@Avram-In-MD and @syag-lchochma I was taking @daas-yochid s story to the logical place. If he saw one person keel over choking because of a mask, then obviously Hatzalah should have been overtaxed in dealing with breathing problems from all the people wearing masks. But they weren’t, nur vus the story was a fabrication.
You mentioned a study yourself that shows no difference in oxygen or CO2 levels after wearing a mask. Why are you blibing shver on it? Because they didn’t stick a CO2 measurement device right in the guys face? Would it matter if the individual was masked or not if they’re literally breathing on a CO2 meter? Would it matter if the individual was old or young, sick or healthy, if they’re still measured as breathing the same air?
If someone says that something that is physically possible but difficult for them, and it’s a very important thing to do because the safety of others is at stake, my response would be “try harder”. For some people it’s difficult to go through a day without alcohol. Would you tell them that it’s OK for them to drive and put people in danger?
I tried to have empathy. I really did. But I lost it maybe about six months ago. It may have been some time between when I first got asked “Are you makpid on masks?” and when I watched a live feed of a simcha where hundreds of people were dancing together without any concern for COVID. Or maybe it was the time when a Yeshiva Bachur broke the rules to attend a simcha and ended up putting several of his Rebbeim in the hospital.
So when you tell me that people have “difficulties” with masks, I ask if they are the same people that still go to crowded mikvahs every morning. If they are the same people who ignore social distancing restrictions. If they are the same people who put their whole family on a plane to visit friends. Because in my experience, 99% of the time they are.
You’re probably not going to like my doctor’s opinion.
I would like to hear it. I would be interested to hear a single local doctor say to one of their long time patients “It’s better if you don’t wear a mask”. In my community, there are basically four practices with frum doctors that people go to. And each one of those has been extremely loud and open that not enough people are wearing masks or following other COVID protocols.