Face mask myths busted

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People are in general self-centred so that hasn't changed - each person is in it for themselves, when you throw in anxiety this largely explains panic buying. Retailers are now enforcing 1 item per person on sought after items but I have not seen hand sanitizer or face masks in shops or pharmacies since January.

I think most people are doing the right thing but its only going to take a few flouting the government edicts.

Certain cultures have a reputation about being selfish about wider public good. People have short memories but I remember new mothers being unable to find baby formula in shops for their babies because it was being hoarded by the same group of people.

and 2nd that disagreement. Its a airborne contaninant, think it through plz.

Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which say that people who are not sick do not need to wear face masks unless they are caring for someone who is ill with the new coronavirus.

https://www.livescience.com/face-mask-n ... virus.html

The public does not need to wear face masks most of the time, said Dr. Otto Yang, a professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The only effective masks are N95 respirators (or better) are almost impossible to get hold off. Even these (if you are lucky to get hold of one) are not recommended because it's challenging to put them on or wear them for > 1hr

And if you are not an at risk person, you don't have to be terrified of catching the coronavirus. Just keep your distance and wash your hands the same as is always recommended during flu season.

All I see are people wearing surgical masks, not N95 masks. I am sure glad I had my stock of N95 masks. Tried to buy more on Jan. 27 and they were gone from the local stores by then.

It does seems difficult to avoid contaminating the mask before reusing it. It would be best to not reuse it but not many will be able to do that. I hope to get better at avoiding contamination before the CV hits the fan .

They're saying that because they don't have enough masks for doctors and don't want the public buying all the masks. But they are effective and if you have one, you should wear it (correctly).

(1) I don't understand. WHO and CDC's recommendations have been out there for ages, and you just discovered them?
(2) If you think masks don't help with COVID-19, then why do you even worry about shortage of masks?
(3) Look at the numbers: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/. Please explain why Caucasian-dominant countries are dominating the top 30 spots on the list, in the number of active cases. Please explain why East Asian countries are trending down in their ranking on this list.

I have consistently said you cannot trust WHO nor CDC's recommendation. ALL the experts on coronavirus agree on this:
(1) This virus doesn't really propagate through airborne channel. It propagates through droplets.
(2) A surgical mask doesn't really shield you from the virus, if someone coughs straight into your face. Even an N95 mask wouldn't be enough if someone coughs into your face.
(3) If your fingers are contaminated and you touch your face, you run a very high risk of getting infected.
None of these facts are disputed.

Then look at this video, which I have repeatedly posted in this thread, multiple times.



This is from Dr. James Robb (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Robb_(pathologist))—a pathologist who describes himself as "one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses"—had shared privately on his Facebook page, with his close friends and relatives. (He has publicly acknowledged it was a true message.)

... Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.

Please judge for yourself: does a mask help, or not?

All evidences point to Western countries in deep troubles, because their people don't wear masks. Be an independent thinker. Look at the facts around, then draw your conclusions.

I still have some surgical masks from the Swine flu pandemic, but I bought them over the counter so I guess they're worthless. It says on the package they filter out 95% of bacteria. So if 1 to 5% gets through I'm doomed, I guess. Also it's bacteria and not viruses.

A thing to keep in mind is that if you are at home and your hands have been thoroughly washed it is okay to touch your face. You just have to make sure your hands are very clean, including your fingernails.

Also something I have not seen addressed is finger foods.

Eating food you hold with your hands/fingers will give you a virus if your hands are contaminated. Sandwiches, burgers, fries, chips, tacos, popcorn, nuts etc.

This is Mr. Chen Shih-chung, Minister of Health and Welfare of Taiwan and head of the COVID-19 task force of Taiwan:



Since the outbreak of COVID-19, he has been giving press conference EVERY SINGLE DAY. Never ONCE did he wear a mask. He only asks for wherever he needs to be, to be ventilated well. He knows what he is doing. All the microphones, chairs, table, have been disinfected before he gives out press conference. So, yes, if you are the expert in the field, if you know what you are doing, if you have the resources (other people disinfecting your microphone, chair, table, etc.), then you don't need to wear a mask.

Unfortunately, not everyone has that luxury. Look at the two mayors of the top two cities in Taiwan. This is just two days ago. To the left is the mayor of New Taipei City. To the right is the mayor of Taipei City, Ko Wen-Je https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Wen-je. Mr. Ko himself is a world-renowned trauma surgeon. He of course also knows everything about this virus. In the picture, you see both mayors wearing masks.



Why the difference? Both Mr. Chen and Mr. Ko are professional doctors. One decides not to wear a mask (except when visiting patients or labs). Another one ALWAYS wears a mask in public. Both are extremely knowledgeable about COVID-19.

So, is a mask necessary or not?

The answer is: if you are EXTREMELY CAREFUL, you won't need a mask. But, most people, like Mayor Ko, know that they cannot be careful enough throughout the day, so they prefer to wear a mask. And that is the message the public officials in Taiwan are sending to the population with their action: virtually all public officials in Taiwan wear masks nowadays. So does the majority of the population, when they go out.

Just do this experiment yourself: are you able not to touch your face throughout a whole day, when you go out?

I have done the experiment many times. I can't. Despite paying huge amount of attention, I just can't avoid touching my face when I get distracted for one second. I do carry a sanitizer when I go out. But asking people not to touch their face? That's utopia. Most people cannot do it.

"A surgical mask might provide some protection, but it's going to be very modest," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

No definitive studies exist that prove masks prevent infections. Also, masks are designed for different purposes, and only some guard against infectious diseases.

https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main ... key=227723

Picking the right type of mask may be key, said one researcher.

"Several studies, including research from my group, show that if worn properly, masks can protect people in the community from respiratory illness, especially [those] in close contact with sick people," said Dr. Raina MacIntyre. She's head of biosecurity research at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

MacIntyre's group did a study where parents of a sick child wore a mask at home. Those who wore the mask at all times were protected, she said.

"When infection is widespread, it may be useful," she noted.

However, images from China show people wearing face masks that aren't likely to help, MacIntyre said.

"I recommend disposable masks," she said. "The cloth masks used commonly in China may not be protective. We did a trial of these, compared to disposable masks, and wearers had a higher risk of infection. This may be because the cloth masks are not washed regularly and may retain moisture and become contaminated."

Last edited by cyberdad on 27 Mar 2020, 11:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

For healthy people or people who are infected but asymptomatic social distance and practicing hygiene is the solution not facemasks. Maintaining social distance means you can't get infected and if you are a "healthy" carrier you don't spread it.

Not touching ones face after unavoidably touching a surface is simple self-discipline, I wash my hands every single time I go outside so its not rocket science.

The problem is people who are symptomatic not following self-isolation rules or people who are unaware they are carriers not following social distance rules. People who are symptomatic are hiding behind face mask and going in public.

Show me one single population-based study that proves that wearing mask doesn't help. Hint: there is ZERO study to that claim.

You want to live in your fantasy world, that's your choice. Meanwhile, billions of East Asians will continue to wear their masks.


What's the simplest way of requesting social distance?

Answer: a face mask.

Jaosn that's just the point the medical researcher is making - there's no population based study that demonstrates regular commercially available masks do prevent illness or are 100% safe.

Even the ones that are safe like P95 masks only provide an order of safety if you are in exposed conditions that are unavoidable (crowded hospitals, public transport or caring for a sick person). As I have pointed out before many healthcare workers in China who wore gloves, masks, and even hazmat suites ended up getting infected.

If I'm able to acquire a P95 mask I'll consider wearing it if I am in an unavoidably crowded situation. The problem I have (which you can't solve for me) is that even common masks are sold out. So we are back to square one Jason.