Maskless on the OG boards. June 11, 2020. Blogfinger photo.

OG boards. June 11, 2020. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Click to enlarge

By Paul Goldfinger, MD.  Blogfinger.net. June11, 2020. Ocean Grove, NJ.

This morning at 10 am I was hanging out on the OG boards. It was cloudy, windy and chilly, but there was a steady flow of people.  I guess I observed about 30-40 walkers and runners. Not one of them had a mask on covering their mouth and nose.  I didn’t either.

But it is understandable, to a point, because it appeared that effective distancing was in play.

However the epidemiology community continues to waver regarding this topic.  Here is an enlightening take on this from the Washington Post on June 10, 2020.

“A new study*  shows that widespread use of face masks could push transmission of the virus to a manageable level and prevent a ‘second wave’ of infections.

“Researchers found that wearing a mask in public at all times is twice as effective in curbing the spread of the virus as wearing a mask only after symptoms appear.

“The study’s authors wrote “These analyses may explain why some countries, where adoption of face mask use by the public is around 100%, have experienced significantly lower rate of covid-19 spread and associated deaths.”

“Covid-19 hospitalizations in at least 9 states have been on the rise since Memorial Day, disproving the notion that spikes in cases are solely because of the continued increase in testing.

“Texas, for example,which was one of the first states to relax stay-at-home orders–reported record breaking hospitalization Monday and Tuesday”

Blogfinger medical commentary:   It’s hard to believe that this morning on the OG boards would have been safer if everyone wore a mask, but this report says “yes.”

I do think that a crowded day on the boards and beach would be safer if all wore masks. We have seen photos from places in Asia where all are masked, but policies in other countries vary quite a bit from mandatory masks to none at all.

Common sense seems to still play a part regarding masks, but at least merchants insist you wear one when you enter their shops; who wants one of those contact investigators to show up at your business?

* “Proceedings of the Royal Society”   June 10, 2020.

HUGH LAURIE:  “St.James Infirmary.”