5 ms·

Masks are not for keeping healthy people safe from pathogens. They are for keeping sick people from spreading virus laden droplets when they cough/sneeze. A ma

Masks are not for keeping healthy people safe from pathogens. They are for keeping sick people from spreading virus laden droplets when they cough/sneeze. A mask that's capable of keeping a virus out is a a) much more expensive than a typical surgical mask, b) easy to wear improperly, negating its usefulness, and c) only good for a limited time before needing to be thrown out.

Johnny555 7y ago
And inhalation isn't the only way to get infected -- any mucous membrane (including the eyes) is a possible infection route. The only real protection is a full hazmat suit with a full face shield. And you need to know how to take it off without infecting yourself. The best way to protect yourself from the illness is to stay away from other infected people, not wear some home made protective gear that you're probably not going to replace often enough or handle and dispose of properly after you take it off.
mike_d 7y ago
> Masks are not for keeping healthy people safe from pathogens All the doctors and nurses having to wear masks will be so relieved to hear this. But seriously the advice of not wearing N95 masks when you are healthy is not because they are ineffective, but because they are trying to discourage hoarding. Even current CDC recommendations for healthcare workers suggest N95 masks for only patient intake and direct care, with all others wearing surgical masks to help protect the supply of N95s.
- maccard 7y ago
  Health workers are likely aware that those protections are for the safety of the people they're treating, not for themselved
- JshWright 7y ago
  This discussion wasn't targeted at healthcare workers, and I never said N95 masks weren't effective (when worn properly). N95's are the type of mask I'm referring to in the second half of my comment. Worn properly, they are an essential piece of PPE. The difference is, healthcare workers are trained in the use of N95 masks, undergo annual fit testing, etc.
  - mike_d 7y ago
    You might be interested in this [1] training video showing that proper use of N95 masks is basically how people put them on. Additionally - this [2] new search shows that if 80% of uninfected persons wore a mask for a few days, the pandemic would be over. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoxpvDVo_NI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoxpvDVo_NI 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30229968 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30229968.
greesil 7y ago
Maybe I just want one so I don't cough on family members. They are effective for this use case.
- JshWright 7y ago
  Yes, that's exact the use case I'm suggesting...

Johnny555 7y ago

And inhalation isn't the only way to get infected -- any mucous membrane (including the eyes) is a possible infection route. The only real protection is a full hazmat suit with a full face shield. And you need to know how to take it off without infecting yourself. The best way to protect yourself from the illness is to stay away from other infected people, not wear some home made protective gear that you're probably not going to replace often enough or handle and dispose of properly after you take it off.

mike_d 7y ago

> Masks are not for keeping healthy people safe from pathogens All the doctors and nurses having to wear masks will be so relieved to hear this. But seriously the advice of not wearing N95 masks when you are healthy is not because they are ineffective, but because they are trying to discourage hoarding. Even current CDC recommendations for healthcare workers suggest N95 masks for only patient intake and direct care, with all others wearing surgical masks to help protect the supply of N95s.

maccard 7y ago
Health workers are likely aware that those protections are for the safety of the people they're treating, not for themselved
JshWright 7y ago
This discussion wasn't targeted at healthcare workers, and I never said N95 masks weren't effective (when worn properly). N95's are the type of mask I'm referring to in the second half of my comment. Worn properly, they are an essential piece of PPE. The difference is, healthcare workers are trained in the use of N95 masks, undergo annual fit testing, etc.
- mike_d 7y ago
  You might be interested in this [1] training video showing that proper use of N95 masks is basically how people put them on. Additionally - this [2] new search shows that if 80% of uninfected persons wore a mask for a few days, the pandemic would be over. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoxpvDVo_NI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoxpvDVo_NI 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30229968 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30229968.

greesil 7y ago

Maybe I just want one so I don't cough on family members. They are effective for this use case.

JshWright 7y ago
Yes, that's exact the use case I'm suggesting...