Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
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maskblocwr.bsky.social
Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
@maskblocwr.bsky.social
95 followers 240 following 210 posts
We provide masks, tests, air purifiers, and health information free of charge in the so-called Waterloo Region.
💙 Make requests through our linktree or website. 💙
⭐ We are volunteer-run. Join us! ⭐
https://linktr.ee/maskblocwr | https://maskblocwr.org/
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maskblocwr.bsky.social
Mask Bloc Waterloo Region @maskblocwr.bsky.social · Nov 24
Donations help us keep up with the demand for free masks and (especially) COVID rapid tests. At around $2 a test, even small donations help. Through PayPal, @maskblockwr.
Mask Bloc Waterloo Region: Donate! We are always accepting donations! * Provide financial support via PayPal (@maskblocwr) * Donate unopened masks via pickup or drop off (please contact us!)
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
guinesspig.bsky.social
We've still got a little space in tonight's broadcast of the audio drama-comedy 'A Covid Christmas Carol' at 6 pm EST. Come join us!

RSVP at tinyurl.com/RSVP12DaysCC and mention 'A Covid Christmas Carol' in the message.
Flyer with picture of Scrooge and masked Bob from the story 'A Christmas Carol,' with text reading: Join us for a Readers' Theatre Performance of A Covid Christmas Carol a 70-minute audio drama/comedy Gather ‘round the digital fireplace for story time! In this modern take on ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Bob Maskit just wants to mask at work to keep his family safe. His boss, Eversneezer Scrooge, insists Covid is over. Can the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future open Scrooge’s eyes? RSVP at tinyurl.com/RSVP12DaysCC Zoom link will be sent day of event. Mention ‘A Covid Christmas Carol' in message.
December 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
durhamhealthnc.bsky.social
Masking helps protect you and others! Wear masks in addition to taking other steps like vaccination and good indoor ventilation in order to avoid the spread of viruses. (Part 2/2)
myth: It’s only important to wear a mask if someone nearby is sick. fact: Many viruses like COVID-19, flu, and measles can spread even if the sick person has no symptoms (asymptomatic), so you can’t always tell if you’re near someone sick! Some viruses can also linger in the air and continue to infect people even after the sick person has left the room. (Did you know? Measles continues to spread through the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room!) myth: if masks work, If masks work, I shouldn’t have to wear one if you’re wearing your own. fact: Masks (especially high quality masks/respirators like N95s and KN95s) are an important way to protect yourself from COVID-19, but they are even more effective when others nearby are also masking! We protect the community the most when more people wear masks. myth: If I wear a mask, it’s fine to be around other people while I’m sick. fact: Staying home and away from others is the most effective way to protect other people while you are sick. While you’re sick, avoid others as much as possible to keep them safe. If you have to go out, masks are extremely important to help protect others and should be worn at all times, but they are not 100% effective and don’t guarantee you won’t still spread illness. myth: If I wear a mask, it’s not important to get vaccinated or take other steps to protect myself. fact: Wearing masks is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from the spread of viruses through the air, but because 1.) no method of protection is 100% effective and 2.) many viruses can spread in other ways, in addition to airborne spread, it’s still important to stay up to date on vaccines and take other steps to protect yourself and others.
December 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
durhamhealthnc.bsky.social
You may have seen masks mentioned a lot lately, especially as the spread of multiple viruses is currently high, so it’s important to know the facts in order to protect yourself and others. Learn more and stay safe this respiratory virus season and beyond! (Part 1/2)
myth : There’s no evidence masks work. fact: Studies have repeatedly shown that wearing masks significantly reduces your odds of COVID-19, flu, and other viruses that can spread through the air (airborne transmission / airborne spread). N95s & KN95s work best and should be worn if possible, but even cloth masks offer more protection than wearing nothing! Mask myths and facts. N95s and KN95s are the only masks that offer any protection against viruses. High-quality masks like N95s and KN95s (these are also called respirators) offer the most protection against viruses that can spread through the air, like COVID-19, flu, and more, but any mask is better than nothing! If you don’t have an N95 or KN95, it’s still a good idea to wear the best mask available to you. myth: There’s no point in wearing a mask if no one else nearby is wearing one. fact: Masks offer the most protection to the community when more people are wearing them, but they are still highly effective even when you are the only person masked! myth: Wearing a mask helps protect other people but has no impact on the person wearing it. fact: Wearing a mask helps protect you and others. Masks help keep virus particles you exhale from spreading in the air, and they help protect you from inhaling virus particles put into the air by others.
December 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
maskblocwr.bsky.social
substack.com/home/post/p-... #Covid #ClimateChange
Holiday Bonus: The Covid pandemic continues to change everything all around us and we need to be prepared
Bonus The climate crisis also changes everything!
substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social
Canada: Increase in cold, flu, and COVID cases brings return of masks to Ontario hospital.

Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington announced a mask mandate effective Dec 22. Everyone entering must wear a mask in patient care areas; masks are provided at entrances to reduce spread and protect patients.
Increase in cold, flu, and COVID cases brings return of masks to Ontario hospital | insauga
All visitors to an Ontario hospital must start wearing masks to stop the spread of respiratory illnesses. In a move reminiscent of the height of the pandemic, Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington annou...
www.insauga.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:53 PM
maskblocwr.bsky.social
This Saturday, December 27: Monthly Masked Cook with Food Not Bombs KW. #WatRegion #MutualAid

For more information about volunteering, see docs.google.com/document/u/0...
Monthly Masked Cook. The last Saturday of every month at Food Not Bombs is a masked cook, in collaboration with Mask Bloc WR! All volunteers are required to mask for our masked cooks, and masks will be provided.
December 24, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
zeldamomoe.bsky.social
Donald Duck here reminding that wearing a mask in crowded areas to help protect you AND people around you is actually quite cool. KN95s come in SO many different colors, so wearing them at cons is great since you can easily find a style to match your costume :3

#donaldduck #kingdomhearts #cosplay
Me in my Donald Duck from Kingdom Hearts cosplay made by my friend Tandie / RinRinCosplays at Tekko 2025 outside on a balcony. I'm wearing a bright yellow KN95 mask to mimic Donald's beak.
August 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
mamatoronto.bsky.social
Clean air for kids & staff in schools & daycares shouldn’t be controversial

No IAQ policy at any level of govt ensuring indoor air is clean & safe to breathe atm

Petition to Toronto Board of Health to direct TO Public Health to adopt Health🇨🇦's new IAQ Guidance
preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1297...
Clean Indoor Air Toronto
cleanindoorairto.ca
December 23, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
jukka235.bsky.social
Finland's epidemic 23 Dec 2025: amount of virus in wastewater appears to have risen above the first Omicron wave. Post-Omicron baseline is permanently higher than pre-Omicron; repeated waves are showing no diminishing.
1/x
December 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
maskblocwr.bsky.social
Fun thread! 🧵
paulisci.bsky.social Paul Fairie @paulisci.bsky.social · 1d
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees

🧵
December 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
moriartylab.bsky.social
Canadian COVID Forecast Dec 20, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026

ONTARIO

HIGH [decreasing]

About 1 of every 58 people is infected.

Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:

-Infections: 10.5 x higher
-Long COVID: 6.0 x higher
-Hospitalizations: 8.7 x higher
-Deaths: 8.3 x higher
This image describes the Canadian COVID Forecast for the fourteen-day period between Dec 20, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026, which is produced by COVID-19 Resources Canada. Ontario's COVID Forecast outlook is HIGH [decreasing] with a COVID INDEX SCORE of 9.2 About 1 of every 58 people is infected. Estimated infections this week: 195,500-255,900 What these numbers mean: MODERATE 1-5, HIGH 5-10, VERY HIGH 10-15, SEVERE >15 COMPARED TO THE LOWEST POINT IN THE COVID PANDEMIC IN CANADA How much higher are key indicators compared to the lowest point in the COVID pandemic in Canada? Waste water, infections: VERY HIGH; 10.5X higher Long COVID: HIGH; 6.0X higher Hospitalizations: HIGH; 8.7X higher Deaths: HIGH; 8.3X higher HOW TO HELP: EVERYONE: UPDATE vaccines every 6 months WEAR N95-type masks Who is HIGH RISK? People 60 and older, babies < 1 year, pregnant ALL AGES: immunocompromised OR medically at-risk OR no vaccine or infection in the last 6 months Recommendations are based on the COVID-19 Risk Index from the Peterborough ON Public Health Unit COVID-19 Resources Canada is a grassroots organization of volunteer scientists supporting Canadian COVID responses. Sources, data and methods for the COVID Index are available at www.Covid19Resources.ca
December 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
moriartylab.bsky.social
Canadian COVID Forecast: Dec 20, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026

SEVERE: none
VERY HIGH: AB, MB, NB, North, QC, SK
HIGH: CAN, BC, NL, NS, ON, PEI
MODERATE: none

About 1 in 55 people in Canada are CURRENTLY infected.
This image shows gauges with the Dec 20, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026 Forecast scores for Canada, the provinces, & territories. From left to right: Canada: HIGH - 10.0 Alberta: VERY HIGH - 12.4 British Columbia: HIGH - 7.6 Manitoba: VERY HIGH - 10.3 New Brunswick: VERY HIGH - 10.5 Newfoundland & Labrador: HIGH - 9.1 North: VERY HIGH - 10.3 Nova Scotia: HIGH - 9.9 Ontario: HIGH - 9.2 Prince Edward Island: HIGH - 6.6 Quebec: VERY HIGH - 10.4 Saskatchewan: VERY HIGH - 14.0 A text box reads: "The COVID Forecast is calculated from 3 equally weighted categories: 1) Current infections and spread; 2) Healthcare system impact; 3) Mortality. Within each category there is one sub-category for trends over the most recent week (Trends) and one sub-category for current parameter values relative to a specified baseline (Current values). Trends and current values are weighted equally when determining the final score for a category. All Forecast input data and sources are available here (https://datastudio.google.com/embed/u/0/reporting/42b886cf-d661-488e-b7d8-5c5836b55ab6/page/p_2yqs028mwc). Past Forecast scores are available in the table below. Forecast scores are grouped into 4 ranges: MODERATE (1 to <5, white), HIGH (6 to <10, yellow), VERY HIGH (10 to <15, orange), SEVERE (>15 red)."
December 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
beansproutsmom.bsky.social
4/ We are more sick from EVERYTHING.

These charts are stunning. No freakin' wonder healthcare is strained, workplace and school absences are up, etc.

Holy hell, this is all AIRBORNE. #MaskUp FFS. @doctorsofbc.bsky.social - are you trying to kill us?!

#bcpoli #bced @bcndp.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
beansproutsmom.bsky.social
3/ So, here are the Flu A case counts each year and year-to-date.

So, way down at the bottom is pre-pandemic range and mean. It's THOUSANDS of cases lower than every other year shown. THOUSANDS.😱

Since COVID: You're sicker than you think™️
December 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
tomkindlon.bsky.social
Great to see this sympathetic overview article in the LA Times

www.latimes.com/doctors-scie...

It's long so many if not most patients probably won't agree with every sentence but overall gets across a lot sympathetically.

Note: it doesn't focus on any particular news

#MEcfs #CFS #PwME
Image of a man with his hand to his face Chronic fatigue syndrome Kevin Famuyiro By Kevin Famuyiro Senior Content Strategist Contact Dec. 20, 2025 5:21 AM PT 16 min Click here to listen to this article Key Facts ME/CFS is characterized by Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), where symptoms worsen after minimal activity. The condition is classified as a neurological disease often triggered by viral infections or immune dysfunction. Diagnosis is a process of exclusion, requiring a thorough medical exam to rule out mimickers.
December 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
kmeekes.bsky.social
Amplifying because seriously - why does The Ottawa Hospital not have a mask mandate?
nesfarm.bsky.social Vanessa 🍁 @nesfarm.bsky.social · 2d
I can't believe our small local hospital has a mask mandate and I'm at a hospital in Ottawa and almost no one is masking

There have anyone been daily warning about the current flu strain, the vaccine mismatch, and how the children's hospital is over capacity...

No flu for me please!
FB post graphic from Kemptville district hospital Text Please wear a mask Due to an increase of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, KDH is temporarily reinstating masking requirements for all visitors. Kemptville District Hospital Building healthier communities
December 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
sharpflower.bsky.social
I spoke to the people who continue to shape their lives around avoiding [cholera/typhoid/dysentery] and only drinking ‘clean’ water
matthabusby.bsky.social Mattha Busby @matthabusby.bsky.social · 5d
I spoke to the people who continue to shape their lives around avoiding Covid and only breathing ‘clean’ air

‘Refusing to mask during an ongoing pandemic is absolutely violent and it’s undeniably participating in social murder.’

For @telegraph.co.uk

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
onschoolsafety.bsky.social
“We have been asking them and insist that they invest in measuring the air quality in those spaces, schools and school buses, and not leaving it as something for which school boards have to pull from an already overstretched budget,” @mjnabuurs.bsky.social says.

ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/12/21/s...
Schools have become cesspools for cold and flu, but they don't have to be: Ontario School Safety
The volunteer organization Ontario School Safety is calling on the provincial government to improve air quality in schools as flu spreads.
ottawa.citynews.ca
December 22, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
jaxtait.bsky.social
Lots of clinically vulnerable people still need to mask for good medical reasons. "See one, wear one" is the compassionate response. I look forward to a Green, inclusive society with #CleanAir solutions in place in hospitals, schools & workplaces to stop the spread of airborne infectious diseases.
elhopkins.bsky.social Esther @elhopkins.bsky.social · 2d
I mask because the science shows we need layered mitigations. The research shows covid is airborne. The evidence in the covid inquiry shows they knew it was airborne from day 1.
#TruthWillOut
December 22, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
avierkant.bsky.social
Didn’t set out to make Covid Year Six our longest yet but then again it’s not every year all your mortal enemies—people who’ve been subjects of the podcast’s ire for nearly its entire run—all get drafted into the government at once to take a sledgehammer to anything they can find
deathpanel.bsky.social Death Panel @deathpanel.bsky.social · 8d
In our latest, we look back at 2025, a year where normalization slipped into naturalization, as a cadre of villains who rose to prominence on the back of covid denial took the reins of the federal government to play out their revenge fantasies.

It’s Covid Year Six.

www.patreon.com/posts/145947...
Covid Year Six (12/15/25) | The Death Panel
Get more from The Death Panel on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
maxwellsmith.bsky.social
Look, if you're willing to concede that masking in health care settings is reasonable, then masking outside of such settings is hardly zealotry, since respiratory pathogens and the people vulnerable to them exist outside of health care settings, too.
broadwaybabyto.bsky.social Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 2d
It’s not a refusal to re-enter society.

It’s not shaping your life around Covid avoidance.

It’s adaptation. It’s a desire to protect health. It’s being willing to accept that things change, and masking & clean air are the way forward.

Mass death & disability is not normal
Screenshot of a telegraph article which reads I think I will mask forever: The 'zero Covid' zealots refusing to re-enter society While the rest of the world has moved on from the pandemic, a minority continue to shape their lives around coronavirus avoidance
December 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
snarkysteff.bsky.social
Canadians, sign this petition to stop the use of the Notwithstanding clause against trans Canadians.

This is about provinces denying human rights, because trans rights are human rights.

SIGN.
Petition e-7027 - Petitions
www.ourcommons.ca
December 20, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
taniaspencer.bsky.social
1/
Actually, "Collectively, these findings [should] highlight the critical role of" masking in hospitals -
cidrap.bsky.social CIDRAP @cidrap.bsky.social · 2d
Study finds that despite broad COVID vaccine availability, COVID still deadlier than #flu in hospitalized patients

A #COVID diagnosis was associated with 76% higher odds of death within 30 days.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
December 22, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
cidrap.bsky.social
Study finds that despite broad COVID vaccine availability, COVID still deadlier than #flu in hospitalized patients

A #COVID diagnosis was associated with 76% higher odds of death within 30 days.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
December 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Mask Bloc Waterloo Region
writerartisteh.bsky.social
Hell no, but maskers do bow out of things because of lack of mitigations, so I’d argue it’s the non-maskers preventing us living our lives.
December 22, 2025 at 4:42 AM