Virus becomes aerosolised so spreads more easily than we thought. We should all wear masks!

[pinktaxi]

Very interesting article by a scientist, and if correct would explain why countries who wear masks routinely have fewer cases. Well, one of the reasons. Also why the virus spreads so easily amongst populations and became a pandemic so rapidly.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/931320?nlid=1357232823&src=WNLLmdplsnews2005299mscpedit_nurs&uac=231210SV&spon=24&impID=2399615&faf=1

If that can happen with a molecule of eg. tobacco smoke, horse manure etc, then a tiny virus in a molecule of water

It would help if you knew enough chemistry to know the relative sizes of things. A tiny virus (and actually coronavirus are some of the larger viruses) is about a million times larger than a molecule of water and much much larger than the volatiles in tobacco smoke or horse manure.

Far more people wearing masks round now. I’ve seen so many example of how not to wear a mask correctly, the classic being lots of people adjusting their masks with their gloved hands. So it might stop
some airborne particles but that is more than outweighed by the risk from touching your face more often.

I wear a mask if inside in a public place.
Should we be wearing them outside too? Obviously I am staying 2 metres from people when outside but should I be wearing a mask too outside?

I agree that masks might help, and it's not much of a hardship to wear them so we should.

I think you'll find there is a whole spectrum of hardship, from "not much" to full blown panic attacks stratching your face in your need to pull the stupid thing off.

As someone whose PTSD is triggered by anything impeding my breathing/anything touching my mouth and nose I hate the message that it's so simple. I'd wear one if I could. I've tried a few, hence the stratches. I've tried fabric (homemade) and playmobil's more rigid effort so far if anyone has any suggestions.

and when you smell something you are actually taking in a tiny fraction of what you smell into your nose. If that can happen with a molecule of eg. tobacco smoke, horse manure etc, then a tiny virus in a molecule of water can of course travel significantly more than 2 metres.

This is not correct. Water is a very small molecule - just one oxygen atom with two hydrogen atoms. Viruses consist of large carbon based molecules. They may hitch a ride on a water droplet (which itself consists of millions of molecules of water), but not on a molecule. That’s like saying Jupiter could hitch a ride on a mouse.

Smells are relatively small molecules and can become airborne and travel many metres - you can smell manure a good way off (through a mask, unless it has a carbon filter) but that doesn’t mean you’re inhaling the viruses in the manure. You’re just smelling the small molecule decomposition products. Not nice, but not infectious.

Having said all that, I think you’re right, that certain activities cause aerosols on which coronavirus can hitch a ride and travel further than 2m and so we should still be very cautious.

@EnlightenedOwl Thanks for stating I'm in an agitated state. I'm not in the slightest. I'm just interested in gaining as much insight into viral transmission as possible so that science can dictate whether I wear a mask or not. On balance I'd say masks would help, even if minimally in certain circumstances but I wouldn't make them mandatory for everyone in all situations.

@WiseUpJanetWeiss Thanks for that information. My science isn't the best when it comes to molecular science and nano technology 😂.

I think you need to gain perspective

@Flaxmeadow

Moondust001

Our government and others, have said its airborne. It's included in the safety advice now at daily briefings

Airborne and aerosolised are entirely different things. The government you are quoting have also said that most people in most circumstances do not need masks and have refused to make them compulsory. And did you read what I said. I didn't comment on whether it is or isn't aerosolised. I haven't done the numbers on that. But other scientists commenting on this extract said that the research is flawed or not evidenced. Not me. Them. Other scientists. So which scientists are right? Do you know?

@EnlightenedOwl

Maybe you can advise me on what kind of perspective I need to gain?

@slartibartfastsbeard I wasn't referring to a particular article - more conversations I have had recently with various practitioners / researchers in the industry (including sessions at conferences, various webinars, online debates, and so on). It's generally accepted that there currently isn't enough evidence either way to come to a conclusion. It may have been the singing itself that was the problem, but as there were many other choirs that haven't ended up in that situation and it's impossible to work out whether it was the singing / sitting in close proximity / sharing music / socialising that was the problem, we can't be sure. One thing everyone is agreed on is that it's not safe to resume anything at the moment.

This is quite interesting and refers to the choir stuff with links. And aircon is restaurants. It’s winter inside not summer that worries me.

Us academic but published in the NY Times

www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

Part of the problem I think is that it’s utter respiratory - not lower- so may be that it comes out with singing, talking etc. Doesn’t need a decent, un pc cough. Just a prolonged chat indoors.

I've been following some medical people on social media for many years, and they have all come round to the idea that masks are a good thing and are now consistently recommending them. I always wear one if I go in a shop or anywhere that has people I don't know in it. I don't wear one out in the street, but I DO avoid busy areas like my local high street.

I agree that we should wear face coverings in confined spaces and have said that from the start - it's common sense to me.

But the virus is NOT floating around in the atmosphere like radioactivity and this sort of thread is just scaremongering.

Just a prolonged chat indoors I agree with this because people spit quite a lot when they are talking and get excited, so you definitely need to be a distance away from them. Same goes for outside actually. But that doesn't mean the virus is floating around, it needs some sort of direction eg a cough, splutter, sneeze or spit.

It would explain why Thailand, where mask-wearing is routine, has only 57 cases to the UK's 60,000, despite Thailand having a population considerably larger than the UK's population.

Wearing masks works.

Our government doesn't want us wear masks because...?

It is bizarre they aren't pushing masks more. Personally, I'm under 50 and reasonably healthy so not worried about catching it but I do wear a mask. I hope to help make it a more normal thing to do and maybe encourage other people to.

I would love to wear a mask as I am working in an enclosed space, no social distancing, in contact with others for prolonged periods (6hrs) often performing intimate care.

Unfortunately the government has said I cannot wear a mask.

I am a TA and feel like cannon fodder for the government.

Well they just announced face coverings are necessary on public transport...

@LavenderLilacTree

Has the government said that? Doesn't sound right to me.

I know. It makes no sense. They tell everyone to wear one when in enclosed sauces but teachers /TAs not to.

@LavenderLilacTree

Yeah but they have actually said it. Like where or when? Who said it?

Grant Schapps transport minister, on the daily briefing this afternoon said it. Obligatory from 15th June on all public transport.

People in this.country are in complete denial . Masks are compulsory even outside still in Italy for sure. My niece who works in a bank has had to wear one all day at work as does everyone else in the country. It is compulsory.

I think France, Spain and the Czech Republic ( off.the top of my head) have mandatory mask wearing for.at least some.places . Many of the South East Asian countries do.too
But.no.we couldn't possibly wear masks becasue we are special.