<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/about-us/cidrap-staff/michael-t-osterholm-phd-mph">https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/about-us/cidrap-staff/michael-t-osterholm-phd-mph</a><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/">https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Dr. Michael Osterhom has indicated that cloth masks that merely wrap around ears are of limited effectiveness, though better than nothing, for blocking moisture micro-droplet spread of SARS COV-2 virus. An N-95 type mask with straps that wrap around the head for a tight fit is much more effective. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div>Dr. Osterhom has indicated that the public is misled somewhat into believing that cloth masks hooked around ears provide a lot of protection for SARS COV-2 virus spread.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Kenneth Marcy's provided information, though oriented toward protection from inhalation of harmful smoke particulates, is very important for addressing the Delta variant.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div>The smoke in Latah County today looks subjectively to be the worst yet that I have seen this year, thus I am wearing two N95 masks with head straps, for protection from smoke inhalation. </div><div>But the damn straps break too easily!</div><div dir="ltr">--------------------------------------</div><div>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Aug 3, 2021 at 9:35 AM Kenneth Marcy <<a href="mailto:kmmos1@frontier.com">kmmos1@frontier.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><div></div>
<div><br></div><div dir="ltr"><div><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid6"><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">Will </span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">a </span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">face</span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">mask</span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">protect me from wildfire smoke?</span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid7"><br></span><div><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid7"><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">R</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">esp</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">irator masks</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">worn correctly</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">may provide some protection by filtering </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">out fine pa</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">rticles</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">in the smoke. Masks do not</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">help with </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">hazardous gases </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">in the smoke</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">. </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid8"></span></div><div><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid8"></span><br></div><div><br></div><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid8"><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">What face</span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:23.4px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">mask should I get?</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><br><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">N95 respirators are the ch</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">eapest and most available mask to help </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">protect your lungs from wildfire smoke</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">. </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">They are generally available at </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">hardware stores and pharmacies. </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">Make sure the mask is:</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid9"><br><span style="font-size:16.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size:16.6px;font-family:monospace" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">Certified by the </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">(NIOSH)</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">.</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid10"><br><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:monospace" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">Not</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">a one</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">-</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">strap paper dust mask or surgical mask.</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">It should have t</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">wo</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">st</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">raps that go around your head.</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285ydpe67f2910page3R_mcid11"><br><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"></span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:monospace" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">A</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">size that fits over your nose and under your chin. It should seal </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">tightly to your face. If the mask does not fit </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">properly,</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">it may not </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">provide any protection. </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">Masks with a</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">relief valve will make </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">breathing </span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr">easier.</span><span style="font-size:17.6px;font-family:sans-serif" dir="ltr"> </span></span></div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr"><a href="https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/dept/files/public-health/wildfire%20smoke/DOH_Wildfire_Smoke_Face_Masks_Factsheet.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/dept/files/public-health/wildfire%20smoke/DOH_Wildfire_Smoke_Face_Masks_Factsheet.pdf</a><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Ken</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div><br></div>
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On Tuesday, August 3, 2021, 5:21:38 AM PDT, Tom Hansen <<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>> wrote:
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<div><div id="gmail-m_5227525120059474285yiv7728067821"><div>Courtesy of today’s Moscow-Pullman Daily News.<div><br></div><div>—————————————————</div><div><br></div><div><h1 style="font-size:42px;margin:0px 100px 0px 0px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:400;line-height:1.1;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><span>Delta variant is dominant strain in Moscow</span></h1><h2 style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:400;line-height:1.1;color:rgb(51,51,51);margin:10px 100px 10px 0px;font-size:24px"><span>COVID-19 variant makes up more than 80 percent of cases nationwide; one new death reported in Latah County</span></h2></div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The highly transmissible delta variant is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. and appears to be the dominant strain in Moscow as well, according to recent tests of the city’s wastewater.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The strain makes up more than 80 percent of cases in the U.S. and Tyler Palmer, deputy city supervisor of public works and services, said the variant was the likely strain in more than 90 percent of the sample collected July 26 from Moscow’s wastewater.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">“It is what was expected,” Palmer said.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">He said the delta variant was first detected in the city’s wastewater July 14.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">“People are traveling more,” City Supervisor Gary Riedner said. “We got the students coming back. There’s all kinds of people visiting in and out so I think it’s probably to be expected that you’re going to see it sooner or later.”</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Riedner said he advised Mayor Bill Lambert and City Council leadership of the results and that Lambert indicated he would not issue a public health emergency order, such as a face mask/social distancing order, at this time.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Palmer said the city makes the results available to its healthcare partners like Public Health – Idaho North Central District and Gritman Medical Center in Moscow so that they are aware.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Health department spokesperson Tara Macke said in an email that the delta variant has also been detected in Lewiston’s wastewater.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">“This would imply that there may be Delta variant cases within both (Moscow and Lewiston) municipalities,” Macke wrote. “As of yet, that has not been confirmed by any known genetic sequencing performed from a patient specimen.”</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">However, due to the widespread delta variant across the nation, Macke wrote the delta variant is likely present in local communities even if not detected.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Macke wrote the health district encourages residents to follow the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for their safety as well as the safety of others.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">“It is the hope that with increased vaccinations and established prevention measures, the spread of the Delta variant and others will be halted or slowed,” Macke wrote.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">A city of Moscow news release Friday said that, per the CDC, the delta variant was less than 1 percent of cases in May in the U.S.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The variant spreads about twice as easily from one person to another compared to previous variants. Because new evidence shows some vaccinated people can get or spread the delta variant, the CDC recommends people in areas with substantial or high spread wear masks.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Most spread is among unvaccinated people and in areas with low vaccination rates. Vaccines help prevent the variant from spreading further, the CDC says.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Moscow started testing wastewater for the presence of COVID-19 in May 2020.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">As COVID-19 variants started to spread in the U.S., the city initiated a variant testing routine, with the first results received April 13. These tests also indicate the different variants present in the wastewater samples, including the United Kingdom and California variants in the spring of 2021 and, more recently, the delta variant.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Palmer said GT Molecular, a company based in Fort Collins, Colo., that tests for COVID-19 in communities’ wastewater systems, tests Moscow’s wastewater for COVID-19 variants every other week.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The University of Idaho tests the city’s wastewater for COVID-19 concentrations twice a week, he said.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Fifteen new COVID-19 cases were reported over the weekend and Monday on the Palouse, including 11 in Latah County and four in Whitman County.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Another COVID-19 death was reported in Latah County and 43 cases were reported in Nez Perce County.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The 11 Latah County cases were two people in the 13-17 age range, four people 18-29, three people in their 40s, one man in his 60s and another man in his 80s.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The new cases increased the countywide total to 3,278, including 3,111 confirmed and 167 probable cases. Of the 3,278, 3,200 recovered, 65 are open and the remaining 13 people have died.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The four new cases in Whitman County increased its total to 4,474 since the pandemic started, according to Whitman County Public Health. Deaths at 52 and hospitalizations at 133 since the start of the pandemic remained unchanged since last week.</span></p></div><div><br></div><div>—————————————————</div><div><br><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><a href="http://www.MoscowCares.net" target="_blank">http://www.MoscowCares.net</a></span></div><div><br></div><div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><br></div><div>“A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met.”</div><div>- Roy E. 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