Emergence of a Deadly Coronavirus

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Yesterday when I arrived home, we checked the mailbox and in the mail, I had a catalog from ULINE. About 10 years ago, I ordered something from them, a bubble wrap protector for jars, and ever since then they send me like clockwork a 0.7 inch thick catalog a couple times per year. The company specializes in selling large companies packing material among other things. One of the other things that they cell is N95 mask. On page 650 and 651 of the catalog, they lists a variety of different types of N95 Respirators. So I thought I would see if these items are in stock and then try and order some.

The mask I am currently using is a 3M 8511 Dust Respirator with Valve. The catalog list these as $19 per box where each box contains 10 respirators. That would work out to $1.90 each (not counting tax and shipping).

So I called the company and a salesperson immediately was on the line. I told her the part number I wanted and asked if they had those in stock. She said unfortunately NO, but they expected them in June. I asked if I could backorder them. She said unfortunately NO.

Well now I have an approximate time when these will become available again and the cost per mask.

If we end up finding out that Covid is more damaging than we think and there is no vaccine or reliably effective non-invasive treatments (ie it ends up being a very bad thing that becomes part of the regular human condition), I wonder if someone will invent a helmet-like contraption that can be worn in public. I'm being serious.

Think of an "all-in-one" self contained helmet that would include an effective respirator and would also then shield the eyes and possibly even have a communicator to communicate with others in your family for example that would be wearing their own helmets (like motorcycle helmet communicators people use) and some sort of speaker to communicate with other people in your surroundings (e.g. store employees).

This kind of thing is sounding more attractive to me:

There was another bit of research out supporting the concept COVID-19 aerosols and a component to the infection problem.

Concerns that SARS-CoV-2 can be spread through the air have increased after researchers in Wuhan, China discovered the genetic material of the coronavirus in airborne droplets in two hospitals, according to a new study.

The research, published in the scientific journal Nature, found the virus' ribonucleic acid (RNA) in different areas of the two hospitals in February and March. Although the RNA discovered in isolation wards and ventilated patient rooms was "very low," there was an "elevated" level in patients' toilet areas, the researchers found.

"Although we have not established the infectivity of the virus detected in these hospital areas, we propose that SARS-CoV-2 may have the potential to be transmitted via aerosols," the researchers wrote in the study's abstract. "Our results indicate that room ventilation, open space, sanitization of protective apparel, and proper use and disinfection of toilet areas can effectively limit the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in aerosols."

In March, a joint study by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, and others found genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19 in air samples from both in and outside of confirmed coronavirus patients’ rooms. The findings offer “limited evidence that some potential for airborne transmission exists."

Source: Coronavirus genetic material discovered in air of two Wuhan hospitals: researchers

I know the stormtrooper helmet pic I posted makes the idea seem comical, but if Covid alters human interaction as we know it for years to come, I absolutely would feel more comfortable wearing some sort of self-contained all in one headgear that would keep me fully protected when out in public. I currently have a beard, for example, and even wearing an N95 let alone a surgical mask or homemade mask won't seal completely. Also, simply wearing a mask does nothing for virus that lands on the eyeballs. To that end, I ordered a new pair of my wraparound sunglasses from the optical shop I go to but they'll now have my regular lenses in them for indoor use including no-line bifocals and the FL-41 tint that has helped me greatly. The particular glasses I have also include a detachable foam seal. When it's on, it seals completely around the eyes. I will be wearing those when I go in public in addition to an N95 at this point.

A self contained helmet would be the best option.

I’m down for one. I want a Godzilla head one.
Was social distancing in the commodities line today( with my mask and gloves on) and a sweet little elderly lady( with no mask) got about a foot from my face to tell me about Jesus and the Holy Ghost.
If she hasn’t been so old I would have kicked her away.

My kids would actually love to wear something like a stormtrooper helmet in public. I'd be down for a helmet too, Misslizard. I don't know what I would have done had someone come up to me that closely. I think I would have yelled very loudly: "DISTANCE!! !"

I might not like socialization—but I like to see people’s faces.

One problem with masks is that people can hide their faces in them if they want to rob somebody. The victim would not be able to identify the criminal.

And a masked person wouldn’t arouse suspicion in this COVID19 environment.

^Masks of some kind are most likely here to stay.

Crime up, arrests down on New York subways despite record-low ridership

Coronavirus helmets that are quite subtle