With all the warnings about wearing masks, plus the need to be vaccinated against COVID-19, I believe there is a lack of comprehension concerning why masks are so important, especially with the delta variant.
In a former job, I monitored the microbiology of highly immunocompromised patients in a bone marrow transplant unit.
While most people understand how dangerous infections are in those who are immunocompromised, they do not realize how dangerous these patients can be as super-shedders.
An immunocompromised patient with a viral, fungal or bacterial infection can be more infective to those around them because of the higher inoculating dose the patient will deliver.
The delta variant is turning those with normal immune systems into super-shedders.
It replicates way more effectively than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain.
In gun language: wearing a mask, especially with the delta variant as the infective agent, is the difference between being shot with a pellet gun versus a shotgun.
Cheryl Nash
Port Angeles