We ought not to attach guilt to individuals who drop their guard, and shed the virus on others. This could happen to any one of us swept up in a thoughtless moment, so we’ll respect their personal identity too. None the less, there are lessons to learn for all of us. That’s because the tale of no face masks and 200 COVID-19 cases will undoubtedly repeat in future.
Watch the Tragedy Evolve at Two Social Gatherings
A community somewhere in the United States decided it was time to meet, and build team spirit. And so they planned a five-day church camp for their teens, and a two-day men’s conference in June 2021. Unfortunately their events became super spreads. The tragedy is the virus traveled from there to at least four U.S. states.
The attendees apparently did not wear face masks. Some may have, but we are not sure. Perhaps they longed for close contact, even friends embracing at the reunion perhaps. However, the unintended consequence of not wearing face masks was 200 new COVID-19 cases. NPR News believes 87 people at the camp, and 35 at the conference came down with the disease.
No Face Masks and 200 COVID-19 Cases – A Broader View
The new channel confirms 104 of those first-level cases were unvaccinated. Fortunately, only five of them entered hospital, and thankfully none died. However – and here’s the real tragedy – those people who chose not to wear masks could have infected 1,000 other people indirectly. And those innocent third parties could have each become spreaders themselves too.
Much of this could have been avoided with the wisdom of hindsight. NPR News says 300 teens between 14 and 18 traveled together in large groups on buses to attend the camp.
They ‘spent the week living and dining together and mingling with other campers’ according to CDC after they arrived. The believe ‘a list of items to pack for the week did not include masks’.
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