This is important.. The Mask does not prevent the wearer

[busterbrown]

from the disease.. It only prevents the wearer from spreading it..

Here it is: https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/02/28/coronavirus-questions-doctor-patel-acfc-sot-vpx.cnn

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Washing hands protects you so much more.

Americans have gotten really lazy about washing hands. I saw a study a couple of years ago that said something like a third of Americans don't wash hands after using the bathroom. I wash numerous times a day, always have.

[Mike 03]

2. This is true.

But one point I've heard made is that it prevents you from touching your face, rubbing your lips and chewing your nails, leaning your hand against the side of your face, etc. and you have to think twice and go to some effort before picking something up (gum, a pen, an hors d'oeuvre, etc.) and putting it in your mouth--that is a major route for transmission.

[louis-t]

3. All those that lick their fingers while counting money.....

or turning pages, you are the spreaders. I've actually asked people to NOT lick their fingers while touching my documents or money if I know they are finger lickers.

[dewsgirl]

4. It icks me out to see that.

[cbdo2007]

6. I swim in money like Scrooge McDuck but I'm careful to keep my holes covered.

[busterbrown]

7. Good one.. We're gonna have to be able to laugh a little..

It's gonna be rough haul.

[Rorey]

5. That's logical

I also read that when people wear masks they tend to need to adjust them, which means they'll be touching their face.

I've worked hard at breaking the habit of touching my face without conscious thought. It's tough, and I slip up sometimes.

[safeinOhio]

8. Those touch screens at McDonalds

scare the crap out of me.

[Kaleva]

10. I now keep hand sanitizer in my car.

Working on training myself to use it every time I leave someplace

[Kaleva]

9. and there are studies that say wearing a surgical mask is effective

"According to a study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, families with kids who had flu-like symptoms and used the masks properly were 80% less likely to be diagnosed with the same thing.

Another study looked at 400 people who had the flu found that family members who wore a surgical mask and washed their hands reduced their chance of getting the flu by 70%.

“Individual brands of masks and that sort of thing hasn't been studied, but the few studies that have looked at them do have an effect – in some studies, up to 50 to 80% reduction in transmission,” UW virology expert Alex Greninger said. “They seem to stop large droplets, and I think the other key thing to mention with masks is that it really depends on what you're willing to wear.”

Coronavirus is most commonly spread through the air by coughing or sneezing or though close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

While masks do seem promising, it's also important to utilize other preventive measures. Make sure you wash your hands often during flu season, especially if you're around others who may be sick. Also, be sure to get your annual flu shot to protect yourself and others from spreading the virus."

https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/surgical-mask-effectiveness/281-9c762e52-c2ec-4dec-b5f3-77ee833fca1e

"At the start of flu season in the last two years, participants were randomly assigned to six weeks of wearing a standard medical procedure mask alone, mask use and hand sanitizer use, or a control group with no intervention. Researchers followed students for incidence of influenza like illness symptoms, defined as cough with at least one other characteristic symptom such as fever, chills or body aches, Monto said.

From the third week on, both the mask only and mask/hand sanitizer interventions showed a significant or nearly significant reduction in the rate of influenza-like illness symptoms in comparison to the control group. The observed reduction in rate of flu-like symptoms remained even after adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, hand washing practices, sleep quality, and flu vaccination."

https://news.umich.edu/masks-hand-washing-prevent-spread-of-flu-like-symptoms-by-up-to-50-percent/

[frazzled]

11. We've got 4 surgical masks sitting in a bathroom cabinet

Took them from the hospital four years ago at various times when my spouse was ill (not stealing; I asked.) Just the disposable surgical kind. We might have used a few because he had virtually no immune system at the time, but the rest are still sitting there. (Mostly, I was just a maniac then about hand washing and sanitizing surfaces for 7 or 8 months, so I’m down with the program.)

Saving them up for when the plague becomes critical here. I know it’s not much, but it’s something. Plus, just the psychological aspect is good.

[Disaffected]

12. I wonder if

the dust masks sold by building supplies stores are any good for this??

I tried to buy some of the N95 masks at the pharmacy today and they were long sold out w/o any idea when more stock would be coming.

[Iwasthere]

14. You do know they come from China

[harumph]

15. This is simply not accurate.

A well fitted (very important to verify seal) n-95 mask is effective in reducing the chances of the WEARER (as well as others)
against flu and cold viruses. While it's true that aerosolized
viruses can land in the eyes - it depends on a number of factors (PPM, health condition of the person, etc) whether eye
exposure will be enough to contract the illness. Also, he talks about getting a respiratory virus through the mouth - MOSTLY WRONG.
While you can certainly get a GI tract bug through the mouth - this is NOT the normal way people catch a respiratory virus
which is by breathing and contact with the eyes. I guess if you're breathing through the mouth - this could change things. I can tell you that there are certain grades of PPE and (well fitted) n-95 masks of various types are LONG accepted as reducing the chances of a wearer getting the virus.

I really think this is an example of the good doctor thinking people are (1) too stupid to select the correct grade mask and (2)
even if they do get the correct mask - not knowing how to seal it around the face. It's kinda like Patel saying - "Don't bother
you stupid people..."