As noted Asian countries aren’t monolith. Given the size of HK and that it still is a major international city it would be hard to hide if their numbers were very off. Same with Singapore. Taiwan has a pretty active free press and would also be hard to hide.
Doing some quick math. US has about 29 million confirmed infections and a population of about 330 million. That leads to about 9% of the population has been infected. HK has about 11,000 confirmed infections out of a population of 7.5 million. That leads to about 0.2% of the population. That means that even if HK infection numbers were actually 10 times greater the percentage of infected still wouldn’t be close to the US. Given that HK is much smaller and denser than the US it’s easier to test a larger portion of the population and maintain the same standards so it’s likely that while infections are probably higher in both places the HK number is probably more accurate.
H-E-B giving their customers the choice https://www.kens5.com/article/news/...date/273-af92584a-dbd3-4290-95ec-5f7d26691578
Any reasonable analysis of data shows that masks and restrictions are effective. That is evident. @SuraGotMadHops and others may want to find ways to misinterpret or misrepresent the data in order ton conform with what they want to believe.
Don't get it twisted, HEB just doesn't want to deal with the drama of female and male Karens. I don't blame them. Besides, how are they going to police individuals inside the stores. I've seen it way too many times. Employees shouldn't have to deal with customers that don't want to follow the rules, they just don't get paid enough to do that.
It’s not guesswork, it’s plain common sense. I can’t believe I’m asking this a year later but you actually think 2 people engaging in conversation both wearing kn95s is the same as both wearing nothing?
According to this, 7% of Texas population has been vaccinated: According to covid statistics, 9.2% of the Texas population has contracted COVID. To reach herd immunity we need 60-70% of the population to be vaccinated. So we are nowhere near close developing herd immunity to consider this a "large factor" yet. I really wish you would stop talking out of your ass. If your seasonality argument is based on that stupid graph you posted earlier (which just tells me we insisted on gathering during the holidays, therefore, a larger percentage of people got sick) then that is a weak ass argument. That does not prove seasonality. You would need a hell of a lot more data to prove that ****. Keep on moving the goal posts though.
So much hemming and hawing....all this order does is allow the citizens of TX to decide for themselves. I'm amazed at how many people want and expect the gov't to make decisions for them. It's almost like Stockholm syndrome. If you want to wear a mask, wear one. If you dont, then dont. If the possibility of walking around the outside world where some people might not be masked up scares you, then stay home. You want lockdowns anyway right so what does it matter? Just stay inside. Those that are healthy enough and willing enough should have the choice to go about their business. Move on people.
That's not a straight 7%, that 7% includes front line workers and high risk/elderly folks. Getting them vaccinated reduces the severity and deadliness of the virus, so it is significant progress. Keeping things closed/masked for the sake of healthy low risk people is absurd.
Healthy low risk people are not immune to get the virus. They could still infect others that are not vaccinated. So no, it isn't absurd. I'm fine with keeping **** open, it is what it is at this point in this country, however, removing a mask mandate is absolutely stupid for the time being if we want to prevent a larger amount of deaths. The research supports that aerosols are the easiest way to get this ****. I mean, some of us will be smart enough to stay away from certain places, for example, I won't be stepping into an HEB for the time being since I'd like to avoid catching this virus, but not every individual has that luxury, especially workers. Abbott wants to open the state up, then at least pony up some dough so these essential businesses can distribute KN95 masks to their employees. HEB is simply choosing not to police Karens, they know the effort is futile. I don't blame them.
At this point if you are high risk, and unvaccinated, then take your own precautions until you can get vaccinated. Likewise, if you are not high risk but aren't comfortable going about regular business, again, take your own precautions. The rest of the population is ready to move on.
It's not that we want the government to control us, is just that there is a percentage of the population that if they aren't told what to do, they won't make the right choice for the sake of themselves or rest of us. It's that simple. If wearing seat belts was not a law, how many more deaths would we have on the road? If getting auto insurance wasn't required by law, how many individuals would be screwed over by someone crashing into them? If a DWI was not a thing, how many intoxicated drivers would be out there? etc.
What if you have to work to support yourself or a family? What if you have to work to support a family member that is high risk? What about those individuals that have no clue how to use technology to get curbside and need to go to the groceries to get food and they are high risk? I can keep going. The common theme is selfishness. Yeah, I hate wearing masks, but whatever, it's for the benefit of the rest of the population. If you are high risk and choose to engage in high risk activities, then so be it, but there are others trying to look out for themselves and one another, that's why removing the mandate it stupid.
