What mask should I buy to wear to supermarket?

[Davespecifico]

Could anyone in the know about this sort of thing help me. I want either disposable or reusable, fits well and easy to remove without contaminating face.
Recommendations gratefully received. I’m not crafty so would be rubbish at making one.

See image. All options are better than nothing.

What about this one?

Virustatic Shield Website

"You can wash your Shield as frequently as you want, but the coating has been tested and found to be fully effective for at least three washes
www.virustaticshield.com/virustatic-shield-care/

@Thesispieces

I've just done a search for the scientific data, I can't find anything, other than the manufacturer and inventor claiming it's 95% effective. But yes, as you've pointed out, only for 3 washes.

I wish we could gave proper government guidance on this. I'd happily pay money for one but right now I don't have money to waste and £20 for 3 wears feels like a rip off.

It says "You can wear the shield for up to 50 hours before having to wash it"?

50 hours of wear before you need to wash. Assuming I wear it shopping when I'm out for an hour max, that's 13p a wear.

I think that's reasonable

The lack of scientific data is worrying. Are we just to trust the manufacturers??
I've seen other things on Groupon that were lies, a mattress specifically, it was proved on the BBC what was advertised didn't match the reality.

The trouble with masks is if you touch anything that may be infected and then touch the mask eg: to take it off you have instantly transferred the infection. Same with gloves.

But you need to wash after wearing out surely? Isn't putting an unwashed mask back on worse than not wearing one and washing your hands and gave regularly.

@NoMorePoliticsPlease Maybe they need to go to a medical appointment, just an idea... :/

@lazyarse123 No if you take it off properly and bin it straight away. Also, as I read somewhere, it's not only to protect, but it can divert the way the particles leave our mouths, so they are not as fast and concentrated as if you wore nothing, so you will have most likely less contamination on them if everyone uses them.

The virustatic shield has a coating that effectively kills virus particles on contact, its not necessary to wash after each use.

There’s a reference to the VS in a BBC article about new inventions following the epidemic. I’ve also seen lots of pictures medical people wearing them.
I’ve not seen any proof of its efficacy though.
My thinking is that at worst, I still have a funky snug snood that is better than no face covering at all.

I’d be interested to see any links to independent verification of the VS’s efficacy.

presumably if you take the mask off once home from a short shopping trip, leave it for a few days before wearing again, it'll be fine to wear again without washing? That's my logic for things like my shopping bags etc that I don't touch once home until at least a week later.

Non-sew masks
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/06/how-to-make-no-sew-face-mask-coronavirus

If virustatic shield masks are at all effective then they should all be reserved for frontline workers.

WHO have consistently advised against public mask wearing, mostly because they are extremely concerned about the worldwide shortage of PPE for medics and carers who have to spend lots of time in very close contact with people who are unwell.

In the last few days WHO have said they are reviewing all the evidence on simple cloth masks worn by the general public. They still advise against the general public wearing surgical or medical grade masks or respirators.

www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-who/who-opens-door-to-broader-use-of-masks-to-limit-spread-of-coronavirus-idUSW1N2AE01I

I'd try Etsy if you don't want to make your own.

£20 is an awful lot for three wears.

Please... myself and my colleagues are frontline NHS and cant get hold of any but the most basic paper masks. Ffp3 ones are like hens teeth. Please dont buy them up for supermarket shopping. We have to be within inches of sick people. You really really dont.

@Didiplanthis

I bought my mask back in late January when supplies were plentiful.

I think it is a disgrace that the government didn't have the foresight to get PPE to the places it needed to be well in advance.

Presumably I would rather act safe to wear one if it's available than waiting for concrete evidence whether it's effective. Protecting ourselves and others also mean we are preventing to add burden to the already stressed out NHS. Remember this covid could be asymptomatic. You never know you are carrying virus or not before you have already infected someone who might show symptoms afterwards!

Next to impossible to buy at the moment and ridiculously easy to make. There are plenty of no sew tutorials even. I saw one where you cut up an old pair of leggings, another that used a stapler. I’m making sewn masks because I have a machine and the know-how, but being crafty is not a necessity.

They protect other people from you, not you from other people.

Just as long as you understand that.

Hello all. I ordered Virustatic Shield Snoods, they have just arrived and I feel rather foolish. They are terrible quality, tiny, and the stitching has given / pulled before I even left the house.

Also, digging deeper, their Facebook page is all pics of Instagram bloggers wearing them, and publicity pics, and no actual pics of the snoods themselves.

I've dug deeper online and can 't find any science backing up the claims - and I fear that the snoods have a well organised press campaign which is what is putting them in the papers. I can't find any online reviews or much which backs up the science.

I am going to try and return them and get my 60 quid back :)