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Covid 19 virus

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Mr. Scram:

--- Quote from: dunkemhigh on March 25, 2020, 03:26:13 pm ---Just a thought - if the mask is virus-soaked then aren't those virii not in the person? Without the mask, they would have been breathed in, wouldn't they?

--- End quote ---
I feel the discussion suffers greatly from people dropping in and catching only half of what was discussed. Not that these people are to blame necessarily but it adds to the confusion. That remark was about infected people wearing a mask.

PlainName:

--- Quote ---They did not do a thing until French president Macron got furious and threatened to shut down the border with them.
--- End quote ---

Don't confuse the politicians (who are no doubt trying to balance several competing and incompatible requirements) with the people who just needed a bit of organisation from which to hang their selfless volunteering.

Cerebus:

--- Quote from: paulca on March 25, 2020, 12:51:42 pm ---Additionally supermarkets are allowing NHS staff in early and greeting them with applause and flowers.

--- End quote ---

While that is sweet, charming and in its own way laudable, I rather wish the supermarkets would direct their efforts at keeping a supply of bread and potatoes flowing onto the shelves (which they are currently failing to do) than keeping enough hothouse flowers in the distribution chain to hand over to NHS staff. Maybe greet them with applause and a basket of fruit?

Wallace Gasiewicz:
I am an occupational medicine physician.  As such I have I have
had responsibility for PPE and especially respirator programs.
Paper masks are not really "respirators", In no way are they adequate in situations in which OSHA requires respirators
Real respirators such as half masks and full masks need to be fit tested.
The user needs to be evaluated to see if they can actually use the PPE.
I do think that medical workers in high risk areas should have this protection since they are more at risk and if infected themselves, can infect others(sick patients) at high risk.
Paper masks are no where near respirators in my opinion. (However remember most real respirators do not have a filtered exhaust, only inhaled air is filtered)
That being said, any mask is probably better than none. It can prevent droplets from entering and a lot of droplets from being expelled.
Even a contaminated mask will do this. Even a decent homemade mask can help.
If everyone wore a mask it would at least decrease (not nearly eliminate) the infectious particles, droplets or whatever. It works on both ends, the person expelling and the person breathing in, if both people are wearing masks.
There are also downsides to masks, a moist mask is a good culture medium for lots of pathogens.
This mask controversy is a matter of degree of protection, not anywhere near absolute protection.
I do not now how many virus particles are necessary to establish an infection with this Covid virus.
Having said that reducing the number of virus particles you are exposed to will probably limit your chance of actually being infected or if infected, maybe a lower innoculum would mean fewer symptoms, there are apparently a lot of people who test positive without symptoms.
I do believe masks can reduce the degree of exposure along with common sense things like distancing and hand washing and not touching your face until you was your hands.

Wallace Gasiewicz:

--- Quote from: dunkemhigh on March 25, 2020, 03:26:13 pm ---
--- Quote ---An infected person tugging at a virus soaked mask sounds like a great idea.
--- End quote ---

Just a thought - if the mask is virus-soaked then aren't those virii not in the person? Without the mask, they would have been breathed in, wouldn't they?

--- End quote ---

You both have very valid points.

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