Face Masks Fly off Shelves in Seattle After 1st Coronavirus Case

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

SEATTLE—Drug stores here were running out of anti-viral masks by closing time Tuesday after health officials confirmed the first known case of Wuhan coronavirus in the United States, a man who remained hospitalized about 30 miles north in Everett.

At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, county, state, and federal public health officials emphasized that the risk of the pneumonia-like virus to the general public remains low. But they were working to identify and notify anyone who had been in contact with the man, who likely contracted the virus while traveling alone in China.

The patient, in his 30s, returned from his trip Jan. 15 and had no symptoms upon landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Officials said he had been following news of the outbreak, though, and when he subsequently developed a suspicious cough and fever, he went to a Snohomish County clinic on Jan. 19 and told doctors about his travel history. Samples sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came back positive for the virus on Monday, prompting the patient’s hospitalization in an isolation unit at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. Officials confirmed the case the following morning, followed by the afternoon press conference.

Janet Baseman, a professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington, said she was impressed by the rapid response of health officials. “This is the way that the public health surveillance system is supposed to work,” she said. “So I’m very pleased.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/face-masks-fly-off-shelves-in-seattle-after-1st-coronavirus-case/ar-BBZdP96?ocid=msn360

I live in Everett and haven't felt the need for a mask. Maybe if I have to go up to Providence Hospital for what ever reason I might reconsider.

[rockfordfile]

1. Would that even prevent you from getting the virus?

[dewsgirl]

2. I really don't think they know.

[uppityperson]

3. The regular basic masks only prevent the wearer from spreading germs

Even a good one, if it works, still you can get it in your eyes if you touch or rub them. But the basic face masks, nope.

[CabalPowered]

5. The method of transmission is suspected to be airborne

In theory a mask with the N95 designation should provide some protection.

[roamer65]

4. WARS attacks lung tissue, notably the alveoli of the lungs.

Same as SARS, but its transmission rate is much greater.

[smirkymonkey]

6. I don't know how hearty this disease is or how easily it is transmitted, but if it is anything

like the flu or common cold, it doesn't seem like a face mask is going to be an awful lot of help. If someone who is a carrier is not wearing a mask sneezes on a surface or in their hands and touches a doorknob or other surface and someone else touches it and then touches their eyes or other mucus membranes unknowingly, they are at risk of contracting the virus.

I suppose a mask could be a bit of a deterrent, but it's not going to eliminate the risk entirely. You could touch a subway pole or a door handle and itch your eye or pick up a sandwich with your bare hands and still contract the disease. You would have to guarantee that every infected person was acting in complete compliance with CDC regulations and even then there is no assurance. I hope we are very well prepared for what could become a serious epidemic.

[Laffy Kat]

7. The type of masks we give out in the clinic where I work won't stop a virus.

They are more for keeping patients from spreading their germs. An N92 or N95 anti-viral respirator mask is the best for prevention (so they tell us). I personally find them suffocating and will only wear one for a short time. I can't tell you how often wash my hands though, probably over a dozen times during a workday. I use a lot of soap and point my hands down while I'm rinsing so the germs will slide off and go down the drain. Slippery hands + hot, soapy water. I rarely use the anti-bacterial hand sanitizer. And I try to never get anywhere near vomit if I can help it. The norovirus germs are airborne over the emesis and can infect people a long way off, it's so contagious.

[roamer65]

8. All it takes is about 10-15 noroviruses and u are infected.

Smart move on the vomit.