Would you wear a mask?

[Smith1776]

Personally, no. From what I understand there's only a benefit if you are wearing it and are trying to prevent spreading the disease to other people.

This is government misinformation. There was/is a shortage of masks in many countries (e.g., USA), so they very quickly came up with the messaging that "only people with COVID-19 trying to prevent spreading it benefit from wearing one." Pay close attention to the messaging and you'll notice that they also say that medical personnel benefit from wearing one, too. The two statements conflict. The truth is that, yes, someone who has COVID-19 should wear one to limit spreading it. But also someone who is healthy will get *some* benefit from wearing a mask, and the smaller the pores (e.g., N95 mask), the better. The public messaging was constructed to guilt people into not purchasing/hoarding these masks, and even to convince people to donate any masks that they may already have.

My wife is a germaphobe, but neither one of us were paying close attention to the news in February and, like so many others, thought of the virus as something just the Chinese were having to worry about. Around 2/26 I told her I was worried about the impact that the virus was having on the stock market, and that I felt certain that the market was going to drop further because of the supply chains. While I was busy selling our stock, she was ordering N95 masks.

All that said, I've gone to the grocery store a few times since and I still haven't bothered wearing one of our masks. I *have* been very conscious about not touching my face, washing my hands when I got back home, and wiping down everything I purchased with Clorox wipes. But I may start wearing a mask, too.

Huh. Interesting. I didn't think of it that way. Duly noted. Thanks.

[Tortoise]

Look at photos from countries like South Korea that quelled their outbreaks early. Notice how everyone in those photos is wearing some kind of mask.

Also, how could anyone believe that a mask wouldn’t help reduce the spread of a virus found in the nose and throat? If you cough or sneeze, the mask may not hold everything back, but it sure as hell helps.

Masks also discourage healthy, uninfected people from touching their faces.

[vnatale]

Look at photos from countries like South Korea that quelled their outbreaks early. Notice how everyone in those photos is wearing some kind of mask.

Also, how could anyone believe that a mask wouldn’t help reduce the spread of a virus found in the nose and throat? If you cough or sneeze, the mask may not hold everything back, but it sure as hell helps.

Masks also discourage healthy, uninfected people from touching their faces.

Could be all you say is true. Or, correlation does not equate to causation. Or, something in between.

Vinny

[ppnewbie]

Just watched Dr. Chris Martensen of Peak Prosperity daily virus update. I think It would be great if everyone wore a mask to protect other people from the mist of saliva we expel when we talk. If everyone did that I think it would help tremendously. Basically your spitting on people! Also I saw a great video of making a mask single use with a paper towel and some rubber bands. If the goal is to stop spraying that would definitely help.

[barrett]

Look at photos from countries like South Korea that quelled their outbreaks early. Notice how everyone in those photos is wearing some kind of mask.

Also, how could anyone believe that a mask wouldn’t help reduce the spread of a virus found in the nose and throat? If you cough or sneeze, the mask may not hold everything back, but it sure as hell helps.

Masks also discourage healthy, uninfected people from touching their faces.

Strongly agree on all of this, Tortoise.

Also, if we are going to crash our economy with strict social distancing, let's only go through one really bad stretch.

Would Americans wear masks if it meant restarting the economy a few months early?

[I Shrugged]

Barrett, that’s a good point/question.

[I Shrugged]

My wife says she thinks wearing one would make people think she is sick.
I think we are going to have a change of plans in our household though.

[barrett]

My wife says she thinks wearing one would make people think she is sick.
I think we are going to have a change of plans in our household though.

Sure, that is a common reaction so far here in the U.S... but I think it needs to change.

Wearing a face mask when one is sick is just common courtesy in many parts of Asia. Just taking a guess that this is one of those cultural differences that has come about due to people living in closer quarters in places like China, Japan & Korea.

I think it was a J. D. Salinger character who while drowning was overcome with embarrassment, not fear.

[barrett]

Masks also discourage healthy, uninfected people from touching their faces.

I think the early hypothesis was that wearing a mask would encourage people to touch their faces as they would constantly be adjusting the mask.

pug, as a dentist, you surely wear a mask, right?

It definitely takes a while to get used to wearing one. The few times that I have worn on so far I have been tugging at it a lot. Just not used to it yet.

[Tortoise]

I think the early hypothesis was that wearing a mask would encourage people to touch their faces as they would constantly be adjusting the mask.

That’s a good point, but even if that were the case, I’m guessing people wearing (and adjusting) masks tend not to stick their fingers in their nose or mouth nearly as much, right?

[Cortopassi]

We just got a few of these letters, with masks, in a box from one of our suppliers. Nice. But they came from China...

[Mark Leavy]

While working I wear a full face shield (looks like a clear welder's mask) and a mask.

While grocery shopping, I wear a mask and disposable gloves.

Ah Pug, I was so hoping you would lead the bandana train.
Although I haven't yet tried it out in public. I really hate wearing stuff on my face.

But, I do think it is going to be semi-mandatory before this is over.

[Mark Leavy]

Iwoudwearthis.jpg (79.18 KiB) Viewed 6335 times

[Kriegsspiel]

We just got a few of these letters, with masks, in a box from one of our suppliers. Nice. But they came from China...

Hmm.

[vnatale]

My wife says she thinks wearing one would make people think she is sick.
I think we are going to have a change of plans in our household though.

That is exactly the question I was going to ask.

If I wore one of those head warmers that covered by head from top to my neck with only holes for nose, eyes, mouth (but pulled up over my mouth) and was wearing gloves would people think I WAS infected? The actual converse since tomorrow will be the 2 week anniversary of me having been in the presence of ANY human. I believe that I can go AT LEAST another week without having to buy more food.

Vinny

[dualstow]

I saw a guy driving alone wearing a mask a couple days ago. I thought that was a bit strange.

If people take their masks and put them on too many times, at best they're just going through the motions of protection. At worst, they're contaminating their mask and then touching to their face. So, he probably put it on at home and won't remove it until he returns home. Smart.

I would vote yes to this poll and yet I didn't put one on when I went out this morning. First time in a week.

[vnatale]

Just saw a doctor on C-Span providing information, answering viewer questions.

Regarding masks he stated......they could help in the reduction...in a perfect world they'd be unlimited...however we do not live in a perfect world of unlimited resources...and that mask you take may mean a health worker who really needs it won't get it.

Vinny

[stuper1]

I saw a guy driving alone wearing a mask a couple days ago. I thought that was a bit strange.

If people take their masks and put them on too many times, at best they're just going through the motions of protection. At worst, they're contaminating their mask and then touching to their face. So, he probably put it on at home and won't remove it until he returns home. Smart.

That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that. After you put it on, don't touch it for anything until you get home. That really would be the best thing. Each time you touch it, you basically need to put on a new uncontaminated one, but of course we don't have the supply for that.

I need to drink water every 30 minutes or else I start feeling weird. I'm not made for masks. Thankfully I don't live in a big city.

[l82start]

i have been wearing a mask off and on at work, we have been asked to carry one with us and slip it down when in tight areas or talking with co workers and customers. I was in the store with it today (not on) and figured if there were sick people or crowds i would do the same there, i suspect this is largely virus prevention theater since touching the mask can contaminate it.. it would at least cut down on airborne droplets sending or receiving even if it isn't real protection. At work the number of surfaces that could cross contaminate the mask are a lot less, touching the mask after a shopping cart is probably a waste if not counter productive... ..

[vnatale]

Face masks: have we been asking the wrong question all along?


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-heal ... ion-along/

[barrett]

With lots of free time now that she is unemployed - and she's super industrious anyway - my wife made a few cloth masks yesterday that we can wear out in public and then just wash with our regular laundry. These were just made from old kerchiefs like Mark Leavy mentioned in one of his posts. Fabric is double thickness and attached with two elastic straps that go around the back of the head. They fit nicely which reduces mask futzing by 52%!

Even if face masks are only somewhat effective, they are still a good idea. There have to be good reasons that health professionals all over the world are clamoring to get them.

It's not too early to think about the long game and how we are all going to be able to go back to work, hopefully sooner rather than later. Face masks are almost certainly going to be one component of a successful overall strategy. My two cents.

[I Shrugged]

I’ve heard that a good sized thong underwear makes a perfect mask. Maybe Victoria’s Secret could reopen.

(Insert fish smell joke here.)

[I Shrugged]

I wore a surgical mask on an errand today. No one fled or attacked.
The first time is the hardest.

[shekels]

I wore a surgical mask on an errand today. No one fled or attacked.
The first time is the hardest.

Cool.
Several people wearing gloves at store today also.

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[Kriegsspiel]

Going with the euro Jägermeister commercial theme.