Anyone been able to buy a mask?

[newyearnoeu]

Sorry -should probably be in the corona topic but posting here for traffic?

Lots of suggestions in the media that people will be required to wear masks as part of lockdown exit strategy. Has anyone actually been able to find any though? The only ones I've seen are in my local bargain type shop at two for seven quid which as they are supposed to be one use only seems extortionate!

EBay etc don't seem to have anything ready to ship in the near future.

Guess I can give making one a try but my sewing skills are pretty bad!

Well if someone has produced a mask capable of killing the virus, surely they should be selling it to hospitals to protect intensive care staff and not flogging them on eBay for people to wear while wandering round Tesco

@bruceAndNosh 👍

Well if I buy loads and make an outfit from them, I'm sorted. I hope they come in black!

"Apparently"

My asre.

There are two companies called Maylean in Liverpool.
An accountant and a cushion making company.
What a shame I retired from the soft furnishings business. I could be minting it.

Quack remedies and profiteering crooks are unlikely to survive long on Ebay.

Yes got a few homemade ones from ebay

I've made my own using one leg from a pair of black tights and two bobbles. Ive yet to wear it.

@TerryTibbs and you are of course aware that those ffp3 masks should be fit tested to be effective and of course are single use only?

I wear them for a 12 hour ICU shift. They are meant for healthcare workers to wear. As stated on the website you ordered from. So not only will it not benefit you as you aren’t trained in the wearing of it, aren’t fit tested to ensure it’s a tight fit, aren’t working in aerosol generating procedures and are taking vital PPE away from the NHS when we are struggling to get it.

Homemade masks aren't intended to prevent you getting the virus but to reduce the amount you spread it to other people by reducing the spread of droplets.

Given that my country isn't in lockdown I have hunted for face masks to send to my family in the UK as I figured there might be some left. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) all masks of all types except full size whole head masks have been reserved for the health service over here.

I ordered some online and they took weeks to arrive (and a lot don’t seem to be in stock any more). My sister is merrily making some amazing ones (she is very handy with a sewing machine).

The single use ones HCP use have a metal band to pinch across the nose. Homemade ones don't have this so they are not that secure.

I might be wrong but I thought wearing masks not ffp designated didn't protect you from the virus but was more to prevent the wearer from transmitting it. Like wearing gloves makes you more at risk.
@DaveMinion spot on. And if you don't take them off properly you are likely to contaminate yourself.

I’ve had some from amazon and groupon that you can reuse amazon had loads but read reviews as some are being sold as reusable when they’re obviously not

These are in stock at the moment, arrived about 48 hours after I ordered a few days back . They are washable, impregnated with an antimicrobial, stretchy and have two seperate double layers (so you could add extra layers or filter if you want. They aren't the prettiest but do the job for my family
elle.co.uk/collections/protective-face-masks

I reckon masks may be made compulsory on public transport and in some shops so wanted to be prepared. I did try making a mask using an old shirt sleeve but didn't have nice elastic and ordinary elastic were very uncomfortable on my ears.

TroysMammy lots of patterns for HM masks have a metal strip across the top to bend over the nose.
I think HM are fine as long as nobody thinks they offer protection and are just wearing them to comply with rules on dace covering.