Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Northampton, Burlington: mayor, engineers, outlets)

[RBThescot]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

Question - is there a way to clean an N95 mask for reuse?

We've been doing two things after wearing them. Mist spray with alcohol, then leave it in the sun on the dash of the car for a few days, and rotate to a clean one.

The cloth part can be run through the washing machine if you slip out the N95 charcoal filter. There are replacement filters. After a while the elastic for the ears break but you can sew new elastic on to keep them going.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The N95 masks are reserved for front line staff. A lot of hospitals are allowing everyone else to wear whatever they want. There are a lot of people in the building who aren’t delivering care who are feeling very uncomfortable. A mask at least keeps your hands away from your face.

That's not exactly accurate.

There is a line of thinking, at least here in Tennessee and North Carolina, that wearing a mask of any kind is likely to "induce panic" among patients, and that it doesn't "put the best foot forward" with regard to optics.

Mission Health in Asheville, NC has effectively banned mask-wearing among staff who are not in the direct care of COVID-19 patients. Many hospitals have similar positions.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

That's not exactly accurate.

There is a line of thinking, at least here in Tennessee and North Carolina, that wearing a mask of any kind is likely to "induce panic" among patients, and that it doesn't "put the best foot forward" with regard to optics.

Mission Health in Asheville, NC has effectively banned mask-wearing among staff who are not in the direct care of COVID-19 patients. Many hospitals have similar positions.

Absolutely ridiculous but I believe you. Optics, my butt. Likely it's so the supplies can be kept for the near future and are limited or not there. Most of my Boston friends work in health care. Not good news on any front.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

Thanks for posting, that's good information. Question - is there a way to clean an N95 mask for reuse?

Like stated, baking them.

https://www.msn.com/en-my/health/med...ns/ar-BB11EHek

We have a lab grade convection oven here at work. I've been tossing mine in there for 30 mins at around 160-180F. These are for the no frills ones without exhaust vents and such. The plastic may not take heat so well.

I have no means to prove it kills the virus.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by redplum33

And yet all of the hot spots in the US just happen to be the places with the largest Chinese populations in the US. Sorry but it's not a coincidence.

What's your point? They're the places with the highest volumes of traffic between the US and China. There's a big difference. Nobody denies that this started in China and was spread from China. So naturally the U.S. gateways to China are going to be the first places to be hit. The travelers entering the U.S. from those gateways cover a wide range of race and ethnicity. Avoiding people who look Asian because they might be Chinese or avoiding Chinese restaurants does nothing to mitigate risk of exposure. The Asian guy in the grocery store is not necessarily any likelier to have traveled to China than the white guy in line at the Pharmacy. And really, at this point in the spread, it could be anywhere on anyone. The fear of Chinese people has always been irrational and it has lead to bigotry.

[btownboss4]

Originally Posted by lrfox

What's your point? They're the places with the highest volumes of traffic between the US and China. There's a big difference. Nobody denies that this started in China and was spread from China. So naturally the U.S. gateways to China are going to be the first places to be hit. The travelers entering the U.S. from those gateways cover a wide range of race and ethnicity. Avoiding people who look Asian because they might be Chinese or avoiding Chinese restaurants does nothing to mitigate risk of exposure. The Asian guy in the grocery store is not necessarily any likelier to have traveled to China than the white guy in line at the Pharmacy. And really, at this point in the spread, it could be anywhere on anyone. The fear of Chinese people has always been irrational and it has lead to bigotry.

That’s not even really true it’s really People returing from Italy that spread it on the East Coast.

[Bridge781]

Originally Posted by btownboss4

That’s not even really true it’s really People returing from Italy that spread it on the East Coast.

Hahahaha right. All the cases in Boston and nyc came from Italy. Sure.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

Hahahaha right. All the cases in Boston and nyc came from Italy. Sure.

Huge Italian populations there. It's plausible, but no way to prove or disprove it.

At this point, arguing over stuff like this is moot. It's everywhere now.

[Bridge781]

Well apparently it’s ok to blame the Italians but not the Chinese. Let’s not forget the first know case of covid 19 in Boston came from a guy who just flew in from Wuhan.

I’m aware there’s a decent amount of Italians in this area but it simply doesn’t compare to the Chinese population not to mention the business done between China and Boston. How many people really are going to Italy to do business. As far as people visiting relatives I just don’t see that many visits being made for that purpose in January and February.

Why are people so afraid to point fingers at China? Because people there aren’t white ?

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Huge Italian populations there. It's plausible, but no way to prove or disprove it.

At this point, arguing over stuff like this is moot. It's everywhere now.

I am more concerned about New Yorkers spreading it around the entire nation than Italians or Chinese at this point. NY/NJ/CT account for roughly 55%-60% of presumed US cases.