Panic in the streets?

 



 


In this 1950 film noir, Richard Widmark plays a public health officer who saves New Orleans from Pneumoic Plague (airosolized bubonic plague). In 2020 New York hasn't been so lucky. We are now experiencing our second Corona wave, probably because some New Yorkers are not taking mask wearing and the need for social distancing seriously. I am not sure why this is, but that's what the facts seem to indicate.

Seeing as the citywide infectivity rate is still low (3.25%) It probably isn't too late to do something proactive. It would help if our  police  actively enforce the mask mandate for both the NYC Police force and the rest of New Yorkers. Our mayor and governor are planning on shutting schools in certain city zip codes with high infectivity rates and that should help.

It is remarkable the degree that the vast majority of New Yorkers have embraced the wearing of masks when venturing out of their apartments and houses. It seems that a minority are not with the program. and while they should be ashamed, apparently they are not.   I suspect that fines and enforcement are needed to help stem the tide, especially as the weather gets colder and people spend more time in doors. 

Public health measures can take time to establish, but even though there was initial resitance, people in cars routinely wear their seatbelts and know that talking on a cellphone with out a hands free device can lead to an expensive ticket. The same surely will applying to mask enforcement, if only our police will start by setting a good example and then willingly enforce our governor's mask order. There is no need for panic, just the will to insist that the public wears  masks properly especially when adequate social distancing is not 100% possible. 



from Ask Dr. Spindel - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/2020/10/panic-in-streets.html - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/

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