3 ms·

I tend to agree with you on this. I've got some anecdata and commentary. So obviously I'm not the CDC or a doctor so don't decide anything based on my story her

I tend to agree with you on this. I've got some anecdata and commentary. So obviously I'm not the CDC or a doctor so don't decide anything based on my story here. My wife works in the hospital and employees are only given one mask a month or so and must use the hospital provided equipment. For staff that are not in the covid units, incidents of transmission and overall infection rates have been very low. For those in the covid units themselves, the infection rates are 60-70%. The PPE situation is still quite poor, gowns and face shields are being reused where in ordinary times they would be disposable. For ordinary people without regular contact with the infected and who take reasonable precautions (modeled in my anecdata by the staff outside the covid units) I believe that the masks combined with frequent hand washing are probably pretty effective. If you're in suboptimal circumstances and in constant contact with the infected I don't know. It's hard to tell with all of the PPE reuse. The story being told is that the cloth masks reduce spread from you to others but do not overtly protect you. I can see circumstances where improper doffing techniques could cause these to be counterproductive but overall I tend to believe this. Properly fitted N95 masks have similar protection of others but also protect you from some, but probably not all exposures.

woofie11 5y ago
> My wife works in the hospital and employees are only given one mask a month or so and must use the hospital provided equipment. Really? I mean really? N95 masks are not reusable. They have an electrostatic layer that degrades after hours of moisture from breath. In hospitals in Asia, where this is done right, infection rates have been close to zero. US companies have a glut of N95 mask stock right now because no one will buy them due to cheaper alternatives. In addition, tons of places produce tested N95-equivalent masks which have not gone through certification procedures. Where is your wife? That seems like a class action waiting to happen.
- metiscus 5y ago
  Central Florida. I believe the issue is two-fold. The Hospitals have contracts etc with GPOs that often require the hospital to make most if not all of their purchases (PPE and Drugs, there is some discussion about GPOs being partially to blame for drugs shortages). If those organizations are unable to source, or unwilling to source PPE (speculation - due to market value being over contract value?) then the hospitals receive a restricted supply e.g. a shortage. The second axis is that this is not a situation that is generally known and hospital staff are generally underrepresented politically. To whom is the Nurse Assistant or LPN to complain to about their company practices? If you complain, you risk termination etc. Given that most took the vaccine the issue is partially mooted but still remains.
  - woofie11 5y ago
    Well, no. The issue isn't mooted. 1) The vaccine doesn't prevent you from catching COVID19; it prevents symptoms. Your body fights it off. We know nothing about how it impacts long COVID or spread. I mean, we know it reduces them, but is it a 10% effect? 90%? If hospital staff are spreading COVID to patients, we've got a problem. 2) Vaccinated people in contact with non-vaccinated is how you get vaccine-resistant mutations. We need vaccines and proper masks, especially in hospitals. If there's an issue like that, it seems like an anonymous complaint might help. Letters to newspapers, regulators, and hospital leadership, all cc:ed so they know others have received them, outlining that: - Proper masks are available: links to US plants having overstock, new technologies (e.g. Korean nanofiber) - Used N95 masks don't work - Reuse of N95 at the institution That puts a lot of pressure on leadership to address the issue. Enforcement actions usually go nowhere if an issue was already resolved by the time the agency gets there, and it's a lot cheaper to deal with early rather than late.

woofie11 5y ago

> My wife works in the hospital and employees are only given one mask a month or so and must use the hospital provided equipment. Really? I mean really? N95 masks are not reusable. They have an electrostatic layer that degrades after hours of moisture from breath. In hospitals in Asia, where this is done right, infection rates have been close to zero. US companies have a glut of N95 mask stock right now because no one will buy them due to cheaper alternatives. In addition, tons of places produce tested N95-equivalent masks which have not gone through certification procedures. Where is your wife? That seems like a class action waiting to happen.

metiscus 5y ago
Central Florida. I believe the issue is two-fold. The Hospitals have contracts etc with GPOs that often require the hospital to make most if not all of their purchases (PPE and Drugs, there is some discussion about GPOs being partially to blame for drugs shortages). If those organizations are unable to source, or unwilling to source PPE (speculation - due to market value being over contract value?) then the hospitals receive a restricted supply e.g. a shortage. The second axis is that this is not a situation that is generally known and hospital staff are generally underrepresented politically. To whom is the Nurse Assistant or LPN to complain to about their company practices? If you complain, you risk termination etc. Given that most took the vaccine the issue is partially mooted but still remains.
- woofie11 5y ago
  Well, no. The issue isn't mooted. 1) The vaccine doesn't prevent you from catching COVID19; it prevents symptoms. Your body fights it off. We know nothing about how it impacts long COVID or spread. I mean, we know it reduces them, but is it a 10% effect? 90%? If hospital staff are spreading COVID to patients, we've got a problem. 2) Vaccinated people in contact with non-vaccinated is how you get vaccine-resistant mutations. We need vaccines and proper masks, especially in hospitals. If there's an issue like that, it seems like an anonymous complaint might help. Letters to newspapers, regulators, and hospital leadership, all cc:ed so they know others have received them, outlining that: - Proper masks are available: links to US plants having overstock, new technologies (e.g. Korean nanofiber) - Used N95 masks don't work - Reuse of N95 at the institution That puts a lot of pressure on leadership to address the issue. Enforcement actions usually go nowhere if an issue was already resolved by the time the agency gets there, and it's a lot cheaper to deal with early rather than late.