Facemasks

[MyBeloved]

Hi everyone, I just wondered if any of you had bought facemasks you were pleased with? Want to stay as safe as possible - have already had c19 but have been told it may be caught again...and I'm in the vulnerable group.

Just looking for recommendations as it is a bit of a minefield. Links much appreciated.

[wafflyversatile]

I've noticed several ads appearing on fb for masks but who knows if they are trustworthy. I got some of those blue dentist style ones in a local shop today. Whether they are much use I dont know tbh.

[MyBeloved]

Thanks, wafflyversatile. I have been looking on ebay and the reviews are so mixed - some even suggesting the masks weren't hygenically packaged and others were supposedly rip offs.

[Northernsoullover]

I'm a huge advocate of facemasks and evidence suggests that they may be effective in reducing the spread rather than preventing people acquiring the Coronavirus.
Therefore you can use a homemade covering and if we all did that it would probably make a big difference. I think it would probably be quite difficult to get a medical grade one though. The supply just isn't there at the moment.
I don't have any underlying health issues that I am aware of but I'm shitting myself in case I am one of those that does not react well to the virus.
All I can do at the moment is wear my mask to stop me touching my face when I'm out, and wash my hands after shopping (I even shower and change) and avoid going out unless I need to do food shopping. I'm also wiping down post, shopping etc.

[MyBeloved]

Northernsoullover, where do you get your masks from?

[wafflyversatile]

Try the little local shops. I got mine from a costcutter. They are using them themselves.

[Darcydashwood]

I’ve seen at least one online lingerie company has started making fabric ugh face masks and you can get lots of the cloth ones on Etsy too - not medical grade obviously

[MyBeloved]

Thank you :)
Have ordered some cloth ones from etsy.

[jobhunter7]

[jobhunter7]

How to make a simple one without a sewing machine.

[Northernsoullover]

@MyBeloved I ordered some in February before it all got going but now I am making them from vacuum cleaner bags (HEPA fabric ones) I'm no seamstress so its slow going but I have cobbled together passable ones.

[Lycidas]

This article in The Lancet makes it clear that homemade/cloth face masks should be mandated in the same way that seatbelts are. Potentially huge social benefits if everyone wears them especially in places like public transport.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30918-1/fulltext#.XqEyQdGd_0s.twitter

[jobhunter7]

If governments are not going to make things will happen... I think we need to make things happen ourselves...

[wonderrotunda]

Not tested on corona and not cheap but sounds positive, made in Wales I believe. It’s a snood

www.virustaticshield.com/
From their website:
Brand new Virustatic Shield gives anti-viral protection for you and your family. The easy-to-wear snood helps prevent infection.
The coating is designed to be applied to single layer materials for pandemic situations. The coating transforms the base material into an anti-viral, multi-functional protective snood. So light and breathable you won’t believe its virus stopping power. Proven to trap and kill airborne enveloped influenza viruses.
Tested by world-leading scientists
Suitable for the whole family
Reusable and washable
Traps and kills 96% of enveloped influenza viruses

[RainMustFall]

I bought these: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0863SF5NR/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_3p_dp_1?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 from Amazon. They are now out of stock but they have others in stock.

[PestymcPestFace]

A really interesting article about how using a section of your tights cam improve fit and efficiency of facemasks (including home-made).
www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/22/840146830/adding-a-nylon-stocking-layer-could-boost-protection-from-cloth-masks-study-find?utm_term=nprnews&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&t=1587644492574

[Fairineouf]

Face mask or no face mask, I think we need to be cautions of claims which feed into our fear of catching this particular virus.

Where is the scientific proof behind claims that are made for masks which are £20 each? Nowhere. Just sentences. Claims of neutralising more than 96% of airborne virus are worthless if Covid19 is in the last 4%. So no claim re Covid19 at all if you read carefully, and likely no better than just a regular mask you can (occasionally) buy from the shops.

[Gruffawoah]

The government won't recommend them I doubt because they won't want to have to do anything to help ensure that people can access one. Homemade ones (double cotton) have been shown to reduce the chances of you spreading it, so as has been said, if everyone or at least a lot of people wore them it would help to keep others safe; especially as some of us will be asymptomatic. Obviously wearing one doesn't negate the need for adhering to social distancing, hand washing etc, and people need to make sure that they are cleaned appropriately after wearing. Some studies have shown them to be ineffective after an hour, but as we are not supposed to be out and about all day at the moment it is workable- and washed on 60 or boiled for 5 minutes after each wear so quite easy to do. I have been making some using one of the many patterns available online, it is costing me in materials about 50p a mask, and then a tiny bit added for sewing machine usage and electric, so they needn't be expensive. Lots of local sewing groups are making them.

[Randomschoolworker19]

I bought this FFP3 mask back in January from Tool Station for around £20.

It hasn't been 'fit tested' but FFP3 is the best level of filtration that a member of the public can reasonably obtain.

FFP3 will be hard to get hold of nowadays but honestly any mask is better than none.

[Honin]

It is understandable why the government advise us not to wear surgical mask, it's simple maths! There just not enough to go around, especially when most of the countries are infected. Meanwhile, our government doesn't want to take the blame for previously claiming face masks don't work, I think they are now waiting for WHO to take back what they said, and suggest everyone to start wearing them. So the spear head can all point to WHO instead of our government.

Nonetheless, I can't say for sure that home made mask can make a huge difference, but it doesn't hurt if you do more, right? As for those who argue wearing mask will increase the chance of infection due to carelessness, then does it mean wearing a seat belt makes us all drive recklessly?

Back to the home made mask, scientist explained that we could make masks with general fabric as a cover and place a anti dust cloth in the middle as a filter (the static electricity can attract and stop some of the small particles), or at least use a kitchen roll if unavailable.

[wonderrotunda]

You’re right to be sceptical of course, but many things have not been proven against this virus as it is so new. However it is 96% effective against similar viruses and isn't a fly by night operation, the fabric has been in development with the University of Manchester since 2011. You can wear it for 150 hours with rinsing every 50 or thereabouts so maybe that makes it more economical. But what appealed to me is that touching it doesn’t appear to transfer the virus to your hands
www.innovationintextiles.com/workwear-manufacturer-wearwell-manufactures-antivirus-snoods/

[Fairineouf]

Well i'll grant that's an interesting article Wonderrotunda but the claims are still vague and obviously aimed at harnessing our fears. As for fly by night, their instagram page on the product started March this year. Very good timing to have such an innovative and new product available just in time. Not impossible of course.

Googled University of Manchester by the way, and couldn't find anything about this fabric they have collaborated to invent. If you have a link to their published scientific paper i'd be really interesting in reading it.

All i'm saying is buyer beware.

[MyBeloved]

I am definitely in the 'it can't do any harm' camp.i just feel so vulnerable and won't step outside my front door at the moment, as I know how horrible this virus is.

I just would like to take my 1 x exercise per day with a little more protection.

[wafflyversatile]

One criticism is that people might feel safer so take less care. Ok. Maybe.

Another I've seen is that people might not take them off properly, but if the virus is on the mask and you transfer it from mask to hand to face then the virus on the mask would have been on your face if you hadnt worn the mask so no difference.

[Honin]

It's true that some don't fully understand the procedure of wearing a face mask or any face cover for this matter, and the importance of self hygiene. But this isn't remotely close to how the government or doctors should advise the public, if face covering could prevent spreading the virus, then we should all learn the correct way of wearing and disposing of it. All it takes is a 5 mins video on youtube, it's not rocket science!