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Post by monklady123 on Apr 4, 2020 10:36:40 GMT
I've read about how mostly these masks don't protect us from getting the virus because so many of them are just cloth (the ones with a filter in between layers of cloth are apparently better...) -- But, now "they" (whoever "they" are exactly) are saying that everyone should wear one because it can keep *us* from spreading germs if we're sick but don't know it yet. So can someone explain the logic of this? If the masks are porous enough to let the virus IN, which is why they're not considered very effective, then why would they keep the virus from getting OUT as I breathe (if I'm sick). If someone else who's passing the virus around can infect me while I'm wearing an ineffective cloth mask, then logically if I'm sick and wearing the same ineffective face mask I could be breathing the virus out for others to pick up. Maybe something I'm missing here...  I'll go have more coffee now. |
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Post by allison1954 on Apr 4, 2020 10:52:09 GMT
It is an extra prevention , esp to not spread the virus.
It is not meant to replace social distancing, but some protection is better than none.
The CDC said that T shirt fabric did virtually nothing, use tightly woven fabric , not knits
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Post by allison1954 on Apr 4, 2020 10:54:26 GMT
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Post by christine58 on Apr 4, 2020 10:55:40 GMT
It is not meant to replace social distancing, but some protection is better than none Correct....people NEED to remember to follow all the other suggestions. Wash your hands, stay 6-8 feet away from others, keep your hands away from your face. My fear is that people are going to STOP doing those things and think these homemade masks protect them. They don't but if if stops people from buying the masks that our healthcare workers need...great |
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Apr 4, 2020 10:56:26 GMT
I don’t think it’s a stupid question at all. I’ve wondered the same thing. Outside of the fabric masks protecting and extending the life of medical masks being used for longer periods of times by medical workers, I don’t know how they’re supposed to be protective for the rest of us.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,731
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Apr 4, 2020 11:04:59 GMT
I think it falls into the "better than nothing" category. At least it helps prevent asymptomatic people from spreading droplets in the air.
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Post by gar on Apr 4, 2020 11:21:44 GMT
Would they contain the water droplets from a cough or sneeze maybe? A bit like sneezing into a tissue so that the droplets don’t spread so far. Obviously we still expel some water in our breath but it’s not projected like a cough would do.
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,961 
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Apr 4, 2020 11:33:07 GMT
Would they contain the water droplets from a cough or sneeze maybe? A bit like sneezing into a tissue so that the droplets don’t spread so far. Obviously we still expel some water in our breath but it’s not projected like a cough would do. This ^ It helps to prevent the projectiles of spit that may spew out of our mouths as we speak, sneeze or cough. Our governor said they need to be washed frequently as well. |
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,060
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Apr 4, 2020 11:44:30 GMT
I have also heard from friends here that, when they go out with a face mask, people are more likely to keep away from them and stick to the distancing guidelines.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,368
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Apr 4, 2020 12:08:08 GMT
I don’t think it’s a stupid question at all. I’ve wondered the same thing. Outside of the fabric masks protecting and extending the life of medical masks being used for longer periods of times by medical workers, I don’t know how they’re supposed to be protective for the rest of us. One thing they do is prevent you from touching your mouth and nose. Another is a reminder not to touch your face. Also as someone else pointed out if you are not symptomatic it slows down the spread of the virus you may be breathing out. |
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,411
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Post by theshyone on Apr 4, 2020 15:02:24 GMT
Alberta’s chief medical officer said they were holding off on this recommendation because her advisors are saying once the cloth gets damp it could actually do the opposite by having the virus from “out” stick to the damp/wet mask and let the virus in. She said the would study the cdc info and make another announcement next week. We are in the midst of winter though and I wonder if that makes them easier to get damp because of temperature chances.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 4, 2020 15:12:18 GMT
Here’s the thing. If people are using them for their intended purpose, i.e. for those LIMITED times when you are in a grocery store or pharmacy or around other people, it will help somewhat, similar to if you cough into your elbow instead of your hand. The fabric mask is going to catch a percentage of those droplets that come out when you breathe, speak, cough or sneeze. Is it perfect? No. Will it help? YES. ETA: if I’m wearing a fabric mask for the 20-30 minutes I’m in the store around others, it isn’t going to get soaking wet from my breath. It just isn’t.
As I mentioned in another post, just because something that is deemed helpful isn’t 100% perfect doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Think about other safety recommendations such as seatbelt or condom use or getting vaccines. Are they 100% effective 100% of the time? No way, but just because some people don’t use them correctly or at all doesn’t mean that we should stop encouraging everyone to utilize these things that may make them safer. I think if we frame it this way, and teach people how to use the tools correctly, in the long run it will help everyone overall.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,543
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Post by pinklady on Apr 4, 2020 15:18:15 GMT
For me, the mask is two fold, 1) so I don’t touch my face when I’m out and 2) it gives me a little peace of mind. A barrier has to make some difference in the chance of me inhaling virus particles.
I’ve only been out in public once since March 13th. The mask I wore was homemade with a craft felt middle to act as a “filter”.
If everyone wore a mask, it would “contain” it more. I know it’s not full proof but it just has to be better than nothing.
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Post by paperamy on Apr 4, 2020 15:32:41 GMT
I think part of it is also because with most masks there isn’t a seal and filter like with the n95 masks. This is the same reason surgical masks protect the patient but not the doctor.
If it’s up against your nose and mouth, it could catch most out your droplets in the fabric instead of sending them into the air. Thus decreasing the the possibility of transmitting virus from you to others.
However, it is still letting outside air to you because if there isn’t a seal, then the air you breathe in follows the path of least resistance and you are probably breathing in air that goes around the mask. So you are breathing in air that could have the virus particles.
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Post by mlynn on Apr 6, 2020 1:59:14 GMT
I think it is because of the size of droplets. The symptomatic have bigger droplets that are more easily trapped in the fabric. The asymptomatic have smaller droplets that can get through the material and infect someone...
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I'll go have more coffee now.
