Facemasks are to protect other people from us

[Singinginshower]

Just that really. Wanted to spread it round

Yep

Are there people out there who have only just realised this?

And only if they’re correctly used. I have seen so many people out and about with their mask covering only their mouth and their nose completely bare .

Affirmative, cap'n.

THANK YOU 🙌🙌🙌

So why are hcp wearing them and there has been outrage because the govt failed to provide them? Even the n95 ones?

Surely by the same token we are protected by everybody else's? It can't only work one way.

Much of the advice says they don’t protect you because the virus can enter via your eyes hence the visits for full PPE. Personally I have read so much about their limited use by the public that I’m not planning to go anywhere where they would be worn. They get wet and clammy. They harbour germs snd people fiddle with them. Then they take them off and then they put them back on again. Then they don’t wear them properly. It’s not going to help much I fear.

The n95/ffp2 ones probably provide protection for the wearer, the ffp3 ones fit tested and correctly put on and then fit checked do protect the wearer. There are not enough ffp3 by far and most places have run out of the test solution anyway. These masks don’t protect other people as they have a one way valve and so you could be breathing virus particles out.

A fluid repellent surgical mask (nhs standard ppe) provides protection from large droplets e.g the bits of spit you can see and around 50% protection from aerosoled virus So better than nothing but not by much. Most places put the mask on the patient as that’s got a better chance of protecting you as it keeps their cough contained.

So yes generally masks protect everyone else not the wearer even in hospital

Visits —- aaah visors

I have made a fabris mask and fitted a non woven filter inside of it. I made a place at the top to slide a pipe cleaner in to fit around the nose.

Its majorly a pita to wear it. I would only wear it if I was to go into supermarket. I'm not planning on doing that. I have a builders p3 mask as I'm extending a house so if I was desperate I would wear that underneath.

I dont think I will be comfortable in crowds for a long time.

It's crazy that in Spain and Italy they have made it mandatory to wear masks just to go outside for a walk! Your chances of catching the virus in the open air on a sunny day are virtually zero. This type of thing really makes me question governments and their handling of the crisis. They seem to be pandering to public opinion instead of listening to the scientific and medical community.

So let's make mask wearing compulsory.

Except that if its an FFP3 its a barrier to the virus being ingested also ?

Wanted to spread it round

Perhaps not the best choice of phrase.

Aghhhh - I’ve just had this infuriating conversation with my 85 year old dad.

He sent me a selfie this morning of himself in Tesco. But it was ok as Boris said lockdown was lifted (?!) so he, the man living with prostate cancer and who had surgery for bowel cancer before Christmas, can go out again!

But it was ok you see, because he was wearing a mask! That makes him invincible and means he won’t catch anything!

Christ on a fucking bike. He’s pissed of at me now because I hit the roof.

"the man living with prostate cancer and who had surgery for bowel cancer before Christmas, can go out again!"
Is he on a treatment that puts him in the clinically extremery vulnerable/shielded group or is he in the vulnerable group due to his age?

Unless he is on specific treatments for his cancer which mean he must shield, then if he is just staying in due to being over 70, then he is only advised to stay in, not compelled.

Treatment is ongoing. His doctor and consultant have both told him they’d be incredibly concerned if he continued as normal, his cancer nurse called me at the beginning to see if I could talk sense to him as he’d told her it was all nonsense. He’s frail enough already.

I also think they give people a false sense of security. Woman in the supermarket the other day wearing one. She was completely ignoring the social distancing rules and was getting so close to people. I’m sure it was because she thought all was fine because she was wearing a mask.

The science is somewhat contradictory, but there does seem to be more in favour of people wearing them at least on public transport and in shops, just if you go to the supermarket once a week even.

They may offer you some protection, but they are more to protect others.

And until measures are put in places or a vaccine is found, they may hold back the tide a bit.

I was also reading the smaller dose you get exposed to, the less dangerous it is to you... so masks may be helpful in that instance.

masks4all.org/

May be worth sticking on some shades too.

Wanted to spread it round

Or rather, not to!

Why the fuck do NHS staff need them then.

I think you are confusing "medical grade face mask" with "face covering".

Not the same thing.

Yep.

In the same way a hanky reduces what you sneeze out. Even a basic face mask catches some of it.

the home made variety limits the way droplets can spread when the wearer coughs/sneezes etc. the virus cannot travel through the air the usual way so it is likely it helps to low the spread of Covid.

I would have thought the masks used in a hospital setting are of a different grade and provide protection for the wearer too.