In the transformation of journalism by electronic media, fast often wins out over comprehensive and measured. Being aware of this temptation, however, didn’t protect me from falling into the trap. Three weeks ago, I cobbled together a story that had already appeared in some other news media about a team of Duke University PhDs who had completed and published a study about a new method for testing masks for aerosol virus droplet spread. In the test, subjects spoke a few words into a darkened chamber through different styles of face masks. The droplet spread was illuminated by a laser and video recorded with a mobile phone.
Jobsite safety has been an obsession since the beginning of the pandemic, as have protective face coverings. Recall that many construction projects, deemed essential, were licensed to churn onward as other businesses shut down. Employers adopted new safety protocols, but outbreaks still emerged at projects. Construction workers everywhere seemed to have to choose between pay and health.