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Are there masks for sale then? Here in The Netherlands there are no n95 masks available for the average person. I understand that hospitals and 1st aid responde

Are there masks for sale then? Here in The Netherlands there are no n95 masks available for the average person. I understand that hospitals and 1st aid responders need them now, but in the short term I would like to be able to get some.

ejolto 7y ago
Are n95 masks considered basic? I would think a basic face mask refers to something like a surgical mask, which doesn't protect the wearer but protects others from getting infected by droplets from the wearer.
- Symmetry 7y ago
  Surgical masks are pretty good at protecting the wearer from droplets too. It's the fine aerosols where they're much worse than a surgical mask stopping maybe 80% of virus-sized particles where N95 masks tend to stop 99%+. EDIT: Remember, though, that you can still be infected through exposed eyes, having virus on your hands and touching your face when taking off the mask, etc. Also, there was some evidence for rare cases of what looked like aerosol spread with the original SARS. In his recent interview on This Week in Virology Ian Lipkin mentioned a study in Beijing in the SARS outbreak where people with consistent mask use saw infections Ian Lipkin by 70% compared to no mask use. That's good but it isn't immunity.
  - supermatt 7y ago
    >95%, which is why they are called N95.
    - Symmetry 7y ago
      They're guaranteed to stop 95% of the hardest to stop particulates which actually tend to be somewhat larger than viruses.
      - supermatt 7y ago
        Yes, i was correcting you on your statement of 99%+. Its >95% of 0.3 micron particles, but as coronavirus is smaller it would be LESS than that - not more).
  - ejolto 7y ago
    Looks like you're right surgical masks does give the wearer some protection.
- michaelt 7y ago
  Prior to this crisis, N95 masks were the cheapest, most basic respiratory protection you'd find in a DIY store. Pack of ten for $20, between the sandpaper and disposable earplugs. Perhaps due to poor fitting, they were also seen as questionably effective and prone to making your safety googles fog up.
jaclaz 7y ago
JFYI, the N95 masks are NOT intended for the average person anyway. (in EU they are called FFP2/FFP3) They need face fitting and some basic usage instructions. If not correctly fitted they won't be effective, as air (like in more common "surgical" masks) will enter (and exit) from the sides.
- Mirioron 7y ago
  They still help, but they help less when not used correctly. The average person likely won't use them correctly. This makes it a waste to give average people these masks when there's a shortage.
- jmkd 7y ago
  These masks are fairly standard consumer use in the UK for various DIY activities in the home and supplied by hardware stores as such. Note P3/FFP3 are higher standards than N95.
  - jaclaz 7y ago
    They are just fine if the idea is to protect oneself from dust, but here we are talking of protecting from a virus (and to protect others, so valved masks are not suitable). Rough correspondence: FFP2 is 94% N95 is 95% FFP3 is 99% Source (an UK firm): http://www.ashsafety.com/tips/filterClass.htm http://www.ashsafety.com/tips/filterClass.htm > Finding a suitable respirator is not just a matter of choosing a model you like or by the cost of it. You may need to try different makes or sizes to find one that fits without leaking around the seal and letting dust in. A respirator that depends on face fit is ineffectual if you have a beard or thick beard stubble. The only way you can know if the seal is good enough is by having a proper respirator fit test. At present this is also the only way of meeting legal requirements. And here is (again UK firm) how a fitting test works: https://www.xamax.co.uk/blog/how-to-respirator-face-fit-test-guide.html https://www.xamax.co.uk/blog/how-to-respirator-face-fit-test...
pfg 7y ago
Supermarkets will be providing surgical masks (not N95) free of charge. In places where none are available, use will not be mandatory at this point (though strongly recommended).
bipson 7y ago
The article talks about mandatory masks, i.e surgical masks, for shoppers, to reduce spreading by shoppers. No N95 masks needed, those are needed for healthcare workers (and need to be replaced very frequently). You most certainly: don't need it would reduce the amount available for people that need it would wear it wrong would wear it too long touch it with your hands would get a false sense of safety

ejolto 7y ago

Are n95 masks considered basic? I would think a basic face mask refers to something like a surgical mask, which doesn't protect the wearer but protects others from getting infected by droplets from the wearer.

Symmetry 7y ago
Surgical masks are pretty good at protecting the wearer from droplets too. It's the fine aerosols where they're much worse than a surgical mask stopping maybe 80% of virus-sized particles where N95 masks tend to stop 99%+. EDIT: Remember, though, that you can still be infected through exposed eyes, having virus on your hands and touching your face when taking off the mask, etc. Also, there was some evidence for rare cases of what looked like aerosol spread with the original SARS. In his recent interview on This Week in Virology Ian Lipkin mentioned a study in Beijing in the SARS outbreak where people with consistent mask use saw infections Ian Lipkin by 70% compared to no mask use. That's good but it isn't immunity.
- supermatt 7y ago
  >95%, which is why they are called N95.
  - Symmetry 7y ago
    They're guaranteed to stop 95% of the hardest to stop particulates which actually tend to be somewhat larger than viruses.
    - supermatt 7y ago
      Yes, i was correcting you on your statement of 99%+. Its >95% of 0.3 micron particles, but as coronavirus is smaller it would be LESS than that - not more).
- ejolto 7y ago
  Looks like you're right surgical masks does give the wearer some protection.
michaelt 7y ago
Prior to this crisis, N95 masks were the cheapest, most basic respiratory protection you'd find in a DIY store. Pack of ten for $20, between the sandpaper and disposable earplugs. Perhaps due to poor fitting, they were also seen as questionably effective and prone to making your safety googles fog up.

jaclaz 7y ago

JFYI, the N95 masks are NOT intended for the average person anyway. (in EU they are called FFP2/FFP3) They need face fitting and some basic usage instructions. If not correctly fitted they won't be effective, as air (like in more common "surgical" masks) will enter (and exit) from the sides.

Mirioron 7y ago
They still help, but they help less when not used correctly. The average person likely won't use them correctly. This makes it a waste to give average people these masks when there's a shortage.
jmkd 7y ago
These masks are fairly standard consumer use in the UK for various DIY activities in the home and supplied by hardware stores as such. Note P3/FFP3 are higher standards than N95.
- jaclaz 7y ago
  They are just fine if the idea is to protect oneself from dust, but here we are talking of protecting from a virus (and to protect others, so valved masks are not suitable). Rough correspondence: FFP2 is 94% N95 is 95% FFP3 is 99% Source (an UK firm): http://www.ashsafety.com/tips/filterClass.htm http://www.ashsafety.com/tips/filterClass.htm > Finding a suitable respirator is not just a matter of choosing a model you like or by the cost of it. You may need to try different makes or sizes to find one that fits without leaking around the seal and letting dust in. A respirator that depends on face fit is ineffectual if you have a beard or thick beard stubble. The only way you can know if the seal is good enough is by having a proper respirator fit test. At present this is also the only way of meeting legal requirements. And here is (again UK firm) how a fitting test works: https://www.xamax.co.uk/blog/how-to-respirator-face-fit-test-guide.html https://www.xamax.co.uk/blog/how-to-respirator-face-fit-test...

pfg 7y ago

Supermarkets will be providing surgical masks (not N95) free of charge. In places where none are available, use will not be mandatory at this point (though strongly recommended).

bipson 7y ago

The article talks about mandatory masks, i.e surgical masks, for shoppers, to reduce spreading by shoppers. No N95 masks needed, those are needed for healthcare workers (and need to be replaced very frequently). You most certainly: don't need it would reduce the amount available for people that need it would wear it wrong would wear it too long touch it with your hands would get a false sense of safety