AIBU to think the government should be letting us know this: To prevent the spread of the newer strain of Covid-19 we should be wearing medical grade masks

[Lovely1a2b3c]

A number European countries are making medical grade masks (e.g. surgical type 2R fluid-resistant masks) mandatory for people entering shops or travelling by public transport as they are more efficient at reducing the spread of the newer variant of Covid-19.

AIBU to think that the UK should follow suit, especially as we have the highest rates of the new contagious strain, which originated in Kent and which we now know is slightly more deadly.

Is there sufficient supply for the whole general public to be using them as well as health care workers?

I think the new strain was found in Kent...I am not sure it originated there.

@HoneysuckIejasmine

Is there sufficient supply for the whole general public to be using them as well as health care workers?

Yes, I think so- they seem to be widely available now and suppliers don't seem to be using the same stock as NHS workers. Also if, as should be the case, all medical staff (including those not in Covid wards) are provided with the correct protection (FFP3 higher spec masks, which are even better than the FFP2 fluid resistant surgical ones) then there should be plenty of them for the general public.

@thegcatsmother

I think the new strain was found in Kent...I am not sure it originated there.

Oh okay; it just seems to be referred to as the 'Kent variant' on various things.

Many people can't feed their kids. Where the heck are they supposed to get money for those masks from? To go into shops. To feed their kids. So they'll end up having one per family and sharing it whenever someone needs to go out. Very hygienic. And the general public, who have a great track record right now at understanding basic science or following basic instructions, are supposed to be able to work out what type of fancy mask to buy? What about people wearing face visors to lipread etc? Are we just setting them all on fire again to keep us warm?
So middle class able bodied people can buy freedom by buying an expensive facemask and everyone else can get to fuck, is that what is being suggested?
Dear God the world has gone mad.

I agree op

I bought a pack of 25 for &2 in b an m a few weeks ago and have them in my car and in the house.

I also noticed a lot more people in the supermarket today were wearing medical grade rather than cotton ones although there were still the ones with their noses poking out

Don't you have to change them really often due to them getting saturated?

You sure say 30m working adults buying a ask that they can only use once wont impact supply?

@NoOneOwnsTheRainbow

Many people can't feed their kids. Where the heck are they supposed to get money for those masks from? To go into shops. To feed their kids. So they'll end up having one per family and sharing it whenever someone needs to go out. Very hygienic. And the general public, who have a great track record right now at understanding basic science or following basic instructions, are supposed to be able to work out what type of fancy mask to buy? What about people wearing face visors to lipread etc? Are we just setting them all on fire again to keep us warm? So middle class able bodied people can buy freedom by buying an expensive facemask and everyone else can get to fuck, is that what is being suggested? Dear God the world has gone mad.

But come on. If the people who can, do, won't that make it safer for the people who cant? No one measure is going to solve this crisis. But measures that have a percent here, shave a percent there, stacks up.

Right I've seen a lot on the news about masks today and how some places are saying about wearing KN95 masks. This is fine but please recognise that these are not the same as ffp2 masks and please please please be aware of fakes which offer no protection.

Please please please do not rush out and buy ffp2 or ffp3 masks they are in short enough supply for the NHS and businesses where we need them to protect against work place harmful substances. As a refinery I'm still scratching round for masks which are critical for day to day working

My recommendation (and it's what we use as family) are fabric masks with a pocket which a n95 filter can slip into. Yes not face fitted yes not as protective but for normal day to day activities this is a great level of protection.

Ffp3 and ffp2 masks should be face fitted to offer protection and when we swap suppliers we have to re do this test - it's been chaos this year! I've had to work 100's of tests and the same retested at least twice! NHS has been way worse!

So in short watch out for fake masks, and really think about what's appropriate xx if anyone needs any advice please yell xx

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.bohs.org/app/uploads/2020/11/Spotting-a-Fake-Understanding-FFP-Markings-Branded-14_07_2020.pptx&ved=2ahUKEwjngJixorDuAhWpQkEAHRCnDHAQFjABegQIAxAH&usg=AOvVaw1S4trm89-LFKMDrBPcOYH0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.bohs.org/app/uploads/2020/11/Spotting-a-Fake-Understanding-FFP-Markings-Branded-14_07_2020.pptx&ved=2ahUKEwjngJixorDuAhWpQkEAHRCnDHAQFjABegQIAxAH&usg=AOvVaw1S4trm89-LFKMDrBPcOYH0

This is a good guide as to how to spot fakes

Most important thing with masks is using them correctly.

How you wear them (no touching, covering nose etc) and how you take them off. I assume the outside has covid from others and treat accordingly.

I don't wear paper ones and I wash the fabric ones after use in a normal wash. Soap is very good at killing the virus.

MummyRowland interested in your view on masks offered by this company: cambridgemask.com/

It seems quite plausible and sensible to have a filtered, washable mask that can last 340 hours...wondering why we're not hearing more about them in the media etc. 🤔

Looking briefly at them they do look very good. Good to protect you. The only downside is the valve as this isn't great at filtering out what you breathe out so if you have the virus it can forces it out through this valve there by spreading the virus.

I'm Def interested to do more research on them tho!

I'd wear one if it would help, I didn't know it was recommended though. I prefer wearing my washable ones as it's less waste and although we're comfortable money-wise, cheaper and less hassle than buying disposable ones when I can just chuck them in with the clothes I'd be washing anyway.

I think the new strain was found in Kent...I am not sure it originated there.

Well quite. I wonder why it has been traced back to Kent though out of everywhere in the UK, cannot think of any reason whatsoever....

Is there sufficient supply for the whole general public to be using them as well as health care workers?

In some better organised European countries, packs of FFP2 masks have been sent free of charge to all vulnerable residents, and single FFP2 masks are handed out at supermarkets (the only shops that are open) if people have forgotten to bring one or have been unable to get one.

FFP2 masks are now mandatory in some countries, where lockdown is also more strict than in the UK and is being more strictly enforced, in an effort to get the infection level down to below 50 per 100,000. Currently countries such as Germany and Austria are still reporting rates of 140-150 per 100,000 and are considering even stricter lockdowns. [For context, it is only last summer that the UK was banning travel to countries where the infection rate was above 20 per 100,000]

Meanwhile in England people are walking around with the flimsy blue masks tucked under their noses or wearing useless bits of cloth in the belief that these make them immune, but infection rates are still anywhere between 400 and 1,200 per 100,000 and some right-wing idiots are threatening Johnson if he doesn't relax the lockdown.

Thanks Mummyrowland I thought they looked quite good too. Just read somewhere on their Web page they can supply valve restrictors for use when, as you say, there might be concern around what is being exhaled.

I think I'd be happier if everyone wore something like this after getting a negative test!

Hettie12345 I saw the valve blockers and subsequently have ordered myself two. I'm liking the different sizes they offer too and simple measurements

I've ordered some too!

@Backbee

I think the new strain was found in Kent...I am not sure it originated there.

Well quite. I wonder why it has been traced back to Kent though out of everywhere in the UK, cannot think of any reason whatsoever....

I'm from Kent. As I understand, the SE bore the brunt of the disease in the early days and as its rate went down, it spread throughout the rest of the country . There was always the risk of the second wave as not enough measures were in place and it was during the second wave that it suddenly became clear that this small part of Kent had disproportionately higher numbers of infection. The government wavered a bit then it became clear that the spread to the rest of Kent was, again, disproportionately high . Seemed to start in the Thanet/Swale area. By the time that scientists isolated the new variant, it was too late. Hauliers from the continent, stopped in Kent then spread it around the country as did those workers who needed to travel to London for work reasons.

This is a guide to medical face masks (from type 2R surgical ones, which protect those around you to FFP2/3, which protect the wearer and those around you):

Types of face masks

The first step in identifying the face mask to fit your requirements is to know the different types. Medical face masks are broken down into 2 main categories; surgical masks and respirators. Here are some types of masks you might have heard of:

Type I Face Mask
Type I R Face Mask
Type II Face Mask
Type II R Face Mask
FFP2 Face Mask
FFP3 Face Mask
N95 Face Mask
What’s the difference between Type I and Type II Masks?

Type I, and Type I R face masks have a BFE (bacterial filtration efficiency) of 95%, whereas Type II and Type II R face masks have a BFE of 98%. The breathing resistance, and splash resistance for Type I R and Type II R masks, are exactly the same.

Type I, I R, II and II R face masks are medical masks tested in the direction of exhalation (inside to outside) and take into account the efficiency of bacterial filtration. Surgical masks of this type stop the wearer from infecting the surrounding environment. They are not effective at protecting the wearer from airbourne diseases such as coronavirus.

What is a Type II Face Mask?

Type II face masks (EN14683) are medical face masks made up of a protective 3 ply construction that prevents large particles from reaching the patient or working surfaces, however they are not effective when blood or bodily fluids are present.

Characteristics of Type II face masks include:

Pleat style with ear loops or ties
Protective three-layer construction
Available in a variety of colours and styles.
What is a Type IIR Face Mask?

Type IIR face masks EN14683 are medical face masks made up of a 4 ply construction that prevents large particles from reaching the patient or working surfaces. Type IIR Face masks include a splash resistant layer to protect against blood and other bodily fluids. Type IIR face masks are tested in the direction of exhalation (inside to outside) and take into account the efficiency of bacterial filtration.

Characteristics of Type IIR face masks include:

Pleat style with ear loops or ties
Protective four-layer construction
Available in a variety of colours and styles
Splash resistant layer against bodily fluids.
Type I, Type IR, Type II and Type IIR masks are for use in protecting others from the wearer transmitting infection.

What’s the difference between FFP2 and FFP3 Face Masks?

FFP2 & FFP3 Face Masks are European classes of respirators, tested on the direction of inspiration (outside to inside) and take into account leakage to the face and filtration efficiency.

FFP2 face masks are the equivalent of N95 face masks, which meet the guidelines from The World Health Organisation for protection against Covid-19. FFP2 masks have a minimum of 94% filtration percentage and a maximum of 8% leakage to the inside. These masks are not shaped to your face but are simply held in place by the elastic earloop and have a typical lifespan of 3-8 hours depending on environmental factors.

FFP3 face masks are the most effective at filtration, with a minimum filtration of 99% and a maximum leakage of 2% to the inside. These masks are better shaped to your face for a more snug fit and typically have a valve to help breathe as the filtration material is much thicker. The valve also reduces the build up of moisture, lengthening the lifespan of the mask. FFP3 masks are typically used for handling asbestos.

FFP2, FFP3, N95 and other respirator masks are effective at protecting the wearer from viral transmission.

It should be noted that N95 masks can not be officially legally recommended for use in Europe.

@Cabinfever10

Don't you have to change them really often due to them getting saturated?

Yes, but that should be the case with all face masks really.

Many cloth/cotton ones let most droplets both in and out of the mask and only reduce droplet transmission a little bit.

Good luck with purchasing the real thing .

@Hettie12345

MummyRowland interested in your view on masks offered by this company: cambridgemask.com/

It seems quite plausible and sensible to have a filtered, washable mask that can last 340 hours...wondering why we're not hearing more about them in the media etc. 🤔

I understood that a vent like that one has renders it useless as the droplets escape through it.

@Mummyrowland

Right I've seen a lot on the news about masks today and how some places are saying about wearing KN95 masks. This is fine but please recognise that these are not the same as ffp2 masks and please please please be aware of fakes which offer no protection.

Please please please do not rush out and buy ffp2 or ffp3 masks they are in short enough supply for the NHS and businesses where we need them to protect against work place harmful substances. As a refinery I'm still scratching round for masks which are critical for day to day working

My recommendation (and it's what we use as family) are fabric masks with a pocket which a n95 filter can slip into. Yes not face fitted yes not as protective but for normal day to day activities this is a great level of protection.

Ffp3 and ffp2 masks should be face fitted to offer protection and when we swap suppliers we have to re do this test - it's been chaos this year! I've had to work 100's of tests and the same retested at least twice! NHS has been way worse!

So in short watch out for fake masks, and really think about what's appropriate xx if anyone needs any advice please yell xx

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.bohs.org/app/uploads/2020/11/Spotting-a-Fake-Understanding-FFP-Markings-Branded-14_07_2020.pptx&ved=2ahUKEwjngJixorDuAhWpQkEAHRCnDHAQFjABegQIAxAH&usg=AOvVaw1S4trm89-LFKMDrBPcOYH0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.bohs.org/app/uploads/2020/11/Spotting-a-Fake-Understanding-FFP-Markings-Branded-14_07_2020.pptx&ved=2ahUKEwjngJixorDuAhWpQkEAHRCnDHAQFjABegQIAxAH&usg=AOvVaw1S4trm89-LFKMDrBPcOYH0

This is a good guide as to how to spot fakes

Yes, I knew that about KN95 masks- they're not approved for use in Europe although most research suggests they're as effective as FFP2 masks at protecting the wearer from in-coming viral particles and even an NHS procurement article states that they're likely to be as effective despite not being used within the NHS.

I'm not sure that re-useable cloth masks with KN95 filters are proven to be as efficient.

As single use KN95 masks aren't approved for use by medical professionals in the UK (so are not in short supply) but are likely to be as efficient as FFP2 masks then it seems sensible for people to buy provided they are genuine ones.

Are FFP2 and FFP3 masks definitely in short supply in the UK still?
By medical masks I was including surgical masks, which are still more effective at reducing outflow of viral particles (i.e. spread to other people) than cloth masks.