General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy Aren't We Wearing Better Masks?
Cloth masks are better than nothing, but they were supposed to be a stopgap measure.https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/01/why-arent-we-wearing-better-masks/617656/
If youre like most Americans, theres a good chance youre going to wear a cloth mask today. Doing so makes sense. It remains the official recommendation in the United States, and it is something weve both advocated since the beginning of the pandemic. Both of us wrote articles as far back as March urging people to wear homemade cloth masks. Were also the authors (along with 17 other experts) of a paper titled An Evidence Review of Face Masks Against COVID, which was just published in peer-reviewed form in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. But its past time for better solutions to be available to the public. We first released the paper as a preprint back in April, and it took nine months to go through peer review. Were happy that its published but, to be honest, were also deeply disappointed that its still relevant. Wed hoped that by 2021 supply chains would have ramped up enough to ensure that everyone had better masks. Cloth masks, especially homemade ones, were supposed to be a stopgap measure. Why are so many of us still wearing them?
Dont get us wrong; everything we said about the efficacy of cloth masks stands the test of time. Wearing them is much better than wearing nothing. They definitely help reduce transmission of the coronavirus from the wearer and likely protect the wearer to some degree as well. But we know that not all masks are equal, and early on in the pandemic, there was a dire shortage of higher-grade masks for medical workers. During those emergency conditions, something was much better than nothing. There are better possibilities now, but they require action and guidance by the authorities. Even all cloth masks are not equal. Construction, materials, and fit matter, and these cant be tracked or certified with homemade masks. Unlike cloth masks, medical-grade masks (also called respirators) that adhere to standards such as N95 (in the U.S.), FFP2 (in the European Union), and KN95 (in China) do a much better job of protecting the wearer and dampening transmission. Ideally, they should also come with instructions on how to wear them and ensure that they fit properly.
Because we have written about masks, weve become informal advisers to friends, family, and strangers on the internet. Were not much help, though. When our friends ask us simple questions like Where should I buy a mask? or Is my mask any good?, we dont have great answers. We can mumble generalities: Make sure it fits well; here are some guidelines about layers; try to avoid fake N95s. But if we cant give wholly satisfying answers to such basic questions, then how is the general public expected to fare. Tragically, America is swamped with fraudulent medical-grade masks, some of which are only 1 percent effective. Many masks do not have labels clearly indicating their manufacturer. Some official mask-testing methods are inappropriate, including the use of far higher pressure than normal breathing exerts. No reasonable certification is available for the most useful masks generally available to the public. All of this means that everyone has to somehow figure out for themselves which masks are effective.
We routinely get PR pitches for excellent new solutions as well as snake-oil remedies, and we sometimes have trouble telling them aparthow is an ordinary person supposed to evaluate competing claims? When we share our articles about masks on social media, we are asked where to buy proper masks. Not only do we have no answer, but we often find that marketers will answer instead, directing readers to unreliable, overpriced masks. Worse, the supply situation apparently remains so dire that the CDC still does not recommend that the general public wear N95 respirators, because theyre crucial supplies that must continue to be reserved for health-care workers and other first responders. Not all countries have this problem. Taiwan massively scaled up its manufacturing of masks at the start of 2020, such that by April every citizen received a fresh supply of high-quality masks each week, and the distribution system was regulated by the government. Taiwans COVID-19 death rate per capita is more than 1,000 times lower than that in the U.S. Hong Kong has been distributing patented six-layer masks (the efficacy of which has been laboratory tested) to every citizen. Singapore is on at least its fourth round of distributing free, reusable, multilayer masks with filters to everyoneeven kids, who get kid-size ones. In Germany, Bavaria has just announced that it will be requiring higher-grade masks. If all of these places can do this, why cant we?
snip
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)I trust Joe will!
Dem2theMax
(9,653 posts)Actually, I'm expecting it to be one of the first things he does.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Gawd, won't it be wonderful to have a president again who is NOT trying to kill us all?
Pisces
(5,602 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(11,632 posts)Bobstandard
(1,328 posts)We are so long past the time when every American should have easy access to N95 quality masks that its pathetic. They should have been stockpiled before the pandemic, and they should have been manufactured under the defense emergency act.
But f**king Trump and Jared and all those incompetent assholes. Arrghh!
BigmanPigman
(51,626 posts)and she gave me 5. I have been wearing them for almost a year. I do not wash them but leaving them in the air is enough to "clean" them. I will continue to wear them until vaccines are finished inoculating everyone. Since I only go out about once a week they will last a long time. They are very tight, even on my small head. When Joe gets more N95s produced for the whole population I will buy new N95s. If I have to, I will wear 2 at the same time.
If you make your own mask, be sure to have at least one layer of synthetic material (like polyester) one layer of cotton and one layer of silk. If you do this you will be protected pretty well.
JanMichael
(24,890 posts)They test between surgical masks and the N-95's. And they are pretty comfortable.
Not the same design either. Why can't US companies mimic the KN-95's at 1 or 2 bucks a shot?
wiggs
(7,817 posts)soon. Also giving them away to people who are just wearing regular masks but I know they are still shopping.
Cloth masks are OK outside, with social distancing. Inside, I'm not trusting them.
spinbaby
(15,090 posts)If your nose is uncovered, youre wearing it wrong. If its hanging off the tip of your nose, youre wearing it wrong. If its on your chin, youre wearing it wrong. If it drifts down as you speak, it doesnt fit.
Personally, Ive shelled out the money for N95 masks and wear them whenever I need to go out.
RobertDevereaux
(1,858 posts)These, for example, are on my Amazon wishlist.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWFWXKJ/
I'm interested in hearing from those of you in the know.
Thanks!
littlemissmartypants
(22,783 posts)1) a three ply surgical and 2) a three ply cotton cloth mask
You can test your coverage by trying to blow out a candle while wearing your mask/face covering. If you extinguish the candle you aren't using adequate coverage.
Fun Fact: surgical masks work to repel particles because they are made with an electrostatic charge.
Great post! Thanks for sharing this, Celerity.
❤ lmsp
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)in my homemade cloth masks. I use vacuum bags for the filter. I have a layer of thick cloth next to my face, though.
JanMichael
(24,890 posts)We buy the ones that give around 95% protection average with 10 tests.
Like :
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1eUCP7cwzL.pdf
Frerotte
(71 posts)The best I can come up with is cloth masks with filters which I wear when I am out in public. I buy the standard manufactured filters or use coffee filters if I have run out my regular supply.
Also I have found that the KF94 masks from Korea are better than the surgical masks. I wear these at work.
At work I am pretty isolated in my own office and surrounding area. When I am in my office I will wear a surgical mask or a plain cloth mask.
It is stunning that we all don't have access to good masks which is such a basic front line provision.
My health insurance promised to send us masks 3 months ago but never did. The state agency that supervises us sent us each two of the most hideous masks that I have seen to date. They seemed to be made out of see through slippery basketball uniform material.
I really thought that by now we could at least be able to purchase a few N95 masks.