3 ms·

> It’s quite likely that in all the scenarios a mask may have a useful effect, N95 or better is the only time it works. You’re saying you think anything less t

by dahart 7y ago

> It’s quite likely that in all the scenarios a mask may have a useful effect, N95 or better is the only time it works. You’re saying you think anything less than an N95 has 0 effectiveness. Why do you believe this is likely? Are you aware of the data that says otherwise? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22655436 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22655436 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_t...

kps 7y ago
N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214 “As worn by health care personnel in this trial, use of N95 respirators, compared with medical masks, in the outpatient setting resulted in no significant difference in the rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza.” To be clear, this trail was for outpatient care — not necessarily applicable to shoving tubes down throats, but probably applicable to people walking down the street.
- dahart 7y ago
  That quote is saying that N95 masks are no better than medical masks, not that medical masks have 0 effectiveness.
mbreese 7y ago
The data from the Davies paper is not very convincing. The home made solutions offered significantly less protection and and had major problems with fit. Even their conclusions were — it’s better than nothing, but not a proper substitute. > However, these masks would provide the wearers little protection from microorgan- isms from others persons who are infected with respiratory diseases. As a result, we would not recommend the use of homemade face masks as a method of reducing transmission of infection from aerosols.
- dahart 7y ago
  Better than nothing is the whole point. N95 masks are not a substitute for avoiding exposure in the first place, but nobody’s saying N95 masks are ineffective because of that fact. The recommendation here is assuming you have access to something better. If you have no access to something better, a homemade mask is better than no mask at all, until you can get something better. As others have pointed out here, it’s rather odd to suggest we should scoff at this imperfect solution, when there are no perfect solutions short of 100% full and complete quarantine, which is completely unrealistic.

by dahart 7y ago

kps 7y ago

N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214 “As worn by health care personnel in this trial, use of N95 respirators, compared with medical masks, in the outpatient setting resulted in no significant difference in the rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza.” To be clear, this trail was for outpatient care — not necessarily applicable to shoving tubes down throats, but probably applicable to people walking down the street.

dahart 7y ago
That quote is saying that N95 masks are no better than medical masks, not that medical masks have 0 effectiveness.

mbreese 7y ago

The data from the Davies paper is not very convincing. The home made solutions offered significantly less protection and and had major problems with fit. Even their conclusions were — it’s better than nothing, but not a proper substitute. > However, these masks would provide the wearers little protection from microorgan- isms from others persons who are infected with respiratory diseases. As a result, we would not recommend the use of homemade face masks as a method of reducing transmission of infection from aerosols.

dahart 7y ago
Better than nothing is the whole point. N95 masks are not a substitute for avoiding exposure in the first place, but nobody’s saying N95 masks are ineffective because of that fact. The recommendation here is assuming you have access to something better. If you have no access to something better, a homemade mask is better than no mask at all, until you can get something better. As others have pointed out here, it’s rather odd to suggest we should scoff at this imperfect solution, when there are no perfect solutions short of 100% full and complete quarantine, which is completely unrealistic.