Face Masks- Covid.

[Astressie]

Anyone understand whether we should or shouldn't be wearing face masks? Some sources say we should, others not! So confused. Have I missed some very obvious advice somewhere? Even if we should, I don't have any. Mother does. I took the mickey out of her for buying them weeks ago. She is very organised and prepared without being anxious and stressy. Feel a bit silly now. Are mothers always right?

I dont have any. They are supposed to be useful if you have covid 19 or you are caring for someone with the virus. Or you are frontline staff

No not frontline staff, but aren't they advising the public in America to use a 'face covering'?

No, they aren't always right.
But, in this case, maybe. There are schools of thought that wearing masks might limit the spread-which might account for why it hasn't spread in places such as Hong Kong and other parts of East Asia.
The US government is now encouraging the use of homemade masks.
The UK is maintaining that they don't make a difference publicly and that social distance is the key.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/clinical-specialties/respiratory-/phe-publishes-updated-guidance-on-use-of-ppe/20040538.article

edition.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51205344.

I'm not in America. You can choose to use something if you want. I have seen some people using masks and scarves

I think they're not recommended here simply because the public will be outraged that they can't get them.

I posted about this in an earlier thread so I'll say there what I'll here.

The virus is spread by droplets in the air that people either breath in or land on surfaces which people touch and then infect themselves with.

Anything that decreases the amount of droplets entering the air (transmission) or prevents you touching your face is effective to an extent.

The white/blue surgical masks you see most people wearing are leas effective but better than nothing.

After that you have FFP1 and FFP2 which have filters but don't offer full seals.

Lastly there is FFP3 which offers the most protection. These masks need to be fitted by an expert to offer the most protection but can still be used by members of the public without being fitted. Obviously they will offer less protection than if they were fitted but this is the best people can get.

Social distancing, staying home, washing your hands and wearing PPE are all things you can do to reduce your chance of contracting the virus or unknowingly shedding it if you're asymptomatic. They're not mutually exclusive .... i.e. it's not one or the other. People should be doing all of those things in combination. Similarly, saying you shouldn't wear a mask because it isn't fool proof is idiotic. That's like saying you shouldn't wear a bullet proof vest because it won't stop 50.kal rounds from a BMG. It will stop most small arms fire though and is obviously better than wearing no armour at all....

Of course the government doesn't currently recommend masks as necessary, but then they were initially going for herd immunity and did a huge u-turn and if the debacle over PPE and ventilators has shown anything it's that the government have been rather incompetent. It's far more likely they don't want people buying PPE due to the shortages and I'd rather trust the WHO and what every other country is doing. People in Asia where pandemics have been more common in the past wear masks for a reason. They wear them because they work.

I've included 3 images to show the different types of masks.

I personally have the last one shown which is a FFP3 mask which I bought from Tool Station back in late January.

I have been using them since the off. I didn't have trouble getting any off Ebay. They are not medical grade. In fact they are quite flimsy so I'm making some out of HEPA vacuum cleaner bags.
There is now an about turn on the wearing of masks. Even a flimsy one stops you touching your face.

Is it true that non surgical masks, like the one in the first picture, stop some of any droplets expelled by the wearer from escaping, but still allow droplets expelled by other people through?

I know experts are saying that masks are about protecting others rather than yourself (although if everyone wears them we all benefit). But if they do allow droplets from other people inside your mask, does that not raise your risk? You'd have the infected droplets trapped in a small moist area right by your nose and mouth?

Keep your distance, wash your hands after touching anything the general public have also touched. Masks might prevent infection if someone coughs near your face or if you're infected and asymptomatic or otherwise then the mask will stop your droplets reaching others. It isn't spreading in the air itself. I know it feels wrong to not have one on but it's not.

Yes I think everyone should. It will decrease viral loads and prevent you giving it to someone, and someone (who should also be wearing a mask) giving it to you!

I think some benefit can be had from even a home-made mask.
Not from a medical perspective, but perhaps if you wear a mask others may be more inclined to keep a distance from you (they think you may have cv19), and it helps to stop you touching your face.

It's like wearing a condom. You don't put one on to stop yourself getting pregnant. But if everyone wore one, we'd not have many babies.

Are the relatively expensive valved FFP2/3 masks supposed to be re-usable, or single use?

SURELY, if they are of benefit to health workers and protecting the spread of virus in SOME cases, they are useful in ALL cases? The government advice doesn’t make any sense at all. If they are not beneficial then no one would wear them. I really don’t get it. This advice is surely to stop people buying up stock that is needed for frontline workers.

@WatcherintheRye

It depends on what you're doing. If you're up close and personal with COVID-19 patients all the time you will want to change them frequently.

For going to the shops once a week or every fortnight you would be fine with giving the outer of the mask a good wipe down and changing the filters every so often.

It's all about the level of risk.

I certainly won't be throwing away my FFP3 mask since they're pretty much impossible to get these days as they're all sold out.

I think its worthwhile, even if only to stop you touching your face.
I've wanted to wear the masks for a while because I do catch everything going.
I actually ordered some FFP2 masks from wish with filters. Have given all my FFP3 masks to the local hospital.
The FFP2 should be enough for the very short periods I'm likely to spend outside in the coming months.
Same for DH and DD.
If you're concerned about not having a decent deal, I'd be inclined to put some medical tape along the outline of the mask/ my face if I am concerned

Thanks, Random. That's really helpful Have found some FFP2 and 3 masks on a PPE supplier website, but the FFP3 are so expensive, I'm hoping that FFP2 will suffice. Not likely to be in close contact with Covid-19 patients. Thanks again.

It has been my feeling for some time that wearing a mask must provide some additional protection. The arguments that only frontline workers need them are contradictory. This gives me little confidence in the government's honesty when it is clear their advice is not correct.

Some really helpful posts here that I have confirmed my views. Thank you

@WatcherintheRye

To give perspective I managed to buy this FFP3 mask with filters back in late January for around £20 from Tool Station so that is around the usual RRP.

People hiking up prices disgust me.

There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to make a DIY face shield too. All you need is a 2L plastic bottle, Coke or Pepsi will do, some tape and and something to make a headband out of. Cardboard is fine.... etc.

Gosh, half the price of the ones I found. No wonder they've still got them in stock!

I don't think I will be looking for any, I have asked about my concerns in a few places and since no one has idea I'm going to hold off for now, even though I think my concerns are probably unfounded I just don't know enough to want to risk wearing a mask.

Personally I think everyone should be wearing masks when out of the house. They would almost certainly reduce the number of virus particles that fly around everywhere when someone with covid coughs or sneezes (or even talks?).

If someone coughs in your face then you wearing a mask is probably not going to stop you being covered in virus particles (although might reduce it), but if the person who coughs is also wearing a mask then it should be reduced even further.

I've been wearing masks since early March and under a cycling scarf so not overly obvious as up to a week ago you'd get lynched here for wearing one. Couple of weeks ago bought ones with filters not overly expensive..