9 ms·

The origin story of the N95 mask

212 points by wallflower 7y ago

kragen 7y ago
http://archive.is/usMit http://archive.is/usMit if this is unreadable for you on mobile. Worth noting that stupid Westerners dying because they refuse to wear the facemasks recommended by Chinese people isn't a new phenomenon.
fasteddie31003 7y ago
I am a strong believer in the universal mask protocol for controlling COVID-19. I've created https://www.maskssavelives.org/ https://www.maskssavelives.org/ to help spread the message.
- deleted 7y ago
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- iratewizard 7y ago
  Thank you for this. I wish it was as obvious to others as it is to pretty much anyone who has spent time in East Asia. Masks and the culture of being polite about not spreading disease would be a game changer in the US.
- mkbkn 7y ago
  100% agree. Thanks for creating the website. I'll spread the website link in my circle.
- ysw0 7y ago
  This is brilliant.
- xref 7y ago
  I’m interested to see if the numbers from Japan that are prevalent on your site hold up. They are doing even less testing than America... https://www.vox.com/covid-19-coronavirus-explainers/2020/3/28/21196382/japan-coronavirus-cases-covid-19-deaths-quarantine https://www.vox.com/covid-19-coronavirus-explainers/2020/3/2...
- gombosg 7y ago
  It's OK that your 'belief' contradicts official WHO guidance but that 'MASKS-NO MASKS' graph went a bit too far as a misstatement (i.e. "presenting facts in an alternative way"). Let me paste the official advice here for educating readers: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2... > If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection. > Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. > Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. > If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly. The kind of misinforming you are doing is dangerous in these times, especially that the official WHO standpoint is that wearing masks in a wrong way (using it multiple times, touching or taking off in a wrong way) is worse than not wearing them at all during already decreased social encounters (i.e. already staying at home, and going out at most for groceries). Or are you stating that the WHO is lying? Those Asian cultures have a different epidemic curve not due to mask wearing, but because a totally different social structure, prior experience concerning epidemics, preparedness, attitude towards authority & emergency measures and other factors. So it's a fallacy of cherry picking to say that it's 'because they wear masks and all our authorities are wrong'.
  - cmrx64 7y ago
    > Or are you stating that the WHO is lying? yes, the page does indeed state that. what do you think of the cited research, vs nitpicking the hero image?
    - gombosg 7y ago
      Out of the 7 references, most of them are journalistic articles and not actual scientific research. The question is 'does wearing masks out in the public decrease virus spread, when social distancing measures are already in effect?'. One linked (not cited...) research examines virus transmission and effects of mask use in a hospital setting - irrelevant for the question. Another examines filtration properties of homemade masks, and concludes that they have little if any effect if not used with other measures, and doesn't (!!!) recommend their use. A third one, a SCMP journalistic article refers to a Chinese scientific journal article that has been retracted. I don't find these as very compelling arguments.
- ilogik 7y ago
  what happened to south coreea? did they only start wearing masks later? https://www.xkcd.com/552/ https://www.xkcd.com/552/
  - blackoil 7y ago
    Search for 'Patient 31 Korea'.
- perf1 7y ago
  Aren't all the Countries that are doing better, also countries that eat overall less carbs? I am a strong believer that Diabetes and Insulin resistance makes a huge difference.
  - nodamage 7y ago
    I mean all those countries eat a ton of rice. I would not consider any of them to have low carb diets.
- sschueller 7y ago
  Masks can also result in a false sense of security causing people to ignoring physical distancing and washing hands. I'd much rather have people keep their distance and wash their hands regularly than wearing masks which may or may not have any effect depending on material/age/fit etc.
- fock 7y ago
  well, the message has arrived here. the masks haven't ;). the bad thing about the whole issue is that these are low-labor products (just look at youtube for videos), so nothing would prevent a business from producing them domestically in the US/Europe... Unfortunately it's low-margin/low-tech as well, so we optimized it away...
  - maxerickson 7y ago
    3M makes 1 million N95 masks every day in the US, about 1/3 of their global production. The problem is that it isn't enough to respond to the situation.
- teruakohatu 7y ago
  I am not arguing against wearing masks but your masks/no-masks graphic at the top does not show the full story. I don't know why you consider China to be a non-mask wearing culture. There is plenty of evidence China is a mask wearing culture. Below [1] are articles from before 2015 about mask wearing in China. Anecdotally I have plenty of Chinese national friends and colleagues who wear masks. As far as your mask wearing group goes, South Korea's trajectory is much like Western countries, which will also level off eventually. Hong Kong and Singapore are city states and are not comparable with large countries. Evidence China is a mask wearing culture before 2015 (an arbitrary date to ensure no COVID-19 related articles): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/10/pollutionwatch-air-pollution-face-masks-protection https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/10/pollutio... https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/04/world/asia/in-china-sun-protection-can-include-a-mask.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/04/world/asia/in-china-sun-p... https://qz.com/299003/a-quick-history-of-why-asians-wear-surgical-masks-in-public/ https://qz.com/299003/a-quick-history-of-why-asians-wear-sur... https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090916/best-swine-flu-mask-n95-respirator#1 https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090916/best-swine-...
  - oefrha 7y ago
    The graph shows first 4 weeks only. That means the early stage of infection in China when the virus basically spread unhindered; if you extend the curve to after emergency was declared nationally then you would absolutely see the effect of masks. Edit: First 4 weeks after the 100th case actually. But the numbers are clearly delayed and reflect transmission that happened much earlier, and you can already see the curve leveling off in the graph.
  - gilbetron 7y ago
    The graphic seems a bit misleading, but China, Malaysia, and India seem to be deliberately not circled, meaning they are considered Mask wearing, or at least not "No masks". It could be more clearly presented, though.
- Waterluvian 7y ago
  Maybe. You may also just be leading the way as a cargo cultist. Maybe there's something else happening that mask wearing is a signal of. But at the moment your site is a poster child for "correlation implies causation". I'm rather shocked at how much thoughtless agreement there is in this comment thread given the website makes only one incomplete argument in the case for masks. Consider that in absence of real science, your site might do harm with such a bold claim.
- voldacar 7y ago
  You seriously think a bedsheet will stop the coronavirus, which is about 100nm wide?
  - varjag 7y ago
    An N95 mask doesn't "stop" coronavirus either, that's the 95 part of it. A bedsheet would absolutely reduce viral load you spread, even at naïve assumption of the size - simply because it's an obstacle that inevitably catches some of particulate and reduces the airflow range. But coronavirus is spread in suspended aerosol particles 3µm or so in size, which are filtered out even more efficiently by a wide range of materials.
  - wonnage 7y ago
    This is a common misconception. The virus doesn’t arrive as individual viruses. If it were purely a matter of filtering 100nm particles, a n95 mask wouldn’t be very effective either - the ratings are for particles 0.3um or larger. Luckily, people don’t generally sneeze out plumes of pure virus. They’re embedded in much larger particles, and even cotton has some benefit: https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-masks-n95-surgical-mask/ https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-ma...
    - gridlockd 7y ago
      N95 masks aren't very effective either, especially when they don't seal well. When they become moist, they're useless. What your cloth mask is doing is to effectively spread a giant fishing net to collect all the particles around you. The moisture in your breath will help keep the viruses inside intact. You'll be constantly breathing air through that, loosening some of those particles and inhaling them. The idea that the mask would protect you makes no sense. If you're already infected, it's a different story. The mask will reduce the amount of virus you'll be spreading around.
- rndgermandude 7y ago
  You might mean well, but what you did is spreading of misinformation and make the world a little worse. I would urge you to take down your website, but like e.g. anti-vaxers who by and large are well meaning as well, I doubt you will.
- m4rtink 7y ago
  Nice! Really, masks can be hand made & there is really no reason one should not be wearing one during the pandemic. As for hand made mask npt protecting you enough - well, this is actually a secondary concern. The biggest problem are people being infected that do not know that yet & if everyone has a mask this is much less of a problem, as they will contaminante much smaller area & the chance of them infecting others go way down. The Czech government made masks mandatory in public more than two weeks ago & Slovak government followed suit quickly afterward. So far it seems to be helping, so hopefully more states will follow suit.
- tuxone 7y ago
  Like your site, though I would suggest to put more weight on the correct use of the mask. Since the lockdown, when I go out for food supply I see plenty of people touching the mask, adjusting it, moving it on the forehead or chin just to answer a phonecall. Considering all these activities mask are doing more harm than good. Once interpersonal distance limit and hands hygiene are observed you are quite good to go. Then there are all those situations (eg. healthcare) where interpersonal distance cannot be observed and that's why countries are adopting measures in order to prioritize the adoption of the mask, especially with the shortage we are facing.
- paulmcpazzi 7y ago
  If you look at the standard equipment used in healthcare you'll notice that everyone wears mask and eye protection (goggles or face shields), because the virus can also transmit through the eye. I'm not saying that masks are not effective, but I would be very careful with certain affirmations, such as: "going in public without a mask in a pandemic is like riding a motorcycle without a helmet", it's more like: "going in public with a mask only covering your mouth and nose is like walking through a fire while wearing a fire proximity suit and sandals".
- mensetmanusman 7y ago
  This would work in an ideal situation. We would need 10 years of manufacturing to try this experiment for a month on a global scale.
- deleted 7y ago
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axaxs 7y ago
You know, while I like stories like these, I find them equally frustrating because there doesn't seem to be any sources. Just Google the ignorant French doctor's name, for example. It reminds me of my college psychology class. Our teacher would teach us from a book, then tell us the book was wrong and India had such discoveries prior. Cool to know, but now who knows the truth anymore.
- wonnage 7y ago
  I got sent down a rabbithole of searching by this article too, apparently the doctor wrote an autobiography (in English!) in 1959 that was republished as recently as 2014, but apparently the only way to get ahold of it here is to have it shipped from Malaysia. Or some college libraries, which are unfortunately closed right now due to COVID. I think we forget that the vast majority (i.e, pre-2005-ish) of human knowledge still exists in the old physical world of print and libraries. Unless you're exceedingly lucky (or it was recently reprinted), its basically impossible to get your hands on a digital version of an old book. Your best hope is that Google Books (which seems mostly abandoned) scanned it and will let you read a few pages.
  - yesenadam 7y ago
    >Unless you're exceedingly lucky (or it was recently reprinted), its basically impossible to get your hands on a digital version of an old book. I read a lot of old books - early 20th C, 19th, 18th, 17th C, and medieval and ancient. Archive.org has most of what I search for - nice scans, in multiple formats, free. Also you can often borrow mid-late 20th C stuff online from there for a few weeks if not they're not downloadable outright. Libgen has a lot of stuff from early-mid 20th C and before. If those fail, I order it online, usually a few dollars. We're so spoilt!
- peanutz454 7y ago
  Just take solace in the fact that you learned something and you know how to apply what you learn. There are so many things where there is no right answer and one can never be found. Your teacher probably helped you remember the concept better by making a story out of it.
richajak 7y ago
His analysis documented on this book A treatise on pneumonic plague, by Wu Lien-Teh https://wellcomelibrary.org/item/b19164415#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&z=-0.6558%2C-0.0892%2C2.03%2C1.4933 https://wellcomelibrary.org/item/b19164415#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0... His mask sounds simpler than N95 masks, only replaced by the newer design during SARS period in 2013. By the way, anyone has the original design of Dr Wu's mask? Can we mass produce this design for everyone? We need it
- richajak 7y ago
  Found answer for my question if anyone is interested to do DIY at home page 393-394 This consists of two layers of gauze enclosing a flat oblong piece of absorbent cotton 6 inches by 4 inches. It can beeasily made by cutting the usual surgical gauze (9 inches wide), as supplied from the shops, into strips, each measuring 3 feet in length. Each strip is then doubled lengthwise so as to contain in the middle a flat piece of cottonwool measuring 4 inches by 6 inches. At either end of the gauze two cuts, each measuring 15 inches, are made. Thusturning the pad into a three-tail gauze bandage, with the central piece of wool for covering the respiratory entrance.The upper tail of one side should be passed round the side of the head above the ear and tied to the othercorresponding tail. The lowermost tail should in a similar manner be passed under the ear and tied to the one on theother side, while the middle tail should be passed over the crown of the head, so as to fix the pad and prevent it fromslipping down the neck
- jdjriekfkf 7y ago
  The secret ingredient in N95 masks (and surgical) is a very fancy modern material: melt-blown non-woven polypropylene. This is what makes a paper thin surgical mask way better than a thick cotton one.
  - richajak 7y ago
    Totally agree, that's said most people cannot get surgical masks anymore, not to mention N95 masks. If we can learn the lesson from outbreak happened before modern tech invented, world would be a better place. We cannot produce or easily buy nanotech material used for N95 masks. However we can use whatever materials avail in our house easily. If need extra protection, add 2 layers of tissue between mask and face. Do not touch mask when you are outside. Stay away at least 2m from any human being. Do not touch anything outside. Immediately take shower and disinfect youself with 80p alcohol at home. :) hopefully most of us will not get infected, I do not want scenario in movie like Contagion or World War Z to happen for human race.
devy 7y ago
Other than invented face mask, Dr. Lien-teh Wu was the first medical student of Chinese descent to study at the University of Cambridge and graduated top class. Later Dr. Wu had also studied at Pasteur Institute, the world's renowned institute on infectious disease. After successfully led the containment effort for Manchurian Pneumonic Plague of 1910–1911, he co-founded Chinese Medical Association. He was also widely considered the pioneer of public health and the founding father of modern medicine in China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Lien-teh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Lien-teh
- whatshisface 7y ago
  Didn't the plague doctors with the bird masks predate that?
radarsat1 7y ago
Does anyone know if there's any truth to ideas that certain metals like copper are "antibacterial"? I am worried because I have seen stories (e.g. [1]) that claim that masks incorporating copper can be effective against the virus (never mind that "antibacterial" apparently also means it can fight viruses, which makes no sense). Basically, I am seeing an increase in people selling "masks" that are not approved and that has me worried. I would like some information about whether there is any science, for or against, to the idea that particular materials, especially metals, have any kind of "special" effect against bacteria and viruses. [1] https://www.efe.com/efe/america/sociedad/mascarillas-de-cobre-made-in-chile-para-reducir-el-contagio-del-coronavirus/20000013-4189798 https://www.efe.com/efe/america/sociedad/mascarillas-de-cobr... (spanish)
- ardit33 7y ago
  Don't be lazy. Just Google search SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and you will see that Coronavirus lasts about 4hrs in Copper, while it can stay one day in Cardboard and several days in Stainless Steel and Plastics. So, yes, there is something special about copper. But copper is not a virus killer (i.e. kills them at contact), it justs seems that viruses don't survive that long in copper. This has been known since ancient times (where Copper pantry and utensils was preferred over Steel). The New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronaviru...
  - madengr 7y ago
    The anti-microbial effect of copper has been known for decades, which is why it fathoms next that fixtures in hospitals are still made from steel.
    - wegs 7y ago
      Millennia, actually. There is clear evidence that people understood the medical importance of copper in ancient Rome, and even some evidence of Bronze-age Egypt and ancient India (which is to say it's clear copper was used in medicine, but it's unclear people had evidence it helped). That's 2000 years definitely, and 5000 years possibly. Prior to disinfectants, hospitals used a lot of copper. It only became a relic with industrial-grade disinfectants. That said, the timelines aren't such that it seems useful for use in masks. Viruses and bacteria survive on copper for hours, instead of days. There are a lot of uses of copper which aren't grounded in science and make no sense (superstitious nonsense). But copper for things people touch a lot? Doorknobs? Definitely makes sense.
stareatgoats 7y ago
> Wu explains to the French doctor his theory that plague is pneumonic and airborne (...) And the French guy humiliates him . . . and in very racist terms says, ‘What can we expect from a Chinaman?’ And to prove this point, [the French doctor] goes and attends the sick in a plague hospital without wearing Wu’s mask, and he dies in two days with plague. Maybe we're like this French doctor, and that this is still the reason why we don't wear masks in the west? A widespread practice in several East Asian countries - but what do they know?
- gridlockd 7y ago
  We also don't consume ground up rhino horn to cure impotence, but the Chinese do - what do they know? Unless somebody coughs right in your face, a surgical mask will do nothing to protect you - but even then your eyes are still exposed. There are still valid rationalizations: Personally, it may be a superstition, but it nevertheless makes you feel better. Externally, it will lower the risk of you infecting others. There actually is some social pressure to wear a mask. The downside is obvious: Masks are uncomfortable and you'll be the odd one out unless the majority already wears them. You need to reach critical mass first, but when the only reason to wear a mask is to protect others from a disease, you'd raise suspicion: If you're sick why are you outside?
  - stareatgoats 7y ago
    > Unless somebody coughs right in your face, a surgical mask will do nothing to protect you - but even then your eyes are still exposed You may want to fact-check that statement more. Here is a list of mask research that could help: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4pt4oFDBhsC_jpblXpNtQ/preview https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4p...
    - krlx 7y ago
      Whoa thanks for this document. Definetly something to keep, ready to share every time I hear the now usual "Masks are only if you have symptoms".
    - 7y ago
Hgreenfield 7y ago
Not a single mention of the disastrous pollution caused by the disposal of millions of non-biodegradable single-use masks into landfills. Yes, they are a big innovation. Yes, the tech is saving lives. But come on, this is 2020, not one mention of pollution?
forgingahead 7y ago
The mask denialism in the comments is incredible to see. Let's all agree (without polemics): masks can be helpful, so we should encourage everyone to wear them, unless there is a shortage, in which case priority should be given to healthcare workers/elderlies/front-line staff/etc.
- pishpash 7y ago
  It's fucking stupid. It's like seeing condom denial because some priest says only abstinence works.
- m4rtink 7y ago
  And even then people should make their own mask and wear that.
- Joeri 7y ago
  From what I understand the WHO guidance around masks has to do with the shortages on one hand and human behavior on the other hand. People who wear masks behave in a higher risk way, and because the safety benefit from the mask by itself is quite low (without medical training you are likely to use it wrong), statistically it is better to recommend people to not wear masks so they will behave more safely. It’s a bit like gun ownership: intuitively it makes you safer, but statistically it makes you less safe because of behavioral and opportunity changes.
  - bkor 7y ago
    According to the Corona expert in South Korea, masks help a great deal. His assumption on why the WHO only recommends masks in Asia and not anywhere else is due to the limited amount of supply anywhere but in Asia. In Asia people like already own masks. Anywhere else people would first need to stock up. Leading to shortages. As such, it's better not to recommend them so medical professionals are prioritized. It's also interesting that in in Europe/US they focus on a person not getting a disease. In Asia they often wear a masks if the person isn't feeling well. Meaning, the mask is to prevent the person who is wearing it from infecting others. This bit is often glossed over. The video is available at https://youtu.be/gAk7aX5hksU https://youtu.be/gAk7aX5hksU. I don't know exactly where they discussed the masks. The entire video is great, so suggest to watch the whole thing. Note: It also talks about spreading by touching your nose and then someone or some surface.
moviemove 7y ago
It is good to share this type of information, on https://projecteve.com/organizing-tech-tools-for-work/#comment-586225 https://projecteve.com/organizing-tech-tools-for-work/#comme... I also found some information about it.
netwanderer3 7y ago
One major weakness of the current N95 masks is that sometimes it doesn't seal very well to the contours of people's faces. When this happens, it doesn't work as well because particles can still travel into the airway via open space gaps. I personally have not seen this implemented, but one possible solution I believe may work is to apply a thin layer of sticky hydrogen tape right along the edges of the mask so it would act like an adhesive that helps seal the open space gaps as it can fit with the unique shape and contour of each person's face. Medical hydrogen tape is the same material that we often see being used in those sticky pads that they put on a person's body during an electrocardiogram (EKG) test. It's also the same adhesive that used by those electro pads in TENS pain-relief machines. This sticky adhesive material is safe for human skins and can last multiple uses. It would be great if someone could add a feature in which you can insert a removable HEPA filter so it can be swapped in and out when needed.
- wegs 7y ago
  For public health use (as opposed to medical use), the difference between an N95 mask and a surgical mask is pretty small. They both make a huge difference. It's true: air can come around if the seal isn't perfect. However, you've eliminated most of the virus. At that point, other modes of spread become dominant. In a medical setting, where you're guarding against all modes of spread with a full body suit, googles, etc., and where you're dealing with large numbers of exposures, it's a completely different story. Ballpark numbers for masks+frequent handwashing suggest that they'd bring R0 close to 1, assuming a whole bunch of unvalidated assumptions (e.g. they have the same impact on coronavirus as on the flu). At that point, we should be able to get things under control with social distancing and similar measures.
- mnw21cam 7y ago
  When I was doing a lot of sanding, I had one of these masks, and taped it around the edges to my face. The mask would have been utterly useless if I hadn't done so, as all the dust would have just come around the edges. I just used painters' masking tape. It worked.
- lordgrenville 7y ago
  Most people probably won't put it on correctly, per this claim: "I remember my respirator training, the last time I worked in a hospital. They gave the standard two minute explanation, made you put the respirator on, and then made you go underneath a hood where they squirted some aerosolized sugar solution. If you could smell the sugar, your respirator was leaky and you failed. I tried so hard and I failed so many times. It was embarrassing and I hated it. "I’m naturally clumsy and always bad at that kind of thing. Some people were able to listen to the two minute explanation and then pass right away. Those kinds of people could probably also listen to a two minute YouTube explanation and be fine. So I don’t want to claim it’s impossible or requires lots of specialized background knowledge. It’s just a slightly difficult physical skill you have to get right...You are unlikely to be able to figure out how to use an N95 respirator correctly. I’m not saying it’s impossible, if you try really hard, but assume you’re going to fail unless you have some reason to think otherwise." https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-t...
yuanchanga 7y ago
This is such a dumb article. It focuses on just the one piece of PPE that has gotten an undeserved amount of attention in the coronavirus crisis, when it's not the only tool in the arsenal of healthcare workers (compared with normal surgical masks, face shields, papr devices, etc). And it is not necessarily the best tool for the general populace. (hypothetically (ballpark numbers from some stuff i remember reading) If a normal surgical mask can be replaced twice as often and is easier to breath through while only sacrificing 30% of protection, etc, what is recommended for the general public? Even the N95 only protects against... 95% of particulates of the specified size, why not wear a P100 filter on a gas mask?). From a macro and epidemiological standpoint, what is the optimal guidance on the level of PPE for the general public to wear for the greatest net effect? Is what I consider the most interesting and relevant question. There is also an unchecked assumption in this article that the N95 is "most important design object of our time". It also fails to explain that N95 is a standard of protection rather than a certain object, it fails to explain the meaning of the standard. (Which is) N = Not oil resistant 95 = Removes 95% of all particles that are at least 0.3 microns in diameter It merges the development paths of protective masks against particulates, which is the true purpose of N95 masks, and protective equipment for healthcare. To me, I think N95 happened to be a standard similar enough to the requirements of healthcare, so they simply adopted it. Rather than the false narrative the article paints of the N95 mask being developed FOR medicine. I would have been interested to read about the additional requirements a FDA defined "surgical N95" must meet (additional fluid resistance), or how the N95 plays into the entire suite of relevant protective equipment in this crisis (When doctors use a normal surgical mask, N95, PAPR, face shield, or goggles). edit: clickbait article that doesn't give any information beyond what 5 minutes googling would use. edit2: would have been interesting to read about how people are making face masks and other protective equipment or experiments in sanitizing and reusing one time use face masks.
thisrod 7y ago
> By the late 1870s, scientists learned about bacteria. Bacteria had been discovered in the 17th Century, the moment the microscope was invented. I think by Robert Hooke, but I could have misremembered that. What was new in the 1870s was the germ theory of disease.

212 points by wallflower 7y ago

http://archive.is/usMit http://archive.is/usMit if this is unreadable for you on mobile. Worth noting that stupid Westerners dying because they refuse to wear the facemasks recommended by Chinese people isn't a new phenomenon.

fasteddie31003 7y ago

I am a strong believer in the universal mask protocol for controlling COVID-19. I've created https://www.maskssavelives.org/ https://www.maskssavelives.org/ to help spread the message.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
iratewizard 7y ago
Thank you for this. I wish it was as obvious to others as it is to pretty much anyone who has spent time in East Asia. Masks and the culture of being polite about not spreading disease would be a game changer in the US.
mkbkn 7y ago
100% agree. Thanks for creating the website. I'll spread the website link in my circle.
ysw0 7y ago
This is brilliant.
xref 7y ago
I’m interested to see if the numbers from Japan that are prevalent on your site hold up. They are doing even less testing than America... https://www.vox.com/covid-19-coronavirus-explainers/2020/3/28/21196382/japan-coronavirus-cases-covid-19-deaths-quarantine https://www.vox.com/covid-19-coronavirus-explainers/2020/3/2...
gombosg 7y ago
It's OK that your 'belief' contradicts official WHO guidance but that 'MASKS-NO MASKS' graph went a bit too far as a misstatement (i.e. "presenting facts in an alternative way"). Let me paste the official advice here for educating readers: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2... > If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection. > Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. > Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. > If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly. The kind of misinforming you are doing is dangerous in these times, especially that the official WHO standpoint is that wearing masks in a wrong way (using it multiple times, touching or taking off in a wrong way) is worse than not wearing them at all during already decreased social encounters (i.e. already staying at home, and going out at most for groceries). Or are you stating that the WHO is lying? Those Asian cultures have a different epidemic curve not due to mask wearing, but because a totally different social structure, prior experience concerning epidemics, preparedness, attitude towards authority & emergency measures and other factors. So it's a fallacy of cherry picking to say that it's 'because they wear masks and all our authorities are wrong'.
- cmrx64 7y ago
  > Or are you stating that the WHO is lying? yes, the page does indeed state that. what do you think of the cited research, vs nitpicking the hero image?
  - gombosg 7y ago
    Out of the 7 references, most of them are journalistic articles and not actual scientific research. The question is 'does wearing masks out in the public decrease virus spread, when social distancing measures are already in effect?'. One linked (not cited...) research examines virus transmission and effects of mask use in a hospital setting - irrelevant for the question. Another examines filtration properties of homemade masks, and concludes that they have little if any effect if not used with other measures, and doesn't (!!!) recommend their use. A third one, a SCMP journalistic article refers to a Chinese scientific journal article that has been retracted. I don't find these as very compelling arguments.
ilogik 7y ago
what happened to south coreea? did they only start wearing masks later? https://www.xkcd.com/552/ https://www.xkcd.com/552/
- blackoil 7y ago
  Search for 'Patient 31 Korea'.
perf1 7y ago
Aren't all the Countries that are doing better, also countries that eat overall less carbs? I am a strong believer that Diabetes and Insulin resistance makes a huge difference.
- nodamage 7y ago
  I mean all those countries eat a ton of rice. I would not consider any of them to have low carb diets.
sschueller 7y ago
Masks can also result in a false sense of security causing people to ignoring physical distancing and washing hands. I'd much rather have people keep their distance and wash their hands regularly than wearing masks which may or may not have any effect depending on material/age/fit etc.
fock 7y ago
well, the message has arrived here. the masks haven't ;). the bad thing about the whole issue is that these are low-labor products (just look at youtube for videos), so nothing would prevent a business from producing them domestically in the US/Europe... Unfortunately it's low-margin/low-tech as well, so we optimized it away...
- maxerickson 7y ago
  3M makes 1 million N95 masks every day in the US, about 1/3 of their global production. The problem is that it isn't enough to respond to the situation.
teruakohatu 7y ago
I am not arguing against wearing masks but your masks/no-masks graphic at the top does not show the full story. I don't know why you consider China to be a non-mask wearing culture. There is plenty of evidence China is a mask wearing culture. Below [1] are articles from before 2015 about mask wearing in China. Anecdotally I have plenty of Chinese national friends and colleagues who wear masks. As far as your mask wearing group goes, South Korea's trajectory is much like Western countries, which will also level off eventually. Hong Kong and Singapore are city states and are not comparable with large countries. Evidence China is a mask wearing culture before 2015 (an arbitrary date to ensure no COVID-19 related articles): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/10/pollutionwatch-air-pollution-face-masks-protection https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/10/pollutio... https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/04/world/asia/in-china-sun-protection-can-include-a-mask.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/04/world/asia/in-china-sun-p... https://qz.com/299003/a-quick-history-of-why-asians-wear-surgical-masks-in-public/ https://qz.com/299003/a-quick-history-of-why-asians-wear-sur... https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090916/best-swine-flu-mask-n95-respirator#1 https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20090916/best-swine-...
- oefrha 7y ago
  The graph shows first 4 weeks only. That means the early stage of infection in China when the virus basically spread unhindered; if you extend the curve to after emergency was declared nationally then you would absolutely see the effect of masks. Edit: First 4 weeks after the 100th case actually. But the numbers are clearly delayed and reflect transmission that happened much earlier, and you can already see the curve leveling off in the graph.
- gilbetron 7y ago
  The graphic seems a bit misleading, but China, Malaysia, and India seem to be deliberately not circled, meaning they are considered Mask wearing, or at least not "No masks". It could be more clearly presented, though.
Waterluvian 7y ago
Maybe. You may also just be leading the way as a cargo cultist. Maybe there's something else happening that mask wearing is a signal of. But at the moment your site is a poster child for "correlation implies causation". I'm rather shocked at how much thoughtless agreement there is in this comment thread given the website makes only one incomplete argument in the case for masks. Consider that in absence of real science, your site might do harm with such a bold claim.
voldacar 7y ago
You seriously think a bedsheet will stop the coronavirus, which is about 100nm wide?
- varjag 7y ago
  An N95 mask doesn't "stop" coronavirus either, that's the 95 part of it. A bedsheet would absolutely reduce viral load you spread, even at naïve assumption of the size - simply because it's an obstacle that inevitably catches some of particulate and reduces the airflow range. But coronavirus is spread in suspended aerosol particles 3µm or so in size, which are filtered out even more efficiently by a wide range of materials.
- wonnage 7y ago
  This is a common misconception. The virus doesn’t arrive as individual viruses. If it were purely a matter of filtering 100nm particles, a n95 mask wouldn’t be very effective either - the ratings are for particles 0.3um or larger. Luckily, people don’t generally sneeze out plumes of pure virus. They’re embedded in much larger particles, and even cotton has some benefit: https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-masks-n95-surgical-mask/ https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/coronavirus-pollution-ma...
  - gridlockd 7y ago
    N95 masks aren't very effective either, especially when they don't seal well. When they become moist, they're useless. What your cloth mask is doing is to effectively spread a giant fishing net to collect all the particles around you. The moisture in your breath will help keep the viruses inside intact. You'll be constantly breathing air through that, loosening some of those particles and inhaling them. The idea that the mask would protect you makes no sense. If you're already infected, it's a different story. The mask will reduce the amount of virus you'll be spreading around.
rndgermandude 7y ago
You might mean well, but what you did is spreading of misinformation and make the world a little worse. I would urge you to take down your website, but like e.g. anti-vaxers who by and large are well meaning as well, I doubt you will.
m4rtink 7y ago
Nice! Really, masks can be hand made & there is really no reason one should not be wearing one during the pandemic. As for hand made mask npt protecting you enough - well, this is actually a secondary concern. The biggest problem are people being infected that do not know that yet & if everyone has a mask this is much less of a problem, as they will contaminante much smaller area & the chance of them infecting others go way down. The Czech government made masks mandatory in public more than two weeks ago & Slovak government followed suit quickly afterward. So far it seems to be helping, so hopefully more states will follow suit.
tuxone 7y ago
Like your site, though I would suggest to put more weight on the correct use of the mask. Since the lockdown, when I go out for food supply I see plenty of people touching the mask, adjusting it, moving it on the forehead or chin just to answer a phonecall. Considering all these activities mask are doing more harm than good. Once interpersonal distance limit and hands hygiene are observed you are quite good to go. Then there are all those situations (eg. healthcare) where interpersonal distance cannot be observed and that's why countries are adopting measures in order to prioritize the adoption of the mask, especially with the shortage we are facing.
paulmcpazzi 7y ago
If you look at the standard equipment used in healthcare you'll notice that everyone wears mask and eye protection (goggles or face shields), because the virus can also transmit through the eye. I'm not saying that masks are not effective, but I would be very careful with certain affirmations, such as: "going in public without a mask in a pandemic is like riding a motorcycle without a helmet", it's more like: "going in public with a mask only covering your mouth and nose is like walking through a fire while wearing a fire proximity suit and sandals".
mensetmanusman 7y ago
This would work in an ideal situation. We would need 10 years of manufacturing to try this experiment for a month on a global scale.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

axaxs 7y ago

You know, while I like stories like these, I find them equally frustrating because there doesn't seem to be any sources. Just Google the ignorant French doctor's name, for example. It reminds me of my college psychology class. Our teacher would teach us from a book, then tell us the book was wrong and India had such discoveries prior. Cool to know, but now who knows the truth anymore.

wonnage 7y ago
I got sent down a rabbithole of searching by this article too, apparently the doctor wrote an autobiography (in English!) in 1959 that was republished as recently as 2014, but apparently the only way to get ahold of it here is to have it shipped from Malaysia. Or some college libraries, which are unfortunately closed right now due to COVID. I think we forget that the vast majority (i.e, pre-2005-ish) of human knowledge still exists in the old physical world of print and libraries. Unless you're exceedingly lucky (or it was recently reprinted), its basically impossible to get your hands on a digital version of an old book. Your best hope is that Google Books (which seems mostly abandoned) scanned it and will let you read a few pages.
- yesenadam 7y ago
  >Unless you're exceedingly lucky (or it was recently reprinted), its basically impossible to get your hands on a digital version of an old book. I read a lot of old books - early 20th C, 19th, 18th, 17th C, and medieval and ancient. Archive.org has most of what I search for - nice scans, in multiple formats, free. Also you can often borrow mid-late 20th C stuff online from there for a few weeks if not they're not downloadable outright. Libgen has a lot of stuff from early-mid 20th C and before. If those fail, I order it online, usually a few dollars. We're so spoilt!
peanutz454 7y ago
Just take solace in the fact that you learned something and you know how to apply what you learn. There are so many things where there is no right answer and one can never be found. Your teacher probably helped you remember the concept better by making a story out of it.

richajak 7y ago

His analysis documented on this book A treatise on pneumonic plague, by Wu Lien-Teh https://wellcomelibrary.org/item/b19164415#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&z=-0.6558%2C-0.0892%2C2.03%2C1.4933 https://wellcomelibrary.org/item/b19164415#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0... His mask sounds simpler than N95 masks, only replaced by the newer design during SARS period in 2013. By the way, anyone has the original design of Dr Wu's mask? Can we mass produce this design for everyone? We need it

richajak 7y ago
Found answer for my question if anyone is interested to do DIY at home page 393-394 This consists of two layers of gauze enclosing a flat oblong piece of absorbent cotton 6 inches by 4 inches. It can beeasily made by cutting the usual surgical gauze (9 inches wide), as supplied from the shops, into strips, each measuring 3 feet in length. Each strip is then doubled lengthwise so as to contain in the middle a flat piece of cottonwool measuring 4 inches by 6 inches. At either end of the gauze two cuts, each measuring 15 inches, are made. Thusturning the pad into a three-tail gauze bandage, with the central piece of wool for covering the respiratory entrance.The upper tail of one side should be passed round the side of the head above the ear and tied to the othercorresponding tail. The lowermost tail should in a similar manner be passed under the ear and tied to the one on theother side, while the middle tail should be passed over the crown of the head, so as to fix the pad and prevent it fromslipping down the neck
jdjriekfkf 7y ago
The secret ingredient in N95 masks (and surgical) is a very fancy modern material: melt-blown non-woven polypropylene. This is what makes a paper thin surgical mask way better than a thick cotton one.
- richajak 7y ago
  Totally agree, that's said most people cannot get surgical masks anymore, not to mention N95 masks. If we can learn the lesson from outbreak happened before modern tech invented, world would be a better place. We cannot produce or easily buy nanotech material used for N95 masks. However we can use whatever materials avail in our house easily. If need extra protection, add 2 layers of tissue between mask and face. Do not touch mask when you are outside. Stay away at least 2m from any human being. Do not touch anything outside. Immediately take shower and disinfect youself with 80p alcohol at home. :) hopefully most of us will not get infected, I do not want scenario in movie like Contagion or World War Z to happen for human race.

devy 7y ago

Other than invented face mask, Dr. Lien-teh Wu was the first medical student of Chinese descent to study at the University of Cambridge and graduated top class. Later Dr. Wu had also studied at Pasteur Institute, the world's renowned institute on infectious disease. After successfully led the containment effort for Manchurian Pneumonic Plague of 1910–1911, he co-founded Chinese Medical Association. He was also widely considered the pioneer of public health and the founding father of modern medicine in China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Lien-teh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Lien-teh

whatshisface 7y ago
Didn't the plague doctors with the bird masks predate that?

radarsat1 7y ago

Does anyone know if there's any truth to ideas that certain metals like copper are "antibacterial"? I am worried because I have seen stories (e.g. [1]) that claim that masks incorporating copper can be effective against the virus (never mind that "antibacterial" apparently also means it can fight viruses, which makes no sense). Basically, I am seeing an increase in people selling "masks" that are not approved and that has me worried. I would like some information about whether there is any science, for or against, to the idea that particular materials, especially metals, have any kind of "special" effect against bacteria and viruses. [1] https://www.efe.com/efe/america/sociedad/mascarillas-de-cobre-made-in-chile-para-reducir-el-contagio-del-coronavirus/20000013-4189798 https://www.efe.com/efe/america/sociedad/mascarillas-de-cobr... (spanish)

ardit33 7y ago
Don't be lazy. Just Google search SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and you will see that Coronavirus lasts about 4hrs in Copper, while it can stay one day in Cardboard and several days in Stainless Steel and Plastics. So, yes, there is something special about copper. But copper is not a virus killer (i.e. kills them at contact), it justs seems that viruses don't survive that long in copper. This has been known since ancient times (where Copper pantry and utensils was preferred over Steel). The New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronaviru...
- madengr 7y ago
  The anti-microbial effect of copper has been known for decades, which is why it fathoms next that fixtures in hospitals are still made from steel.
  - wegs 7y ago
    Millennia, actually. There is clear evidence that people understood the medical importance of copper in ancient Rome, and even some evidence of Bronze-age Egypt and ancient India (which is to say it's clear copper was used in medicine, but it's unclear people had evidence it helped). That's 2000 years definitely, and 5000 years possibly. Prior to disinfectants, hospitals used a lot of copper. It only became a relic with industrial-grade disinfectants. That said, the timelines aren't such that it seems useful for use in masks. Viruses and bacteria survive on copper for hours, instead of days. There are a lot of uses of copper which aren't grounded in science and make no sense (superstitious nonsense). But copper for things people touch a lot? Doorknobs? Definitely makes sense.

stareatgoats 7y ago

> Wu explains to the French doctor his theory that plague is pneumonic and airborne (...) And the French guy humiliates him . . . and in very racist terms says, ‘What can we expect from a Chinaman?’ And to prove this point, [the French doctor] goes and attends the sick in a plague hospital without wearing Wu’s mask, and he dies in two days with plague. Maybe we're like this French doctor, and that this is still the reason why we don't wear masks in the west? A widespread practice in several East Asian countries - but what do they know?

gridlockd 7y ago
We also don't consume ground up rhino horn to cure impotence, but the Chinese do - what do they know? Unless somebody coughs right in your face, a surgical mask will do nothing to protect you - but even then your eyes are still exposed. There are still valid rationalizations: Personally, it may be a superstition, but it nevertheless makes you feel better. Externally, it will lower the risk of you infecting others. There actually is some social pressure to wear a mask. The downside is obvious: Masks are uncomfortable and you'll be the odd one out unless the majority already wears them. You need to reach critical mass first, but when the only reason to wear a mask is to protect others from a disease, you'd raise suspicion: If you're sick why are you outside?
- stareatgoats 7y ago
  > Unless somebody coughs right in your face, a surgical mask will do nothing to protect you - but even then your eyes are still exposed You may want to fact-check that statement more. Here is a list of mask research that could help: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4pt4oFDBhsC_jpblXpNtQ/preview https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4p...
  - krlx 7y ago
    Whoa thanks for this document. Definetly something to keep, ready to share every time I hear the now usual "Masks are only if you have symptoms".
  - 7y ago

Hgreenfield 7y ago

Not a single mention of the disastrous pollution caused by the disposal of millions of non-biodegradable single-use masks into landfills. Yes, they are a big innovation. Yes, the tech is saving lives. But come on, this is 2020, not one mention of pollution?

forgingahead 7y ago

The mask denialism in the comments is incredible to see. Let's all agree (without polemics): masks can be helpful, so we should encourage everyone to wear them, unless there is a shortage, in which case priority should be given to healthcare workers/elderlies/front-line staff/etc.

pishpash 7y ago
It's fucking stupid. It's like seeing condom denial because some priest says only abstinence works.
m4rtink 7y ago
And even then people should make their own mask and wear that.
Joeri 7y ago
From what I understand the WHO guidance around masks has to do with the shortages on one hand and human behavior on the other hand. People who wear masks behave in a higher risk way, and because the safety benefit from the mask by itself is quite low (without medical training you are likely to use it wrong), statistically it is better to recommend people to not wear masks so they will behave more safely. It’s a bit like gun ownership: intuitively it makes you safer, but statistically it makes you less safe because of behavioral and opportunity changes.
- bkor 7y ago
  According to the Corona expert in South Korea, masks help a great deal. His assumption on why the WHO only recommends masks in Asia and not anywhere else is due to the limited amount of supply anywhere but in Asia. In Asia people like already own masks. Anywhere else people would first need to stock up. Leading to shortages. As such, it's better not to recommend them so medical professionals are prioritized. It's also interesting that in in Europe/US they focus on a person not getting a disease. In Asia they often wear a masks if the person isn't feeling well. Meaning, the mask is to prevent the person who is wearing it from infecting others. This bit is often glossed over. The video is available at https://youtu.be/gAk7aX5hksU https://youtu.be/gAk7aX5hksU. I don't know exactly where they discussed the masks. The entire video is great, so suggest to watch the whole thing. Note: It also talks about spreading by touching your nose and then someone or some surface.

moviemove 7y ago

It is good to share this type of information, on https://projecteve.com/organizing-tech-tools-for-work/#comment-586225 https://projecteve.com/organizing-tech-tools-for-work/#comme... I also found some information about it.

netwanderer3 7y ago

One major weakness of the current N95 masks is that sometimes it doesn't seal very well to the contours of people's faces. When this happens, it doesn't work as well because particles can still travel into the airway via open space gaps. I personally have not seen this implemented, but one possible solution I believe may work is to apply a thin layer of sticky hydrogen tape right along the edges of the mask so it would act like an adhesive that helps seal the open space gaps as it can fit with the unique shape and contour of each person's face. Medical hydrogen tape is the same material that we often see being used in those sticky pads that they put on a person's body during an electrocardiogram (EKG) test. It's also the same adhesive that used by those electro pads in TENS pain-relief machines. This sticky adhesive material is safe for human skins and can last multiple uses. It would be great if someone could add a feature in which you can insert a removable HEPA filter so it can be swapped in and out when needed.

wegs 7y ago
For public health use (as opposed to medical use), the difference between an N95 mask and a surgical mask is pretty small. They both make a huge difference. It's true: air can come around if the seal isn't perfect. However, you've eliminated most of the virus. At that point, other modes of spread become dominant. In a medical setting, where you're guarding against all modes of spread with a full body suit, googles, etc., and where you're dealing with large numbers of exposures, it's a completely different story. Ballpark numbers for masks+frequent handwashing suggest that they'd bring R0 close to 1, assuming a whole bunch of unvalidated assumptions (e.g. they have the same impact on coronavirus as on the flu). At that point, we should be able to get things under control with social distancing and similar measures.
mnw21cam 7y ago
When I was doing a lot of sanding, I had one of these masks, and taped it around the edges to my face. The mask would have been utterly useless if I hadn't done so, as all the dust would have just come around the edges. I just used painters' masking tape. It worked.
lordgrenville 7y ago
Most people probably won't put it on correctly, per this claim: "I remember my respirator training, the last time I worked in a hospital. They gave the standard two minute explanation, made you put the respirator on, and then made you go underneath a hood where they squirted some aerosolized sugar solution. If you could smell the sugar, your respirator was leaky and you failed. I tried so hard and I failed so many times. It was embarrassing and I hated it. "I’m naturally clumsy and always bad at that kind of thing. Some people were able to listen to the two minute explanation and then pass right away. Those kinds of people could probably also listen to a two minute YouTube explanation and be fine. So I don’t want to claim it’s impossible or requires lots of specialized background knowledge. It’s just a slightly difficult physical skill you have to get right...You are unlikely to be able to figure out how to use an N95 respirator correctly. I’m not saying it’s impossible, if you try really hard, but assume you’re going to fail unless you have some reason to think otherwise." https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-t...

yuanchanga 7y ago

This is such a dumb article. It focuses on just the one piece of PPE that has gotten an undeserved amount of attention in the coronavirus crisis, when it's not the only tool in the arsenal of healthcare workers (compared with normal surgical masks, face shields, papr devices, etc). And it is not necessarily the best tool for the general populace. (hypothetically (ballpark numbers from some stuff i remember reading) If a normal surgical mask can be replaced twice as often and is easier to breath through while only sacrificing 30% of protection, etc, what is recommended for the general public? Even the N95 only protects against... 95% of particulates of the specified size, why not wear a P100 filter on a gas mask?). From a macro and epidemiological standpoint, what is the optimal guidance on the level of PPE for the general public to wear for the greatest net effect? Is what I consider the most interesting and relevant question. There is also an unchecked assumption in this article that the N95 is "most important design object of our time". It also fails to explain that N95 is a standard of protection rather than a certain object, it fails to explain the meaning of the standard. (Which is) N = Not oil resistant 95 = Removes 95% of all particles that are at least 0.3 microns in diameter It merges the development paths of protective masks against particulates, which is the true purpose of N95 masks, and protective equipment for healthcare. To me, I think N95 happened to be a standard similar enough to the requirements of healthcare, so they simply adopted it. Rather than the false narrative the article paints of the N95 mask being developed FOR medicine. I would have been interested to read about the additional requirements a FDA defined "surgical N95" must meet (additional fluid resistance), or how the N95 plays into the entire suite of relevant protective equipment in this crisis (When doctors use a normal surgical mask, N95, PAPR, face shield, or goggles). edit: clickbait article that doesn't give any information beyond what 5 minutes googling would use. edit2: would have been interesting to read about how people are making face masks and other protective equipment or experiments in sanitizing and reusing one time use face masks.

thisrod 7y ago

> By the late 1870s, scientists learned about bacteria. Bacteria had been discovered in the 17th Century, the moment the microscope was invented. I think by Robert Hooke, but I could have misremembered that. What was new in the 1870s was the germ theory of disease.