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Here's the thing. These masks are meant to be used and then disposed of. In a hospital, under normal conditions, there is a protocol to follow in their use. But

Here's the thing. These masks are meant to be used and then disposed of. In a hospital, under normal conditions, there is a protocol to follow in their use. But the overwhelming majority of people are not going to be using them properly. Instead, they're going to end up wearing their very own little petri dishes on their face. Originally, we were told masks wouldn't help. Now, we're told they will. Obviously, the science here isn't settled. Mask use is more political than anything. Here's an article: "Cloth masks – dangerous to your health?" https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/cloth-masks-–-dangerous-your-health https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/cloth-masks-–-dange... And then there's this: "Sweeping mask recommendations—as many have proposed—will not reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission, as evidenced by the widespread practice of wearing such masks in Hubei province, China, before and during its mass COVID-19 transmission experience earlier this year." And, further on down: "[An experimental study] seeking a reason for the failure of cloth masks required for the public in stopping the 1918 influenza pandemic, found that the number of cloth layers needed to achieve acceptable efficiency made them difficult to breathe through and caused leakage around the mask." https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commenta...

treis 7y ago
>Here's an article: "Cloth masks – dangerous to your health?" >https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/cloth-masks-–-dange.. https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/cloth-masks-–-dange.... Jesus, how do people get away with articles and studies like this. The control they used was: >‘standard practice’, which comprised mask use in a high proportion of participants. So ultimately they're comparing cloth masks to surgical masks and, no shit, surgical masks are better. How they draw the conclusion that cloth masks are dangerous is beyond me.
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  I can see them becoming dangerous if they aren’t washed, but that should be easy for a cloth mask that is machine wash friendly. Reusing a disposable mask that can’t be washed is probably a bad idea.
  - mariodiana 7y ago
    People aren't going to wash them often enough. People are going to stuff them in their pocketbooks, or in the car, then put them on when they go into a store — and then stuff them right back in. It doesn't matter what is "easy" or not. And, truth be told, it isn't all that easy. People will have to plan their trips, put the mask on, come home and wash them in the sink. In the meantime, they shouldn't be putting the mask in their pockets, purses, etc. People are not going to be handling and using their masks properly. Because doing so will be a "pain in the ass." And, keep in mind, in NY the governor has explicitly said that "face coverings" are okay, if you don't have a mask. You just need something. That "makes sense." So, you have people wearing kerchiefs and such. Mask orders are going to end up offering no significant protection, give people a false sense of security, and perhaps end up making some people more sick. Just watch!
- mariodiana 7y ago
  From the article: "The study found respiratory infection was much higher among healthcare workers wearing cloth masks. "The penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% compared to medical masks with 44%."
  - TheCoelacanth 7y ago
    Yes, they are obviously not as good as a real medical mask. That doesn't mean they are dangerous compared to wearing no mask.

treis 7y ago

>Here's an article: "Cloth masks – dangerous to your health?" >https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/cloth-masks-–-dange.. https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/cloth-masks-–-dange.... Jesus, how do people get away with articles and studies like this. The control they used was: >‘standard practice’, which comprised mask use in a high proportion of participants. So ultimately they're comparing cloth masks to surgical masks and, no shit, surgical masks are better. How they draw the conclusion that cloth masks are dangerous is beyond me.

seanmcdirmid 7y ago
I can see them becoming dangerous if they aren’t washed, but that should be easy for a cloth mask that is machine wash friendly. Reusing a disposable mask that can’t be washed is probably a bad idea.
- mariodiana 7y ago
  People aren't going to wash them often enough. People are going to stuff them in their pocketbooks, or in the car, then put them on when they go into a store — and then stuff them right back in. It doesn't matter what is "easy" or not. And, truth be told, it isn't all that easy. People will have to plan their trips, put the mask on, come home and wash them in the sink. In the meantime, they shouldn't be putting the mask in their pockets, purses, etc. People are not going to be handling and using their masks properly. Because doing so will be a "pain in the ass." And, keep in mind, in NY the governor has explicitly said that "face coverings" are okay, if you don't have a mask. You just need something. That "makes sense." So, you have people wearing kerchiefs and such. Mask orders are going to end up offering no significant protection, give people a false sense of security, and perhaps end up making some people more sick. Just watch!
mariodiana 7y ago
From the article: "The study found respiratory infection was much higher among healthcare workers wearing cloth masks. "The penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% compared to medical masks with 44%."
- TheCoelacanth 7y ago
  Yes, they are obviously not as good as a real medical mask. That doesn't mean they are dangerous compared to wearing no mask.