Covid and face masks??

A number of Asian countries (that have higher take up of face masks) have basically gotten over the peak (for now) of the Corona Virus.

Maybe there’s something to this?

Masks Save Lives - COVID-19

 

There has been a bit written about the protocol for wearing masks without increasing the risk of infection. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

For example, if you wear a mask, it gets coughed on or ( more likely) you touch it with your hand, then you could transfer virus from the outside of the mask to your face etc.

Also, correlation is not causation. I.e Just because A and B exist together does not mean A caused B.

Finally where would we get the masks? I can’t even find one to do some sanding!

 

Don’t have answers to all, but:
1. Guess the people in the Asian countries have a head start because they are used to it.

2. A friend made some masks at home using our sewing machine, I think something is better than nothing.

 

More stopping infecting others than stopping a person getting it?

 

My friend says:
They (the Asian countries) also had strict social distancing, enforcement of quarantine (tracking people), public compliance, no shortage of sanitisers, good governance, paid healthcare, $ compensation for isolating...

 

Yes it was an interesting experience riding the trains

 

I think face masks are both a symptom of and a correlation to curve flattening. I think the curve flattening is mostly to do with the willingness of governments and citizenry of North Asian countries to be proactive, make hard decisions early and take responsibility for their actions.

The face mask i think is partly a symbol of the citizens' willingness, but I'm sure they help reduce transmission as well. Governments acted early and went hard, and brought the citizens along with them.

We're more worries about the virus stuffing up our Friday night drinks.

 

In an industrial environment were I need to depend on PPE before stepping up to full face canister style.
These but $12.50 each
3M™ Flat Fold Particulate Respirator & Surgical Mask 1870+, N95/P2 with Fluid Resistance

 

COVID-19: WHY WE SHOULD ALL WEAR MASKS  — THERE IS NEW SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE
The article starts:
"The official recommendation in the United States (and other Western countries) that the public should not wear face masks was motivated by the need to save respirator masks for health care workers. There is no scientific support for the statement that masks worn by non-professionals are “not effective”. In contrary, in view of the stated goal to “flatten the curve”, any additional, however partial reduction of transmission would be welcome — even by surgical masks or home-made (DIY) masks, which would not exacerbate the supply problem. The latest biological findings on SARS-Cov-2 viral entry into human tissue and cough-droplet ballistics suggest that the major transmission mechanism are not fine aerosols but large droplets, and thus, warrant the wearing of surgical masks by everyone."

 

Advice here is not to use them up as they are actually needed in hospitals and they don´t do much good for general public. If you´ve got symptoms or are more vulnerable wear one though. I had one good one but gave it away because didn't need it, I only go outside twice a week for 20 minutes and don´t go near anyone.

 

Having seen footage and streams of Tokyo - Japan, I wouldn't say their citizens being too concerned about social distancing. There are less tourists so the streets are less busy but natives are still living pretty normal way of lives. Like many, questions have been raised about the testing and reporting rates in those asian countries. In Australia, we seem to be testing at a far greater rate than elsewhere.

The average person doesn't put on or use a mask properly so it is a waste the majority of the time particularly when there are shortages in areas of the health industry. Similar can be said for people using gloves in public when handwashing and sanitising would be far more beneficial.

 

But people could make their own facemasks or even use a scarf to cover their mouths and noses. So the argument for shortages goes away.

 

Hopefully the situation should be improving , but when the lock down in Hubei was in full swing , companies that operate in Australia and also in China were ordering face masks and respirators in pallet quantities from the industrial supplier warehouses and sending them back to their factories in China .
At the same time stores like bunnings had run out of stock as their new stock had all been diverted to N.S.W and VIctoria due to the fires.
We managed to get some from the aisle where all the potting mix was sold.
But the main area where safety gear was sold were completely sold out.

 

Note that this article has not been fact checked. Interesting though.

I still think masks may lead to a false sense of security - no matter what type they are. Leading people to go out to the supermarket etc more than they would usually.

Are people disposing of their masks after every use? Or are they taking them off and reusing them the next time they go out?

 

Personally I haven't made a face mask nor know how to at the medical standards required. If you're sick and require to cover a cough, sneeze or any other symptom from an ailment then like directed, you should stay home. A scarf or other clothing garment won't filter particles entering or exiting your system adequately. To say the argument for shortages goes away when you can make your own at home (and not to the same standard) is misinformed.

Furthermore, surgical masks protect the user from contaminating the outside environments in most cases but not the other way hence if you are worried about COVID-19 airbourne/droplet particles, they are commonly not suitable and as many have stated - a waste of medical resources.

 

There is a youTube video I saw from some academics in Hong Kong showing how to make disposable masks with two layers of paper towel a layer of tissue, masking tape and flexible wire!

Perhaps useful in an emergency...

 

My friend who does scientific research for her work (works in the labs at UNSW) made a bunch at the beginning of March, so it probably isn't the worst idea in the world.

 

There is some scientific debate.

Covid-19 is not airborne, but spread through droplets. However, the droplets can be aerosolised though coughing or procedures.

This is a recent scientific article in Science: Would everyone wearing face masks help us slow the pandemic? | Science | AAAS

In general, more useful to keep droplets in if you're sick.