I cannot post this anywhere that people know who I am. But I need to vent.
I am a public defender. It’s underpaid work, but I have always believed in it. My job is to defend the poor who are charged with crimes and who don’t have the money to hire lawyers.
But being an older public defender during a pandemic that kills and disables the elderly disproportionately ihas put me in a quandary. How do I both do my job well and still protect myself and my older, disabled husband?
I am supposed to do a jury trial next week. If it goes, they have plexiglass up in the courtroom to protect others. But me? I will have a mask, but zero social distancing for at least two days.
They are exempting older people from jury service... people only a couple years older than me.
One of my opponents is a Viking wannabe — has a Mohawk style white boy haircut. He refuses to wear a mask, telling me that re-breathing air is “gross” but telling the judge that his asthma prevents it.
So he will be a plague rat often within 6 feet of me.
My client hasn’t been social distancing or masked while in a jail that doesn’t test people. They just isolate them if they have fever.
@Myrth
I know that it is very uncomfortable to wear, but consider getting a respirator, instead of a mask.
A mask with a good filter in a pocket, is better than a simple cloth mask. And yes it will protect you. A good respirator is still better.
Continued.
@Myrth
If you are referring to a resent paper, that got a lot of air time on MSM... Many scientists have denounced it as junk science.
I also have read the paper.and it is total garbage.
Any mask, will protect you, to some varying degree.
Get a good fitted mask, with a good filter in the pocket...
Or better a respirator.
You will be fine.
@corlin I am unsure if the filters are “good” but I did order a package of mask filters off Amazon, along with masks that can accept filter inserts. The filters are supposedly 5 layers with carbon. But whether they are actually good filters... no idea. 5 stars on Amazon doesn’t really mean much. I figure they are better than nothing, though.
@Myrth
Yes those are good filters.
Just practice good mask handling.
Wash hands, and put on gloves before removing mask.
Put used filters in plastic bag, after use. Throw away filter ever day, wash mask daily, Between use as in a car, or while eating, store mask in paper bag, not plastic, you want it to dry out.