SHAME Virgin -- Memo to the brass - COVID is still out there. [Wear Masks!]

[ferntree]

@ melbournian1:
Context? In some outdoor circumstances (especially if no-one is near) masks might be of limited value.

But could you please quote where Fauci recommended that wearing of masks shouldn't be necessary at airports or on board planes?

 

[stm1sydney]

having said that, this has nothing to do with personal “belief”.

I agree. We need to look at the evidence. The evidence is that mask wearing is not effective, and may even make things worse (in the real world, not in laboratories).

 

[ferntree]

I agree. We need to look at the evidence....

The overwhelming body of evidence (including laboratory tests and "real world" evidence )is that masks help stop the spread of covid. Of course there will always be a small minority who, for whatever reasons, will dissent from this view - just as some still deny any link between tobacco smoking and lung cancer, or between human activity and climate change.

But in the real world ...

Still Confused About Masks? Here’s the Science Behind How Face Masks Prevent Coronavirus

We talked to UCSF epidemiologist George Rutherford, MD, and infectious disease specialist Peter Chin-Hong, MD, about the CDC’s reversal on mask-wearing, the current science on how masks work, and what to consider when choosing a mask.

www.ucsf.edu

[2004.13553] Universal Masking is Urgent in the COVID-19 Pandemic: SEIR and Agent Based Models, Empirical Validation, Policy Recommendations

Possibly some confusion arises because wearing a mask offers you little or no protection against catching the virus, but, if infected, it will significantly decrease your chances of spreading it.

But for most people, who don't have the time or training to be able to analyse scientific journals, it probably comes down to who you are most likely to trust, people like Norman Swan and Anthony Fauci on the one hand, or Scott Atlas on the other.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Masks add to the protective coughnal. BUT my concern is that a lot of people seem to think that masks offer waaaay more protection than they do and consider that wearing masks mean that they can do whatever they like.

I see people wearing masks and abandoning social distancing, which is a huge worry.

Social distancing and washing your hands are the two most effective protective measures. Masks add a further layer of protection (especially if worn by someone who is infected or with symptoms).

 

[Robert K]

I agree. We need to look at the evidence. The evidence is that mask wearing is not effective, and may even make things worse (in the real world, not in laboratories).

please stop getting your information from toilet stalls.

 

[Spongbob]

Even that Dr Fauci is on record in the USA as stating it wasn't necessary to wear masks.

He said this in March 2020 when there was a shortage of PPE, so that the supply of masks could go to healthcare workers etc.
He was not indicating marks are not useful for reducing the spread of COVID-19.

 

[Mattg]

Well I flew with VA last night. All of the airport staff at CBR were wearing masks, but only some of the flight attendants did. And of the onboard crew members who did wear masks, they kept lowering their masks every time they spoke to passengers. (Isn't the point of wearing a mask that you don't do this?!)

 

[jase05]

Well I flew with VA last night. All of the airport staff at CBR were wearing masks, but only some of the flight attendants did. And of the onboard crew members who did wear masks, they kept lowering their masks every time they spoke to passengers. (Isn't the point of wearing a mask that you don't do this?!)

On QF SYD-ADL the other night they also did this which I found strange.
They had masks lowered whilst taking our meal orders and serving

 

[TheInsider]

On QF SYD-ADL the other night they also did this which I found strange.
They had masks lowered whilst taking our meal orders and serving

Staff must not have been from MEL then!

 

[Vic]

It is the respponsibility of the people in the queue to social distance. In your photo they appear to be doing a reasonable job. Not sure why you're blaming virgin for behaviour outside of their control. The claim about no social distance in the queue isn't supported by your photo.

A bit confusing that you're Accusing the USA of being rubbish, but then using them as the gold standard that Virgin doesn't meet. Has Virgin had more than 315000 covid deaths?

Maybe the staff don't want to get abused by customers. My partner has coped non-stop abuse from DH customers about mandatory mask wearing in the business, checking in and using hand sanitiser. Maybe consider the failure of many customers to have some basic level of respect. sure they're ranting against wearing a mask, but is that much different to someone rant for the wearing of masks?

 

[cmon0005]

Masks add to the protective coughnal. BUT my concern is that a lot of people seem to think that masks offer waaaay more protection than they do and consider that wearing masks mean that they can do whatever they like.

I see people wearing masks and abandoning social distancing, which is a huge worry.

Social distancing and washing your hands are the two most effective protective measures. Masks add a further layer of protection (especially if worn by someone who is infected or with symptoms).

I have deliberately kept out of mask conversations, as there are too many opinions and too much debate around effectiveness (especially cloth masks) but you have written my thoughts exactly John, there is (in) my opinion too much emphasis on mask wearing and too little on the more other arguably more effective measures. Masks have a place in this pandemic no doubt, but their effectiveness (and I am mainly referring to the cloth masks that majority of people seem to wear) is way overstated in my uneducated opinion.

 

[ferntree]

Masks have a place in this pandemic no doubt, but their effectiveness (and I am mainly referring to the cloth masks that majority of people seem to wear) is way overstated in my uneducated opinion.

Well here's an educated opinion:

Fauci says it's time for the US to 'put aside these extraordinary excuses' and mandate masks

"We have to sort of shake each other by the collar and say, 'take a look at what's going on. Look at the data. It speaks for itself,' Fauci said.

www.businessinsider.com.au

Spoiler alert: "If you don’t want to shut down, at least do the fundamental, basic things really the flagship of which is wearing a mask.”

 

[cmon0005]

Well here's an educated opinion:

Fauci says it's time for the US to 'put aside these extraordinary excuses' and mandate masks

"We have to sort of shake each other by the collar and say, 'take a look at what's going on. Look at the data. It speaks for itself,' Fauci said.

www.businessinsider.com.au

Spoiler alert: "If you don’t want to shut down, at least do the fundamental, basic things really the flagship of which is wearing a mask.”

This is exactly what I mean on there being too much advice and opinions.

Our own Dept of Health says this: Masks

Where there is low community transmission of COVID-19, wearing a mask in the community when you are well is not generally recommended.

However, where there is significant community transmission (as determined by jurisdictional public health authorities), you may choose, or be required to, wear a mask. If physical distancing is difficult to maintain, for example on public transport, covering your face with a mask can provide some extra protection.

 

[jakeseven7]

Well now it is the law hopefully VA2 are more compliant with their mask policy and any breaches can be reported instead of just vented on AFF

 

[odysseus]

This is exactly what I mean on there being too much advice and opinions.

Our own Dept of Health says this: Masks

Which is actually completely consistent with what Fauci said.

The US is a case study in "significant community transmission" (including back in October when that was posted). He's not saying to wear a mask where there's "low community trasmission" as per your other scenario.

 

[cmon0005]

Which is actually completely consistent with what Fauci said.

The US is a case study in "significant community transmission" (including back in October when that was posted). He's not saying to wear a mask where there's "low community trasmission" as per your other scenario.

I am also not talking about the USA situation at all, I am talking about the situation here, we do not have significant community transmission yet there is so much emphasis about mask wearing, (at least in victoria where until recently where we had 61 days of zero cases) still had to wear them in most indoor places, despite other states successfully getting along without them at all. Roll them out when needed, remove mandates when they are not needed at the time.

For the record as well, I am not anti-mask or anti-restrictions, I am for the right measures, for the right time and the right place, not blanket long term token measures that has sometimes occured.

 

[odysseus]

I am also not talking about the USA situation at all, I am talking about the situation here, we do not have significant community transmission yet there is so much emphasis about mask wearing, (at least in victoria where until recently where we had 61 days of zero cases) still had to wear them in most indoor places, despite other states successfully getting along without them at all. Roll them out when needed, remove mandates when they are not needed at the time.

For the record as well, I am not anti-mask or anti-restrictions, I am for the right measures, for the right time and the right place, not blanket long term token measures that has sometimes occured.

Your comparison involved a quote by Fauci, and that quote was talking about the US situation. He wasn't talking about the Australian situation.

However, in any case as said, the Australian advice you linked to was not any different to the US advice from Fauci that you responded to, in terms of significant community transmission.

 

[justinbrett]

Looks like some staff at VA are well and truly over masks.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/virgin-australia-crew-member-slammed-over-antimask-announcement/news-story/72c25f04932228f15356268d279ca64b

 

[ferntree]

I've certainly noticed that many Virgin crews especially in J are slack about mask enforcement. Before now I've pointed out to crew pax npt wearing masks (because I am in a high risk category) and they have either shrugged their shoulders and ignored me, or just ignored me. Not always, but too often.

 

[stm1sydney]

I've certainly noticed that many Virgin crews especially in J are slack about mask enforcement. Before now I've pointed out to crew pax npt wearing masks (because I am in a high risk category) and they have either shrugged their shoulders and ignored me, or just ignored me. Not always, but too often.

If you are high risk, then your vaxx_inations and mask will protect you. Or are you saying that our governments have been lying to us about vaxx_ and mask effectiveness?