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There was an immediate and massive run on n95 masks. Those do protect you much better. I think it was mostly to protect the supply for medical providers. Also

by babesh 6y ago

There was an immediate and massive run on n95 masks. Those do protect you much better. I think it was mostly to protect the supply for medical providers. Also my understanding is that even cloth masks somewhat protect against droplets.

mbreese 6y ago
I'm sorry, but your understanding in this regard is mistaken. Non-N95 masks are simply not designed for this purpose. They will always let in outside (contaminated) air. From the Ars Technica article above (which I believe is citing this paper: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/5/4/e006577.full.pdf https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/5/4/e006577.full.pdf) > Wearing cloth masks resulted in significantly higher rates of infection, the authors found. They also noted that in their test, the cloth masks were only 3 percent effective at blocking particles. Ask yourself this question -- why do surgeons wear masks when operating on patients? It isn't to protect themselves from the patient... it's to protect that patient from the surgeon. If the patient is infectious, then a surgeon wears a completely different set of protective gear to protect themselves. And N95 masks only work when properly fit. I haven't been fit for an N95 mask, so I don't know what size would be right for me. If you don't have the right size/type of mask, it can be more dangerous for you than if you didn't have a mask. Why? Because when you have a mask, people can feel completely protected and stop taking other precautions. If you are keeping isolated from others, there is no need for a mask.
- babesh 6y ago
  There were plenty of n95 masks sold for industrial use. Some of those were the plain dust mask style masks. Just search Home Depot. Are you saying that those will be more dangerous than no mask? Also it is a bad argument to argue that people will behave more foolishly with protection therefore they should not have protection. Just educate people. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cordova-N95-Approved-Valved-Particulate-Respirator-10-per-Box-NX95V/202593531 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cordova-N95-Approved-Valved-Part... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi-Purpose-Valved-Respirator-10-Pack-48-73-4014/310392944 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi... The two stories below are in opposition to the hypothesis that n95 protects others rather than the wearer. Also this: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074351/coronavirus-can-travel-twice-far-official-safe-distance-and-stay https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074351/coro... And https://apple.news/AiNlYrpSfTq-cJVSXNB8vJQ https://apple.news/AiNlYrpSfTq-cJVSXNB8vJQ
- babesh 6y ago
  This is cut and pasted from the CDC. Read about what surgical masks do "protects the wearer's nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays that may contain germs". Surgical masks Also called a medical mask, a surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask that protects the wearer's nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays that may contain germs. A surgical mask also filters out large particles in the air. Surgical masks may protect others by reducing exposure to the saliva and respiratory secretions of the mask wearer. At this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any type of surgical mask specifically for protection against the COVID-19 virus, but these masks may provide some protection when N95 masks are not available. N95 masks Actually a type of respirator, an N95 mask offers more protection than a surgical mask does because it can filter out both large and small particles. The name indicates that the mask is designed to block 95% of very small particles. Like surgical masks, N95 masks are intended to be disposable. However, researchers are testing ways to disinfect N95 masks so they can be reused. Cloth masks While surgical and N95 masks are in short supply, cloth masks are more accessible and reusable. Although cloth masks and N95 masks have different purposes, both are intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. A cloth mask is worn to help protect others in case the wearer has the virus. An N95 mask helps protect the wearer from getting the virus from others.
- YZF 6y ago
  > It is also unknown whether the rates of infection observed in the cloth mask arm are the same or higher than in HCWs who do not wear a mask, as almost all participants in the control arm used a mask. from the referenced study. The study doesn't say that cloth masks do nothing, they just say medical masks work better, they don't compare them to N95 masks either. There's other variables not controlled, the specific kind of virus etc.

by babesh 6y ago

mbreese 6y ago

I'm sorry, but your understanding in this regard is mistaken. Non-N95 masks are simply not designed for this purpose. They will always let in outside (contaminated) air. From the Ars Technica article above (which I believe is citing this paper: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/5/4/e006577.full.pdf https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/5/4/e006577.full.pdf) > Wearing cloth masks resulted in significantly higher rates of infection, the authors found. They also noted that in their test, the cloth masks were only 3 percent effective at blocking particles. Ask yourself this question -- why do surgeons wear masks when operating on patients? It isn't to protect themselves from the patient... it's to protect that patient from the surgeon. If the patient is infectious, then a surgeon wears a completely different set of protective gear to protect themselves. And N95 masks only work when properly fit. I haven't been fit for an N95 mask, so I don't know what size would be right for me. If you don't have the right size/type of mask, it can be more dangerous for you than if you didn't have a mask. Why? Because when you have a mask, people can feel completely protected and stop taking other precautions. If you are keeping isolated from others, there is no need for a mask.

babesh 6y ago
There were plenty of n95 masks sold for industrial use. Some of those were the plain dust mask style masks. Just search Home Depot. Are you saying that those will be more dangerous than no mask? Also it is a bad argument to argue that people will behave more foolishly with protection therefore they should not have protection. Just educate people. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cordova-N95-Approved-Valved-Particulate-Respirator-10-per-Box-NX95V/202593531 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cordova-N95-Approved-Valved-Part... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi-Purpose-Valved-Respirator-10-Pack-48-73-4014/310392944 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-N95-Professional-Multi... The two stories below are in opposition to the hypothesis that n95 protects others rather than the wearer. Also this: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074351/coronavirus-can-travel-twice-far-official-safe-distance-and-stay https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074351/coro... And https://apple.news/AiNlYrpSfTq-cJVSXNB8vJQ https://apple.news/AiNlYrpSfTq-cJVSXNB8vJQ
babesh 6y ago
This is cut and pasted from the CDC. Read about what surgical masks do "protects the wearer's nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays that may contain germs". Surgical masks Also called a medical mask, a surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask that protects the wearer's nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays that may contain germs. A surgical mask also filters out large particles in the air. Surgical masks may protect others by reducing exposure to the saliva and respiratory secretions of the mask wearer. At this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any type of surgical mask specifically for protection against the COVID-19 virus, but these masks may provide some protection when N95 masks are not available. N95 masks Actually a type of respirator, an N95 mask offers more protection than a surgical mask does because it can filter out both large and small particles. The name indicates that the mask is designed to block 95% of very small particles. Like surgical masks, N95 masks are intended to be disposable. However, researchers are testing ways to disinfect N95 masks so they can be reused. Cloth masks While surgical and N95 masks are in short supply, cloth masks are more accessible and reusable. Although cloth masks and N95 masks have different purposes, both are intended to slow the spread of COVID-19. A cloth mask is worn to help protect others in case the wearer has the virus. An N95 mask helps protect the wearer from getting the virus from others.
YZF 6y ago
> It is also unknown whether the rates of infection observed in the cloth mask arm are the same or higher than in HCWs who do not wear a mask, as almost all participants in the control arm used a mask. from the referenced study. The study doesn't say that cloth masks do nothing, they just say medical masks work better, they don't compare them to N95 masks either. There's other variables not controlled, the specific kind of virus etc.