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**Hugh** · 11-09-2020, 20:25

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54118022

Quote:

A new Covid-19 contact-tracing app will be launched across England and Wales on 24 September, the government has announced.

The app will let people scan barcode-like QR codes to register visits to hospitality venues and will implement Apple and Google's method of detecting other smartphones.

Businesses are being asked to display QR code posters to support the app.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It's a joke. The family I know who came back to quarantine were not inspected even once. There aren't enough people to police this, so the quarantine has turned out to be totally voluntary.

---------- Post added at 19:39 ---------- Previous post was at 19:36 ----------

As I've said all along, the virus will be out there until we get herd immunity. It is a very simple principle.

---------- Post added at 19:40 ---------- Previous post was at 19:39 ----------

Age discrimination?

---------- Post added at 19:41 ---------- Previous post was at 19:40 ----------

Me, too. The vulnerables should be advised to keep their heads down unless they want to live dangerously.

---------- Post added at 19:45 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

You have such a perverse way of looking at this.

The virus will not go away until herd immunity is achieved. Is that not what is happening right now?

The only bright spot was that mathematician's calculation that the virus would have reached the peak we had naturally even if we had not locked down. We will soon see if he was right.

Either way, lockdowns just put the inevitable on pause for as long as they are applied.

---------- Post added at 19:50 ---------- Previous post was at 19:45 ----------

Scientists themselves say that the masks you can buy are not effective, so why require them to be worn unless you just want to give people a false sense of security?

Other scientists (with a link) disagree.

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-08...-work-act-now#

Quote:

Cloth face coverings, even homemade masks made of the correct material, are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 - for the wearer and those around them - according to a new study from Oxford’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science.

A comprehensive study, the report investigates the effectiveness of different face mask types and coverings, including an international comparison of policies and behavioural factors underlying usage.

Professor Melinda Mills, Director of the Leverhulme Centre and author of the study, says, ‘The evidence is clear that people should wear masks to reduce virus transmission and protect themselves, with most countries recommending the public to wear them. Yet clear policy recommendations that the public should broadly wear them has been unclear and inconsistent in some countries such as England.’

Quote:

Around the world, the study finds, ‘Next to hand washing and social distancing, face masks and coverings are one of the most of widely adopted non-pharmaceutical interventions for reducing the transmission of respiratory infections.’

But, the study shows, some coverings are not as effective as others. Loosely woven fabrics, such as scarves have been shown to be the least effective. Professor Mills says, ‘Attention must also be placed on how well it fits on the face; it should loop around the ears or around the back of the neck for better coverage.’

She insists, ‘The general public does not need to wear surgical masks or respirators. We find that masks made from high quality material such as high-grade cotton, multiple layers and particularly hybrid constructions are effective. For instance, combining cotton and silk or flannel provide over 95% filtration, so wearing a mask can protect others.’

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0612172200.htm

Quote:

Summary:
A study has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person's chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus.

The team examined the chances of COVID-19 infection and how the virus is easily passed from person to person. From trends and mitigation procedures in China, Italy and New York City, the researchers found that using a face mask reduced the number of infections by more than 78,000 in Italy from April 6-May 9 and by over 66,000 in New York City from April 17-May 9.

"Our results clearly show that airborne transmission via respiratory aerosols represents the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19," Zhang said. "By analyzing the pandemic trends without face-covering using the statistical method and by projecting the trend, we calculated that over 66,000 infections were prevented by using a face mask in little over a month in New York City. We conclude that wearing a face mask in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent inter-human transmission.

"This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social distancing and other procedures, is the most likely opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. Our work also highlights that sound science is essential in decision-making for the current and future public health pandemics."