Masks

[NTorch]

Rav Asher Weiss on putting a mask on the Shofar

ואכן בדקתי והתברר לי בבירור שאין בהדבקת המסכה כל שינוי בקול
השופר. ואכן ראוי בכל בית כנסת שצריך לנהוג בדרך זו לבדוק אם יש בזה שינוי בקול השופר

https://7d4ab068-0603-408d-89df-fac4580e17c4.filesusr.com/ugd/8b9b1c_ba52693df4c845cda77be45f220c040a.pdf at p.18

I have yet to see this done in practice, but it is interesting.

[avromie7]

Rav Asher Weiss on putting a mask on the Shofar

https://7d4ab068-0603-408d-89df-fac4580e17c4.filesusr.com/ugd/8b9b1c_ba52693df4c845cda77be45f220c040a.pdf at p.18

I have yet to see this done in practice, but it is interesting.

I heard in STL they use a mask on the shofar. At this point it's a minhag so it's a lot simpler.

[hllulbh1]

If anyone is in close contact with someone who is considered contagious according to the above criteria, they need to quarantine. (Close contact is defined as within 6 feet for 10 minutes, regardless of mask use.)

– The Gedaliah Society, in conjunction with Dr. Rosen

WRONG WRONG and WRONG AGAIN. The CDC does not specify the implications of mask use in regards to the need to quarantine.

MD Anderson states explicitly:

"What constitutes close contact and what constitutes exposure to the coronavirus?

Close contact to COVID-19 occurs when you are within six feet of someone who is showing symptoms of COVID-19, for at least 15 minutes, when neither person is wearing a mask, and the infected person later tests positive for the coronavirus...If either or both individuals were wearing face masks, it is not considered exposure."

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-counts-as-coronavirus-covid-19-exposure--how-does-contact-tracing-identify-who-has-been-exposed-to-covid-19.h00-159383523.html

[aygart]

or the vaguely identified Dr. Rosen made this statement

I presume that those in CH would not consider him to be vaguely identified.

[hllulbh1]

Correct. Edited the post to stay on point.

[Lurker]

WRONG WRONG and WRONG AGAIN. The CDC does not specify the implications of mask use in regards to the need to quarantine. If the Gedaliah Society or the vaguely identified Dr. Rosen made this statement, they/he are highly suspect on all their guidance.

1) Dr. Rosen has been a community doctor in CH for decades. He's is very well known in their circles. The Gedaliah Society and Dr. Rosen are giving advice to that specific community, and that community alone.

2) I'd put Dr. Rosen's track record with this pandemic up against the CDC's in a heartbeat. The CDC has been a political pawn from the very beginning. It's been very well documented, culminating with a FOX News report the other day confirming that all CDC messaging is run through the White House now.

3) It is very likely that the CDC's guidelines are assuming the use of N95 masks. Most masks that people use are not enough to completely guarantee that transmission will not occur when one sustains contact in close quarters with a contagious individual.

[hllulbh1]

The Gedaliah Society and Dr. Rosen are giving advice to that specific community, and that community alone.

Wrong! The update from the Gedaliah Society includes a definition of 'close contact' requiring quarantine. This definition was not offered as a community specific definition. Why defend inaccurate public health information?

It is very likely that the CDC's guidelines are assuming the use of N95 masks.

Wrong! The guidelines defining 'close contact' are from MD Anderson, not the CDC. It is purely wishful thinking to suggest that general guidelines presented on a World-renowned medical institution's website refers to N95 masks when the majority of the general public does not use N95s.

[Lurker]

Wrong! The update from the Gedaliah Society includes a definition of 'close contact' requiring quarantine. This definition was not offered as a community specific definition. Why defend inaccurate public health information?

All published Gedaliah Society guidelines are for the CH community. Just because you read it on DDF doesn't mean it's for you.

Wrong! The guidelines defining 'close contact' are from MD Anderson, not the CDC. It is purely wishful thinking to suggest that general guidelines presented on a World-renowned medical institution's website refers to N95 masks when the majority of the general public does not use N95s.

So this world renowned medical institution just issued a blanket guideline, all the while knowing that there are tens, if not hundreds, of different quality masks in use with a wide degree of efficiency? Or did they specify which masks they were referring to?

[hllulbh1]

All published Gedaliah Society guidelines are for the CH community. Just because you read it on DDF doesn't mean it's for you.

A definition is a definition and not community specific - I went to source to read it in context. Wrong Public Health Information is wrong. Why defend it?

So this world renowned medical institution just issued a blanket guideline, all the while knowing that there are tens, if not hundreds, of different quality masks in use with a wide degree of efficiency?

Exactly. They as all of us know that there are different levels of protection provided by masks and how they are worn. They provide "blanket guidelines", just as Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic does on their websites, meant for the general public doing things the general public does. There is no logical reason to assume they are only referring specifically to N95 wearers.

[Lurker]

A definition is a definition and not community specific - I went to source to read it in context. Wrong Public Health Information is wrong. Why defend it?

Exactly. They as all of us know that there are different levels of protection provided by masks and how they are worn. They provide "blanket guidelines", just as Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic does on their websites, meant for the general public doing things the general public does. There is no logical reason to assume they are only referring specifically to N95 wearers.

So your understanding is that someone who is wearing a neck gaiter and is within 6 feet of a contagious person who isn't wearing any mask for 10 minutes, they are not considered exposed?

[Lurker]

WRONG WRONG and WRONG AGAIN. The CDC does not specify the implications of mask use in regards to the need to quarantine.

MD Anderson states explicitly:

"What constitutes close contact and what constitutes exposure to the coronavirus?

Close contact to COVID-19 occurs when you are within six feet of someone who is showing symptoms of COVID-19, for at least 15 minutes, when neither person is wearing a mask, and the infected person later tests positive for the coronavirus...If either or both individuals were wearing face masks, it is not considered exposure."

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-counts-as-coronavirus-covid-19-exposure--how-does-contact-tracing-identify-who-has-been-exposed-to-covid-19.h00-159383523.html

For the record, 10 minutes within 6 feet is in line with UPenn's definition of medium-risk exposure. They also define a high-risk exposure as being "exposed to aerosolized secretions from an infected patient without recommended respiratory protection."

https://www.med.upenn.edu/PennMedicineTogether/covid-19-exposure/

[NTorch]

For the record, 10 minutes within 6 feet is in line with UPenn's definition of medium-risk exposure. They also define a high-risk exposure as being "exposed to aerosolized secretions from an infected patient without recommended respiratory protection."

https://www.med.upenn.edu/PennMedicineTogether/covid-19-exposure/

Someone recommends respiratory protection?

[hllulbh1]

The Penn Medical website is specifically addressing its health professional employees and is in the context of their institutionally prescribed levels of isolation and quarantining which are not relevant to the general public. The exposure being addressed by respiratory protection is for instance during a tracheotomy procedure.

[Lurker]

The Penn Medical website is specifically addressing its health professional employees and is in the context of their institutionally prescribed levels of isolation and quarantining which are not relevant to the general public. The exposure being addressed by respiratory protection is for instance during a tracheotomy procedure.

We can dance around this forever, but they still aren't wrong in the guidance. Not that I'm a fan of CDC guidelines, but this is buried as an asterisk on their site:

Data are insufficient to precisely define the duration of time that constitutes a prolonged exposure. Recommendations vary on the length of time of exposure, but 15 minutes of close exposure can be used as an operational definition. Brief interactions are less likely to result in transmission; however, symptoms and the type of interaction (e.g., did the infected person cough directly into the face of the exposed individual) remain important.

If the Gedaliah Society prefers to issue guidance that leans towards the more cautious side, that doesn't warrant a

WRONG WRONG and WRONG AGAIN.

[Euclid]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/face-masks-could-giving-people-covid-19-immunity-researchers/

[hllulbh1]

We can dance around this forever, but they still aren't wrong in the guidance. If the Gedaliah Society prefers to issue guidance that leans towards the more cautious side, that doesn't warrant a

You are obfuscating the issues. The science is clear that if the COVID-positive or bystander is wearing a mask then quarantine is not mandated. The Gedaliah Society definition of exposure requiring quarantine is wrong.

[Lurker]

You are obfuscating the issues. The science is clear that if the COVID-positive or bystander is wearing a mask then quarantine is not mandated. The Gedaliah Society definition of exposure requiring quarantine is wrong.

They get to set the definition at it pertains to their guidance ONLY. That is what they did. And their guidance falls within currently accepted medical protocols.

[Afrages6]

You are obfuscating the issues. The science is clear that if the COVID-positive or bystander is wearing a mask then quarantine is not mandated. The Gedaliah Society definition of exposure requiring quarantine is wrong.

CDC says otherwise

[hllulbh1]

Where? @ Lurker quoted from the CDC referring to the length of time that constitutes an exposure. Where does CDC state that an exposure includes someone wearing a mask in close proximity to an infected person?

[Lurker]

Where? @ Lurker quoted from the CDC referring to the length of time that constitutes an exposure. Where does CDC state that an exposure includes someone wearing a mask in close proximity to an infected person?

Note: This is irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a mask or whether the contact was wearing respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE)