they start mandating masks where I work I'm just going to tell them send me home and pay me, I'll refuse(it's my right to refuse to wear one,...

 

Your employer has the right to require employees to wear protective equipment.  If you don't want to wear one, you have the right to go home, but your employer has no obligation to ever pay you again. 

I highly doubt they'll mandate we wear masks though, it's to difficult to communicate with customers through them and we have to be precise in our interactions.  Also, it's not like we're actually interacting with anyone right now anyways so there's really no need to wear PPE.

They have us cleaning our break room and work area all day and I was assigned to do that once, suggested they might not want to do that again unless they wanted a half ass job.

You see, there's people out there that worry about getting this virus and there's people that don't...I fall under the category of people that don't care, I wouldn't be surprised if I already had it and didn't know, since I worked alongside some that had been exposed.

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:12 PM

GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
They have us cleaning our break room and work area all day and I was assigned to do that once, suggested they might not want to do that again unless they wanted a half ass job.

Weird flex, but OK. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, April 17, 2020 12:20 PM

Can someone explain this to me? I see lots of people wearing masks as they drive. These are commuters going to and from work- in cars by themselves. Huh?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by PJS1 on Friday, April 17, 2020 2:20 PM

Murphy Siding
 Can someone explain this to me? I see lots of people wearing masks as they drive. These are commuters going to and from work- in cars by themselves. Huh? 

The media and government(s) have scared people out of their wits.  By focusing on cases and deaths, without putting them in context, many people, I suspect, believe that they will get COVID-19 unless they wear a mask.  Never mind that the masks, especially the homemade ones, will not prevent the wearer from getting COVID-19 and are only marginally effective in stopping its spread.
 
I live in a retirement community.  Most of the residents are over 65.  Many of them are beside themselves with fear.  Yesterday I saw a man mowing his lawn while wearing a mask. I was on my bicycle; there was no one near his property.  
 
According to the CDC, for the U.S. as a whole the probability of getting COVID-19 is approximately 20/100s of 1%.  But don’t tell that to most of the people where I live; they don’t want to hear it.  They hear thousands of deaths and freak out. 

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Friday, April 17, 2020 8:12 PM

One other thing about being outside is that daylight UV does a good job of killing the virus.

People in retirement communities are right to be concerned about the virus, chances of dying after infection goes up greatly after 65. I looked at the latest local statistics and half of the 80+ people admitted to a hopsital with the virus died. OTOH, new cases and hospitalizations appear to be flat with roughly the same number of new cases reported for the last week and a half.

Looking at national statistics, I do wonder if the virus strains that arrived directly from China are less virulent than the strains that arrived via Europe.

Do hope that vaccines are rolled out quickly, public transit will be hurting until it becomes safe to crowd people in the cars.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, April 18, 2020 5:56 AM

PJS1:  Mowing the lawn with a mask is done to prevent some polen from being ingested.  Allergy suffers and also any time when the lawn is dusty a mask is called for and has happened for years.

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Posted by PJS1 on Saturday, April 18, 2020 8:53 AM

blue streak 1
 PJS1:  Mowing the lawn with a mask is done to prevent some polen from being ingested.  Allergy suffers and also any time when the lawn is dusty a mask is called for and has happened for years. 

True!  But this guy lives in my neighborhood.  This was the first time that I have seen him wearing a mask while mowing the lawn.  I have also seen people in cars and trucks wearing masks.  And they were the only occupant in the vehicle.  

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Saturday, April 18, 2020 11:57 AM

Murphy Siding

Can someone explain this to me? I see lots of people wearing masks as they drive. These are commuters going to and from work- in cars by themselves. Huh?

 

Unfortunately for its workers, almost half the deaths in SD are from one Smithfield packing plant. 

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, April 19, 2020 10:55 AM

Murphy Siding
Can someone explain this to me? I see lots of people wearing masks as they drive. These are commuters going to and from work- in cars by themselves. Huh?

ONce you put on your mask, you aren't really supposed to be touching it again.  So the proper way would be to wash your hands, put the mask on, leave it on until you are done with all your mask-y errands.  

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by JPS1 on Saturday, May 30, 2020 9:43 AM
Yesterday the temporary head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s subway and bus operations said that social distancing probably would not work on the systems subways and buses.  The authority is tabling the idea.
 
Apparently, the authority is relying on Governor Cuomo’s mask requirements and believes the majority of riders will comply with the requirement to wear a mask on the system’s subways and buses.  She was a bit fuzzy about how the authority will deal with passengers that refuse to wear a mask. 
 
MTA is looking to make masks available at subway retail spaces and even developing mask vending machines. 
 
Do you think the requirement would be enforceable? 
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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, May 30, 2020 10:11 AM

JPS1
Do you think the requirement would be enforceable? 

Yes. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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