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US considers cloth face masks for the public
- brianzelip 7y agoThe maker response in Baltimore includes hand sewn (and washable) face masks, https://www.flattenthecurvebaltimore.com/shop https://www.flattenthecurvebaltimore.com/shop. I’ve been 3D printing face shield parts for the same effort.
- onemoresoop 7y agoCloth doesn’t provide any protection for the wearer but “could” hold on to the wearer’s virus thus slowing the spread. Id say it’s embarassinng that we came to this but it can’t hurt though and may have some effect after all. I think the fashion industry will go into a weird direction, hijabs are the new thing
- throwaway5752 7y agoIt does provide protection to the wearer, if everyone does it. If all the people around them are wearing them and one of those people is infected, the wearer is less likely to catch it. Trying to fit it into a altruistic or selfish category is a false dichotomy. The same for obeying stay at home orders. Just because a benefit is indirect (herd immunity benefit of universal vaccination, reducing r0 in a population from behavioral changes) doesn't mean it's not a benefit.
- java-man 7y agoI think you meant burqa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa
- onemoresoop 7y agoMy mistke, I actuallty niquab, where only the eyes are visible.
- eppp 7y agoIf it helps at all catching the cough and sneeze aerosols then it has to help. A few layers of cotton would probably contain a goodly portion.
- oski 7y agoCloth can still provide some protection. A mask made from a cotton blend t-shirt can be ~70% effective at filtering a virus from droplets in the air. (See this study: 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...) I've made this "single-serving site" to share with friends and family who aren't convinced yet: https://shouldiwearafacemask.com/ https://shouldiwearafacemask.com/
- beart 7y agoawesome. I'm sending this to my partner who has been apathetic about this whole thing.
- onemoresoop 7y agoAbsolutely, I expressed myself poorly, they do provide _some_ protection and if everyone wore them it would be even more effective. But, on the other hand, it would also provide a false sense of safety and being followed by lessening the need for self isolation. But we shouldn't resort to such things, where are the real safety masks? Its hard not to get worried about how so unprepared we are and and in an eventual case of other imminent emergencies and crises we might have even worse outcome. We should think more often about how we impact our environment and how the weather has been changing and affecting everything around us. Stay safe
- yibg 7y agoI understand the need to preserve masks and respirators for medical personnel, but did the talking point earlier really need to be they provide no benefit? It feels like now the population has been taught to not wear masks and it’ll be an uphill battle to reverse that.
- throwaway5752 7y agoThe reality is most people would not correctly fit a n95, and an improperly fit n95 would only provide marginal benefit. Even in article, we are talking cloth face masks. That will provide even less marginal protection to the wearer from contracting the virus. But it will reduce the spread from an infected person. The goal isn't to wear a mask to protect yourself, the goal is to not spread the virus as an asymptomatic carrier It's not fruitful to worry about a hypothetical. I worry more about asking many Americans to do something they perceive as altruistic. edit: it is rude to call something FUD if it isn't. I didn't say no benefit, I said marginal. And I think everyone greater risk in a general healthcare systemic collapse, which is what is on the table. If you weigh all the risks, until there are enough for all medical purposes they should go to medical wearers. Then it should be triaged by vulnerability. This seems really common sense. And obviously, a homemade cloth mask, scarf, or t-shirt when forced into a situation around other people is basic common sense, and I didn't feel the need to say it. That's why I'm talking about N95s, not masks, and certainly not cloth masks that are homemade. edit: downvotes are frustrating. I am almost restating the article verbatim to correct misunderstandings in the comments here about what and why is being suggested. However, on Wednesday, Dr Adams told Good Morning America that the CDC had been asked to review its guidelines on masks, because "we've learned there's a fair amount of asymptomatic spread" - although he stressed that medical masks should still be left to health care professionals who needed them most. and However, more and more health experts now say there are benefits. They argue that the public use of masks can primarily help by preventing asymptomatic patients - people who have been infected with Covid-19 but are not aware, and not displaying any symptoms - from unknowingly spreading the virus to others. edit: check out https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22752501 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22752501 for resources that say indicate otherwise on mask wearing even benefiting the wearer. Don't be an antisocial asshole and buy or wear N95s and give them to healthcare workers, who face a much higher viral loads than you, until supply constraints are resolved.
- doggodad 7y agoA worthless, unprepared third-world country that doesn't have universal healthcare while it lies to and manipulates its impoverished, ignorant citizens. This is all about health kabuki to prevent panic at all costs, not effective public health to save lives.
- joshstrange 7y agoIf you go out into public you should be wearing a face mask, period. You want 3 easy things a mask can help with? 1. Not being able to put your hands into your nose/mouth and remind you to not touch your face 2. Prevent the spread if you are asymptomatic but have it 3. Increase the chance you get a "low dose" even if you do get it (leading to a better outcome for you) These things matter and will save lives. Even a cloth/homemade mask helps. The CDC lied when they said it didn't and they lied because they knew there weren't enough masks but in doing so they eroded public trust so when they finally do get around to asking people to wear a mask there will be those that won't now. Same way calling it "just the flu" continues to be parroted by people. You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.
- MengerSponge 7y agoThe most effective thing you can do is to stay home. Wearing a mask might help, but it may not. There isn't a good study on it. Medicine has a history of shoddy study design and outright quackery, so without a good RCT, medically trained professionals are loath to prescribe some behavior. There are studies that show how bad people are at wearing masks. As for masks effectiveness, it's complicated. They might help filter particles, or prevent the particles you exhale from going/staying airborne. But you may also touch your face more and in more dangerous ways when you're wearing a mask. There's also a very real risk of moral hazard, but people (see above) don't know the relative risks of social behavior vs masks. If people feel safe b/c they're wearing a mask, that's also self-defeating.
- SAI_Peregrinus 7y agoYes, but people do need to do things like buy food. That requires either going out yourself or hiring someone to deliver it. Either way whoever is out should be wearing a mask.
- joshstrange 7y ago100% agree but even a T-Shirt or bandanna is preferable to going out with nothing.
- Endlessly 7y agoRELATED: “Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks” — which I recommend anyone review before expressing a non-scientific based opinion: [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22648603 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22648603
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- ykevinator 7y agoShould have a day 1 decision. I hope we are better prepared next time.