Originally Posted by SOBE ER DOC

You can believe what you wish, but as a physician I will believe in science and data which tell us that if everyone were simply to wear masks we would have this illness under control in quick order. The people who told you that masks did nothing were politicians, those attempting to appease politicians and other who chose not to deal in data and facts. EVERY public health professional I know that was not under the influence of politics or personal gain has said from day one that you need to wear a mask, wash your hands, stop touching your face and avoid large crowds, particularly in enclosed spaces.

If one chooses not to wear a mask then they should expect to be publicly ridiculed, shamed and ostracized for putting everyone else at risk due to their stupid and selfish behavior. No apologies on this. I would be okay with people being fined, much like they are for not wearing a seat belt. The mask deniers are not heroes, they are not patriots, they are not defending their constitutional rights. They. Are. Idiots.

To answer your question about eating and mask use...it is an issue of exposure time...concentration of the virus in the air increases the longer you go without a barrier device. If each person exhaling releases ten copies of a virus into the air per minute and there are 100 people on a plane and the air is exchanged every three minutes (as is common on larger commercial aircraft) there are 3,000 copies of the virus in circulation at any given moment. If even half of the people on the plane are wearing their masks at all times then the viral load in the air is reduced by 50%, which substantially reduces risk of transmission. Further, when folks are drinking, their faces are in close proximity to a can, a bottle or a cup which is likely to reduce transmission of viral particulate into the air owing to our exhalation being partially obstructed by the object in question. This further reduces the viral load in the air...particularly if people take their mask down to take a drink or put food in their mouths and then replace their mask over their mouth and face. So, there is your answer. I'm sure you'll find some fault with it like you tend to do with everything on the boards that you disagree with

As a business, DL has the right to refuse service to people who do not comply with their rules and regulations. Don't like it? Don't fly DL. No one is forcing anyone to fly any airline. Want to sue DL for some poppycock claim of discrimination or bruised feelings or any other snowflake reason then I will be the first physician to volunteer to testify on DL's behalf as a expert witness pointing out that the plaintiff in the case is a litigation-happy idiot.