Czech Republic 100% in masks

[missmuffet]

There is a debate on what masks are effective. Some masks are not effective. 

[other one]

6 hours ago, NotAllThere said:

Correlation does not imply causation. What other factors do S.Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong have? I know one - a widespread belief that drinking warm water (never cold) will protect you from disease. Maybe it's that, and masks, and their social distancing measures, and their intensive testing etc. that has done the trick?

I think properly fitted masks out of the correct material can provide some protection. This is practically a no-brainer. But as it says here:: https://www.livescience.com/face-mask-new-coronavirus.html 

Specialists receive retraining annually on how to properly fit these respirators around the nose, cheeks and chin, ensuring that wearers don't breathe around the edges of the respirator

Which implies that even if everyone was supplied daily with masks, most wouldn't be wearing them properly, and this might even encourage unsafe practices - like having a BBQ with your friends. A bit of cloth over your face won't do much - maybe remind you not to touch your face? Worst case, it could become loaded with pathogens and actually increase risk.

 

I certainly don't believe there's a conspiracy to deprive citizens of masks. Most conspiracies can be more easily explained as simple incompetence. Which is why it's vital to pray for our leaders, even if we think they're a bunch of idiots. 

We don't have enough masks for everyone so they are telling us not to wear them so the hospitals don't run out.....   if you read all their posts down toward the end they express this.

 

[other one]

30 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

COVID-19 has not been reported to be airborne so a mask will not help. 

you keep saying that muffit, but it isn't true.    It is airborne.   

[NotAllThere]

This from a friend in the chemical (incl. pharmaceutical) industry.

There has been a lot of opinion shared about the importance, or not, of masks. Over the last few years, I have written some guidelines about PPE for WHO and FAO, including masks, for protecting against chemicals rather than microbes, but the principles are similar. This morning I wrote this for a friend so I thought that I would post it here as well.

1) The spread of this virus is principally in liquid droplets that are coughed up, though it is now acknowledged that there is also a route in fecal contamination. These coughed-up droplets come in a variety of sizes. Most of them are large and deposit almost immediately on surfaces. A small fraction are in droplets that are aerosolized (< 10 um) and these can stay in the air for longer.

2) The biggest contribution to contamination is via surfaces from larger coughed-up droplets, droplets coughed onto hands and less so from fecal smears from dirty hands. Contamination from aerosolized particles is possible but is of a lower probability, especially if you are keeping 2m apart.

3) The hierarchy of routes of exposure is, therefore, large droplets coughed directly onto the face > large droplets & fecal contamination on surfaces > aerosolized droplets.

4) PPE: For carers in close proximity to sick patients: face shield, mask, gloves, gown and protective footwear. I have seen a video of Chinese nurses putting on 3 layers of PPE, the most that I ever made people use for chemicals was 2x. For people going about their normal business, the biggest risks are mitigated by wearing gloves and washing their hands. A mask, if used properly, will give a small additional level of protection against a minor route of infection outside the clinical situation. It will also stop large drops being coughed out. If used improperly it is a source of infection.

5) Taking off surgical gloves: roll down one using the other hand and not touching the skin until just the fingertips are left in the glove. Use the gloved fingertips to remove the other glove and bundle them all together inside out and securely dispose of them. Masks: discard once they are wet as they are no longer effective, this is about after 15 mins - 1 hour. Remove the attachments, do not touch any part of the mask that is wet as any potential contamination is concentrated here. Turn so that the wet side is inside and dispose of securely. Wash your hands afterward.

Masks give a small additional level of protection to users in a normal situation, as long as they are frequently and hygienically changed. If they are used incorrectly they will be a source of potential infection. They are much more important for carers who are working in close proximity to sick and vulnerable people. I have seen a number of people wearing masks and removing them unhygienically to scratch their face, smoke or even spit on the street and then replacing them unhygienically. If they are not going to be used properly, they would be better in the hands of carers.

Concerning making your own mask:

Most face masks will not stop aereosolized droplets but they will stop larger drops but then they themselves are contaminated and have to be treated as such. If you can handle this hygenically then fine, it will give a small amount of protection but is more important if you are in close contact with someone who is sick or who is vulnerable and needs protecting from you. There is no "silver bullet", you have to look at your own situation. I live alone and now go out rarely and keep my distance when I do. My biggest possible route of contamnination is from surfaces so I use gloves when going out and wash my hands regularly. Other people are in different situations and may have a different conclusion

 

Stay safe, wash your hands. :-)

[missmuffet]

13 minutes ago, Godismyloveforever said:

If someone has the virus and they are coughing and sneezing the droplets that contain the virus would be contained by the mask.  That is a major reason to wear them, to protect others.  When  surgeons do operations , they wear masks to protect the patient, not themselves.  

If a person has COVID-19 with coughing and sneezing they should not be out in public. They should be quarantined. A person who comes down with the COVID-19 virus symptoms need to go the their doctor right away. They should not be out in public. 

[missmuffet]

37 minutes ago, other one said:

you keep saying that muffit, but it isn't true.    It is airborne.   

No it is not oo. Please show my the information you have seen that says this virus is airborne. 

[kwikphilly]

20 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

If a person has COVID-19 with coughing and sneezing they should not be out in public. They should be quarantined. A person who comes down with the COVID-19 virus symptoms need to go the their doctor right away. They should not be out in public. 

True Peepers but there aren't enough tests as well & in most the test sites you must meet a certain criteria to be tested,....its bad,you dont know who is carrying what

[missmuffet]

There are 320,000 viruses in our world. COVID-19 is only one of them and not that threatening. The 12 deadliest viruses are:

Marburg

Ebola

Rabies

HIV

Smallpox( which there is a vaccine for)

Hantavirus

Influenza( which there is a vaccine for. Only 45% of people have gotten this vaccine this year)

MERS-CoV

Dangue

Rotovirus

SARS-CoV

SARS-CoV 2

[missmuffet]

5 minutes ago, Godismyloveforever said:

How do they know if they have it. People cough and sneeze for other reasons.

Go to their doctor? We are being told nobody will be tested unless hospitalized and in critical condition.  But then that only depends on availability of test kits.

 

I have allergies and sinus issues. I cough and sneeze all the time. I am 100% well. I can guarantee you that. This virus has made people paranoid. Why has the world not been this cautious about the influenza virus? It is just as bad.There is even a vaccine. A lot of people will not get it. If people show the symptoms of the COVID-19 they need to stay at home and not go out for two to three weeks. 

[missmuffet]

6 minutes ago, Godismyloveforever said:

And? 

 

FYI