[Organizers] Re: Is it time to change our mask mandates?

I have a reply pending - I embedded an image I took from CovidActNow, but the short answer is: While it varies from area to area, I'm using CovidActNow for the basis of saying that deaths and hospitalizations are well above what they were a year ago. Yes, we're on a downwards trend, but we were also on a downwards trend at this time last year, and then things went way back up. This is why I continue to advocate for organizers to set policies that are based on hospitalizations and deaths, so that it's unambiguous when masking is safer to lighten up on, and when it may need to be reinstated (such as with a Winter surge or a new strain, etc) Best regards, Julian On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 10:16 AM Jeff Kaufman &lt;jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu&gt; wrote: > Hi Julian, > > You wrote "Hospitalizations and deaths for covid are still well above > what they were a year ago" but this looks wrong to me, both for MA and > nationwide? Nationally > <https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html>, > hospitalizations are at 1.9/100k compared to 2/100k this time in 2022, and > in MA > <https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/massachusetts-covid-cases.html> > it's 2/100k vs 1.5/100k. For deaths, nationally > <https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00> > we're averaging 1,773/wk vs 3,709/wk a year ago, and MA > <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting> is > averaging 3.6/d compared to 5.4/d a year ago. > > Jeff > > On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 9:57 AM Julian Blechner via Organizers < > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: > >> All of my immune-compromised friends are still masking and still not >> able to enjoy the things so many people are taking for granted. >> Hospitalizations and deaths for covid are still well above what they >> were a year ago. >> Reported cases are down, but positive test % is still very high - >> indicating a high number of cases out there that we don't see. This means >> vaccines are working to keep cases more mild, but that covid is still >> rampant out there. >> >> Contra continues to be an epidemiologist's nightmare activity, even >> worse that casual hospital contact: >> heavy breathing, mingling with dozens of other people at close quarters, >> being face-to-face with them. >> >> What I'd like to see is more organizers set policies that are connected >> to hospitalizations and deaths, setting standards based on numbers and >> sticking to them. >> >> Julian Blechner >> speaking for myself >> committee member, Downtown Amherst Contra >> + caller >> >> On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 9:52 AM Brooke Friendly via Organizers < >> organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: >> >>> Mask mandates for medical facilities were lifted in Oregon in March. >>> Brooke Friendly >>> >>> On Fri, Apr 7, 2023 at 6:35 AM Lisa Sieverts via Organizers < >>> organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: >>> >>>> Hello fellow organizers, >>>> >>>> I have been a big proponent of our dance mask mandates and feel we >>>> have prevented quite a bit of COVID spread by requiring good facemasks. >>>> >>>> However, our local hospital has announced that after 3 years of a mask >>>> mandate for everyone entering their building (it’s both a hospital and a >>>> medical center), they are lifting the mandate on April 10 for anyone >>>> asymptomatic and who hasn’t had a recent COVID contact. >>>> >>>> Our board will be discussing this soon but I am very curious about >>>> what other organizers think. Is it time? And what should be our criteria >>>> for lifting our mandates? >>>> >>>> Best, >>>> Lisa >>>> Monadnock Folklore Society >>>> Nelson, NH >>>> >>>> Lisa Sieverts >>>> 603-762-0235 >>>> lisa(a)lisasieverts.com >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Organizers mailing list -- organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>> organizers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Organizers mailing list -- organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Organizers mailing list -- organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> >