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Our CDC ( Dutch equivalent RIVM.nl ) actually said they believed masks might be dangerous as it might give a false sense of security and ordinary citizens would

Our CDC ( Dutch equivalent RIVM.nl ) actually said they believed masks might be dangerous as it might give a false sense of security and ordinary citizens would not be able to handle them properly. Mask are mandatory now in confined public spaces, but they have never started a campaign to train the public to handle the mask properly.

michaelmior 6y ago
I do recall hearing similar concerns hear in the US (although I can't recall now where these statements originated from. People wearing masks improperly is certainly frustrating. (e.g. nose out, chin strap, etc.)
- the-dude 6y ago
  It was not so much as wearing them improperly, but putting them on improperly ( the proces ).
cactus2093 6y ago
In California, once the guidance changed on masks in April they were still hard to buy so the guidance was “if you don’t have a mask, just wear a bandana or scarf over your face”. We have studies showing that this doesn’t work nearly as well as a surgical mask much less an n95, but I still see people doing it all the time. There hasn’t been a public health campaign in the past 9 months to say “now that the shortage is over, wear a mask that actually works” which is crazy to me.
- the-dude 6y ago
  > doesn’t work nearly as well At getting infected or spreading infection?
  - cactus2093 6y ago
    both
- JohnPrine 6y ago
  Source on those studies?
  - cactus2093 6y ago
    https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018 https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018
usrusr 6y ago
That false security hypothesis is an interesting specimen. I remember not buying it because masks would also serve as a permanent reminder of urgency, more than countering false security effects. But looking back at it from 2021, I can easily imagine that while most people wouldn't engage in any false security follies now, after months of various levels of lockdown, (except for those who are just as capable of follies without a mask), back then things might have been very different. It would take quite some confidence now to return to old habits, but then it wasn't return to but not breaking. Not breaking old habits was hard enough even without a false security token, even the tiniest glimpse of security theatre could have blocked a lot.

michaelmior 6y ago

I do recall hearing similar concerns hear in the US (although I can't recall now where these statements originated from. People wearing masks improperly is certainly frustrating. (e.g. nose out, chin strap, etc.)

the-dude 6y ago
It was not so much as wearing them improperly, but putting them on improperly ( the proces ).

cactus2093 6y ago

In California, once the guidance changed on masks in April they were still hard to buy so the guidance was “if you don’t have a mask, just wear a bandana or scarf over your face”. We have studies showing that this doesn’t work nearly as well as a surgical mask much less an n95, but I still see people doing it all the time. There hasn’t been a public health campaign in the past 9 months to say “now that the shortage is over, wear a mask that actually works” which is crazy to me.

the-dude 6y ago
> doesn’t work nearly as well At getting infected or spreading infection?
- cactus2093 6y ago
  both
JohnPrine 6y ago
Source on those studies?
- cactus2093 6y ago
  https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018 https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0016018

usrusr 6y ago

That false security hypothesis is an interesting specimen. I remember not buying it because masks would also serve as a permanent reminder of urgency, more than countering false security effects. But looking back at it from 2021, I can easily imagine that while most people wouldn't engage in any false security follies now, after months of various levels of lockdown, (except for those who are just as capable of follies without a mask), back then things might have been very different. It would take quite some confidence now to return to old habits, but then it wasn't return to but not breaking. Not breaking old habits was hard enough even without a false security token, even the tiniest glimpse of security theatre could have blocked a lot.