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Disposable. Cloth masks are too hot. I do however keep a cloth mask in my purse in case I forget the disposable one or the string breaks on me (which happened back in May).
The type of masks that are readily available work between 7% and 65%. Almost all people are using one of these and are not getting much protection but they are helping reduce the spread if they have the virus. Face shields have been shown to be more effective than that.
Where is that information from?
The Swiss are saying otherwise:
Plastic visors do not protect reliably
The analysis of the cases and the transmission routes has shown that the plastic visors, which are particularly common in the catering industry, do not offer sufficient protection against infection. The canton doctor therefore advises against using plastic visors on their own, as they give a false sense of security. If the distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained, face masks or other suitable measures are recommended. With a view to the summer season, companies that have previously relied on the protection of plastic visors are recommended to revise their protection concepts.
I hate them all and refuse to get used to any of them. I will not be programmed to accept masks as the "new normal". The sooner we get back to not wearing masks as a matter of course in our daily lives, the better.
Mask are a necessary evil at best. It sickens me to see people embrace them as a fashion statement or a fun item of clothing. They are not. They are a medical necessity at best and should be seen and treated that way.
Plastic visors do not protect reliably
The analysis of the cases and the transmission routes has shown that the plastic visors, which are particularly common in the catering industry, do not offer sufficient protection against infection. The canton doctor therefore advises against using plastic visors on their own, as they give a false sense of security. If the distance of 1.5 meters cannot be maintained, face masks or other suitable measures are recommended. With a view to the summer season, companies that have previously relied on the protection of plastic visors are recommended to revise their protection concepts.
The important point is the greater emphasis medical professionals are placing on the fact that the virus is truly airborne. For a long time the CDC and WHO have dragged their feet in declaring the virus truly airborne despite evidence from the very beginning that it is.
The difference is that the guidance for lesser effective masks and shields depends on the virus being transmitted solely by larger droplets that will fall to earth ballistically within a short space and time. That's the scenario in which a shield could be considered effective.
But many doctors have argued from the beginning that the virus is truly airborne and can ride on the tiniest of droplets that may stay suspended for hours...in which case, shields are ineffective. I haven't checked very recently to see if CDC and WHO have gotten officially on board with that.
Declaring the virus truly airborne puts the pressure on greater use of N95 and KN95 masks for anyone who has to work in more risky conditions.
People are working to develop clear masks that are yet effective and practicable. There may already be some designs that fit the bill, but getting them tested and then mass-manufactured is where designers are running in circles.
Thanks for posting. I've seen some of those types & I know from being in the teaching field that little kids need to see the teachers' mouths to help w/ reading, etc.
I do not wear cloth masks. It just goes against my medical training. I have KN95, N95, and surgical disposable. I wear the N95 with a surgical mask over it to keep the N95 cleaner and because they are too old now. Cloth masks don't protect you from the virus. The KN95's are better than cloth masks but in my opinion, not as good as the N95's. I toss the surgical mask after a single use in stores. If it's worn for a quick minute picking up carry out, I just hang it in the sun for an hour or two and use it again.
I just go into "hospital clean" mode with this virus. It's that important. This bug is a beast.
I do not wear cloth masks. It just goes against my medical training. I have KN95, N95, and surgical disposable. I wear the N95 with a surgical mask over it to keep the N95 cleaner and because they are too old now. Cloth masks don't protect you from the virus. The KN95's are better than cloth masks but in my opinion, not as good as the N95's. I toss the surgical mask after a single use in stores. If it's worn for a quick minute picking up carry out, I just hang it in the sun for an hour or two and use it again.
I just go into "hospital clean" mode with this virus. It's that important. This bug is a beast.
Are you working in the medical field?
Have you tried washing the N95 mask in a lingerie bag? You can do the same with the paper surgical masks. I don't dry them, I let them dry in the sun. They come out really well
I do not wear cloth masks. It just goes against my medical training. I have KN95, N95, and surgical disposable. I wear the N95 with a surgical mask over it to keep the N95 cleaner and because they are too old now. Cloth masks don't protect you from the virus. The KN95's are better than cloth masks but in my opinion, not as good as the N95's. I toss the surgical mask after a single use in stores. If it's worn for a quick minute picking up carry out, I just hang it in the sun for an hour or two and use it again.
I just go into "hospital clean" mode with this virus. It's that important. This bug is a beast.
For some reason, the site software won't let me rep you.
Have you tried washing the N95 mask in a lingerie bag? You can do the same with the paper surgical masks. I don't dry them, I let them dry in the sun. They come out really well
They can't be washed because that compresses the "labyrinth" structure of the multiple layers.
But they can be gently cooked.
Quote:
A new study found that 50 minutes of dry heat in an electric cooker decontaminated N95 respirators inside and out while maintaining their filtration and fit. This could enable wearers to safely reuse limited supplies of the respirators.
....
They verified that one cooking cycle, which maintains the contents of the cooker at around 100 degrees Celsius or 212 Fahrenheit for 50 minutes, decontaminated the masks, inside and out, from four different classes of virus, including a coronavirus -- and did so more effectively than ultraviolet light. Then, they tested the filtration and fit.
I'm not going to do searches for all the RELIABLE places that have disabused the idea that leaving a mask in the sun kills the virus - in fact, it degrades the paper masks and the good ones actually have warnings to not leave out in the sun.
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