I cannot remember the last time I've seen so much contradicting information about anything! Well -- come on, "medical experts" -- are we supposed to wear these face masks or not?! It's not a trick question! They probably didn't even KNOW for sure, for over two months, whether COVID19 was capable of being spread through the air, person-to-person or not. Now, pretty damned belatedly, it seems that more and more of the 'experts' are proclaiming that, "Yes, you really should cover your faces.... maybe...." So, all the bullshit, amateurish inaccuracies and nervous, "don't-spook-the-herd" idiocies notwithstanding, are you going to be wearing a face mask when you go out to do business with other people in stores, offices, etc.? How about nitrile gloves? How about goggles? You may make 'unlimited' choices, but you must vote to see results. You may not change your vote(s)... the purpose is to find out what you think right now. Disclosure: In public, I'm wearing a face mask, large glasses, and nitrile gloves, and when I get back home, I'm throwing my clothes in the washing machine! I'm tired of hearing from the 'experts' about all that they do not know, and seemingly, cannot yet determine.... . "Nope, it's NOT 'a good day to die'...."
The best that face masks would do would be to reduce the amount of spittle flying around. I think they'd help to reduce the spread of the virus (see South Korea), but they wouldn't stop the spread of it by any means. A mask is not a protective barrier. The virus can still enter through the mask, as well as the eyes/ears. Personally, I'm not wearing masks, nor am I taking any precaution beyond what I would for the common flu. I wash my hands regularly, I try to touch my face as little as possible, I try not to closely mingle with people, etc... I'm not afraid of this virus, nor do I believe it to be anything worth fear mongering over.
Yes of course it's better to wear a mask, I believe they're not pushing this advice since there are a shortage and it is more important that health professionals have access to masks than you and me who are suppose to stay at home anyway.
It's good not to fear it. However, if your life involves old people it might be worth fearing infecting them as their survival rate isn't nearly that of a younger healthy person.
I now wear a mask and latex gloves while I'm out and about. There are many other people doing the same in my town. I just read in our local newspaper there have been 20 coronavirus cases here. One died, one recovered and the rest are quarantined at home. So, I'm taking this coronavirus seriously.
A mask does NOT stop the virus going trough. It's like stopping a mosquito with prison bars. A mask however may stop you spitting little droplets over other people when talking. So, if you are infected and don't know it, you won't infect other people. Or at least that's the theory. But worse that the virus is the fear of the virus. Remember what one U.S. president said? The only thing to fear is fear itself. Memento mori.
I asked my doctor about the masks he and his staff wear, and although they look like the typical "bank robber" masks that you see in all the pictures, he said that theirs DO actually stop viruses -- and they very jealously guard each and every one of them. Each staff member must sign out for each mask -- there is much discipline and accountability about those masks they keep under lock and key in the office! Still, both my doctor and my dentist told me that the main purpose of these off-the-shelf masks that we 'cattle' are allowed access to... occasionally... is not to protect YOU, the wearer -- it's to protect everybody else FROM you.... I've got a small box of the ordinary, run-of-the-mill "surgical masks", and I don't think they're virus-proof at all. I am experimenting with various combinations of things like Lysol spray, 91% rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide to wipe or spray the masks before using them -- but with mixed results. Lysol clogs the mask surfaces up, and you can't breathe through it while it's wet. I'm as confused as everybody else is. We're told by the 'experts' that we should not wear them... then we're told by the same 'experts' that we should wear them... ! Honestly, this is a lot like "the blind leading the blind".... So, for now, when I absolutely MUST be around other people, I put on a mask, have on large glasses, and always wear nitrile/surgical gloves. When I get back home, I throw my clothes in the washing machine, and spray mask, glasses, and gloves with Lysol. I'm hoping to be able to 'recycle' the masks and gloves because who knows how long all this crap is going to go on...?
Do you think it will keep spit off of you? Do you think it will keep spit from exiting you to another? Do you think it will keep your hands from touching your face? Having said that, it only covers nose and mouth. Not eyes. But I'd say, it offers another level of protection, should one need to venture into the public sphere. Early on, there weren't enough masks, so they had to say it's not necessary. Else the health professionals who need them would not have them. For they'd been hoarded like TP.
Well, Dairy, I guess that, like everybody else, I'll just do the best I can. When I go anywhere to do any kind of business, I wear large glasses, and I may start wearing goggles (I've got several pair I use in my woodworking shop). I can discipline myself not to 'touch my face' until I get home. And, for almost two months, I've been wearing nitrile gloves, because I still think the greatest danger is in touching virus-laden objects, and then transferring them to your own body. It's also important when you get back home to wipe down or spray with disinfectant the things you bought in a store, and to get the clothes you were wearing into your washing machine immediately! Evidence is mounting that the virus can remain suspended IN THE AIR! Why couldn't it attach to things like your clothes -- especially while we're all so concerned that it might get on our masks, gloves, goggles, faces, etc...? I have less than one square foot of "face", but many square feet of clothes on.... And, using the same logic, it is surely obvious by now that men should not (NOT) keep on growing facial hair at all! Masses of hair follicles that make up beards and moustaches -- closely bordering the mouth, nose, and eyes -- would be dangerous places for viruses to accumulate. Too bad for us that beards have become so common all over the United States. Most of them look like hell, and now they're danger-points, too.... But, I'm still trying to figure out the "hoarding toilet paper" phenomenon.... . Not much about what we Americans think has made much sense to me for about the last thirty years.
What we should learn about people, whether they be D, R, or Ind, is they run on herd mentality. And each own if #1. And ultimately, we are each responsible for what happens to our bodies. Only we can control what we touch and consume. And how we do those.
What you are supposed to do is stay at home... wearing a mask is not a free ticket to do as you please
I've been taking extra precaution with my grandmother, who has several underlying health conditions. I usually go to her house on an almost weekly basis, but I haven't gone over there for the last several weeks. I'm doing my best to limit personal interaction with her.
I've used common N95 masks quite a bit for airborne dust and debris, but they are not designed for chemical or virus suppression. In fact, viral penetration through an N95 mask averages about 50%. If one wants 95% protection, they would need to use an NIOSH N95 Respirator, which is a whole other device. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16490606
If you hold a photo of Trump (The Chosen One) whenever you go out, you will be protected ... or was that a photo of Trump's boss, Mr. Hannity ....? One or the other, doesn't matter.
