Masks for Corona Virus

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
My client called me last night....I've had Cynthia as a client now for 25 years, and she uses me as a personal assistant as well as an organizer. She was in a panic, she's traveling next week and wanted some of those disposable masks that people are wearing right now to help protect them from the Corona virus, and she couldn't find any ANYWHERE!

I figured she was just not searching correctly...I've set her up with Amazon, but she's not particularly computer savvy so I just assumed. But no...when I got online while she was still on the phone with me, I couldn't find any disposable masks available on Amazon anywhere...very few listings and those that were there were noted as "currently unavailable."

So I went looking at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, various medical supply stores in Nashville....every one of them listed the masks as SOLD OUT.

Insane. She was starting to freak out. She travels fairly frequently. So I looked again on Amazon, and expanded my search even more. I finally found one...ONE...place that was selling them in bulk, and would expedite shipping because there was just no-one selling them with on Prime, which would mean guaranteed 2 day shipping.

The end result of all this is that I found ONE place, delivery between two to 6 days, box of 100 for.....ready for this?....$199.00, with an additional $49.95 expedited shipping!!!!! :oops: :oops: :oops:

Someone has taken full advantage of the Corona virus scare and is raking that cash in!!
 

Amazon stated today in the news that thus far they have prevented over a million fraudulent sellers of face mask, and all coronavirus sought after items . There are many opportunists trying to sell these normally very cheap masks for hundreds of dollars on Amazon and ebay and other websites...Caveat emptor... most of it is fraudulent, be very careful parting with any money
 
I follow a guy who married a Chinese woman and they live in China but came here for now. He told how one of his friends in China ordered 120 masks and when they arrived the box had been opened and half of them were missing. On his vlog he had subscribers sending him masks and he was sending them to various friends and family in China.

I saw on the CDC's website they say the only people who should be using the masks are the ones who are already sick or taking care of people who are. I know in China they were wearing the masks regardless.
 

IMO a clean scarf will do as much good as those thin dust filter style masks.
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Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. What is so magical about those masks? Have there ever been any studies as to the efficacy of the masks? I doubt it.
 
Sunny said:
Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. What is so magical about those masks? Have there ever been any studies as to the efficacy of the masks? I doubt it.
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A theatre nurse said in an interview, that the face masks they wear as surgeons and nurses in theatres are good only for about 20 minutes then they have to be changed, the real use for them in those situations is to prevent blood transfer and splatter into mouth and eyes of the medical staff .. otherwise they're not the best at preventing any kind of viral germs. They also have to be removed from the face in a certain manner to prevent getting the bacteria on the hands ( lots of videos available) ..

There are apparently some much better masks at preventing bacteria from entering the lungs than others... . Most of those paper type that you see Asians wearing , are fairly useless when it comes to anything bacterial... according to what I've read the virus are so small they can penetrate straight through, and that would be exactly the same with a scarf..

There are much better masks at preventing surgeons et al from contracting any type of virus but they involve full face masks as well as as minimum grade FFP3 mask preventing the tiny virus from entering like the paper or cheap cloth masks used by the masses on the streets...
 
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hollydolly said:
A theatre nurse said in an interview, that the face masks they wear as surgeons and nurses in theatres are good only for about 20 minutes then they have to be changed, the real use for them in those situations is to prevent blood transfer and splatter into mouth and eyes of the medical staff .. otherwise they're not the best at preventing any kind of viral germs. They also have to be removed from the face in a certain manner to prevent getting the bacteria on the hands ( lots of videos available) ..

There are apparently some much better masks at preventing bacteria from entering the lungs than others... . Most of those paper type that you see Asians wearing , are fairly useless when it comes to anything bacterial... according to what I've read the virus are so small they can penetrate straight through, and that would be exactly the same with a scarf..

There are much better masks at preventing surgeons et al from contracting any type of visus but they involve full face masks as well as as minimum grade FFP3 mask preventing the tiny virus from entering like the paper or cheap cloth masks used by the masses on the streets...
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Well said, @hollydolly.
 
When it went widespread in China, Chinese relatives in first world countries started buying up available masks and sending them back home to China. Ironic since that's where they're mostly made. And since their production is currently estimated to be less than half (if that), not many new ones are getting made and what does, they're keeping for use there.

The US has a Korean War era Defense Production Act that can be invoked to divert US manufacturing plants to making medical personal protective equipment and that's currently on the table. I'd imagine other nations have something similar.

https://edition.cnn.com/asia/live-n...0-intl-hnk/h_46fa3af61dd9259022a52a400ec3719d
 
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There is a lot of mask hoarding going on at this time. I received word that 3M is ramping up production, but the CDC is opposed to everyone having to wear a mask unless the person is symptomatic or has been diagnosed with having the flu.

Respirators are a better tool for safeguarding yourself from flu viruses.
 
Ronni said:
My research indicates that the regular face mask will do NOTHING for those attempting to not catch the virus. Masks however should be worn by those already affected to limit the spread.
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The Surgeon General said those masks do nothing - which I already knew. I have several that I use when using the leaf blower outside. They do prevent breathing in dust & larger particles; but not germs & viruses.
 
911 said:
Respirators are a better tool for safeguarding yourself from ...viruses.
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Think a lot of people don't know the difference. Surgical masks are useless for protection for healthcare workers or in crowds but do help keep an infected person from spreading. I can see value in wearing a scarf, surgical mask, sports mask etc because it'll remind you not to touch your face, but in close quarters where people are actively or have recently coughed or sneezed, viruses will get around and through anything that isn't rated for 0.1 microns and doesn't have a tight seal.

P100 respirators are the best but N95s are about the best most people including healthcare workers are going to get. N95s that fit well aren't 100% perfect, but are still highly effective.

Surgical mask:


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N95 respirator:

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I have used respirators when investigating homicides and the body had been laying for days. Also during other situations like interviewing a witness in a hospital that had MRSA and a few other times.
 
I understand all of this, but will present another side.

Let's say this virus does become widespread, you need to go out to replenish supplies, and you happen to have some of these supposedly useless masks on hand. Are you going to go out bare faced or are you going to strap one on, knowing that its value will mostly be as a constant reminder to give others a wide berth, to not touch your face, and to be very, very careful?

I'd for sure put one on. Maybe that's just me. Like the old saying, sometimes taking a weak lick at a snake is better than doing nothing at all.
 
LOL. Reminds me of that advertising for aspirin years ago; that it can prevent heart attacks & strokes.
I was shopping the next day & there was a big empty space where the aspirin used to be.

Same with the "Quaker Oats & Cheerios Lower Cholesterol" ads..........couldn't stop laughing at the empty shelf.
 
There are many different types of masks. Surgical ones are preventing a person from absorbing a sneeze or a cough for spit, blood, etc.
N-95 masks are for virus prevention. They must seal on to the skin to be effective. If they get wet say, for instance from prolonged breathing you must discard them so buy several. I warned everyone a couple weeks ago to buy ASAP. Keep in mind if this round of the virus fades away with warmer weather it will be back next year because there won't b any vaccines available for a minimum of one year to 18 months. The Washington Post and New York Times have reported stories about a vaccine but again it will not be available for 12-18 months. Suggest you all buy disinfecting wipes and Purell lotion. A virus can last for up to nine days on a surface.
 
StarSong said:
I understand all of this, but will present another side.

Let's say this virus does become widespread, you need to go out to replenish supplies, and you happen to have some of these supposedly useless masks on hand. Are you going to go out bare faced or are you going to strap one on, knowing that its value will mostly be as a constant reminder to give others a wide berth, to not touch your face, and to be very, very careful?

I'd for sure put one on. Maybe that's just me. Like the old saying, sometimes taking a weak lick at a snake is better than doing nothing at all.
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Buy online.
 
StarSong said:
I understand all of this, but will present another side.

Let's say this virus does become widespread, you need to go out to replenish supplies, and you happen to have some of these supposedly useless masks on hand. Are you going to go out bare faced or are you going to strap one on, knowing that its value will mostly be as a constant reminder to give others a wide berth, to not touch your face, and to be very, very careful?

I'd for sure put one on. Maybe that's just me. Like the old saying, sometimes taking a weak lick at a snake is better than doing nothing at all.
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Wear glasses as well to keep from rubbing your eyes.
 
StarSong said:
I understand all of this, but will present another side.

Let's say this virus does become widespread, you need to go out to replenish supplies, and you happen to have some of these supposedly useless masks on hand. Are you going to go out bare faced or are you going to strap one on, knowing that its value will mostly be as a constant reminder to give others a wide berth, to not touch your face, and to be very, very careful?

I'd for sure put one on. Maybe that's just me. Like the old saying, sometimes taking a weak lick at a snake is better than doing nothing at all.
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well I would too, but you have to remember that they're only the slightest protection and so you must not feel as though you're 'safe'...so the idea would be to wear a mask with perhaps a scarf on top and get that stuff done as fast as you can....if necessary take 2 masks and change if you have to for example..travelling to work or anywhere on a busy Tube train or overland train in the morning ...you need a fresh one to get home again later in the day or evening . I would also wear latex gloves under my normal gloves.

Also there's an important way of taking them off so as not to spread the bacteria.. that is to loosen one strap first, without touching your face..then the other, then holding the mask up by the strap only and not touching the rest of the mask in any way, dispose of it... then wash hands in the hottest water you can bear . At least that the isnturctions I've been reading and watching by so called experts.. and I believe they're right
 
I heard from a qualified doctor on tv that the masks don't stop the spread of the virus. He said, though, it's important not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth. I would assume that's when you are out and about and around people. I know I couldn't do that at home but if and when I go out I will do that once the virus comes to my area, and when I get home wash my hands and face good. I think that's all I need to do.
 

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