coffeebean |
07-17-2020 02:15 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tblue
(Post 1804466)
I may be sorry I put my 2 cents in here. I wore a mask for 38 years, it does not make me a “mask expert” but I do know just a little about them. To be the most effective you need a proper fit, around the nose and sides, sometimes tape is needed for a proper seal around the nose. It seems common knowledge masks do not protect the wearer because the virus is so much smaller than the fiber in a medical grade mask, but maybe not the N95 mask. Many say wear the mask to protect others. It is also common knowledge that to spread the virus you generally need have to have symptoms, coughing, congestion, fever and such. In todays world if you have symptoms you just need to stay home. However if you do have symptoms and cough the mask will catch the moisture and maybe stop some of the virus attached to the moisture, a good thing. But how much of the virus is just coughed out thru the mask fibers or an improper fit that is not attached to moisture? But yes it should stop some of the spread. However when I see people wearing masks in the store they are fiddling with them, so now the virus is on your hands. Next issue is when you get back in your car and take the mask off and place it in the console you have contaminated your hands again and the inside of your car. What if you just drove with the mask on and went home, as soon as you walk in the house off comes the mask and you generally put it on the counter. Again you contaminated your hands and your counter top. So yes, masks will stop some of the spread if you have symptoms and are around people but any good from the mask is un-done or even reversed in my opinion by not properly sealing the mask, fiddling with the mask, removing the mask and likely contaminating your hands and the inside of your car or home counter top. Many will reuse the contaminated mask. Just my thoughts, if you have symptoms stay home, wash you hands and keep them away from your face as we were advise early on. I do not wear a mask, unless the store requires one, I slip on a new mask as I enter making sure I have as good as seal as possible, it’s not that difficult. I try not to fiddle with it and remove it in such a way as not to contaminate my hands best I can, and throw the mask away. I have a small spray alcohol bottle in the car and spray my hand. If I had symptoms and had to use a mask I would do the same thing but dispose of the mask in a sealed plastic sandwich bag.
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It has been stated many times by our experts (CDC, Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx, etc.) that there most certainly is asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission of this virus. That is the difficult part of the mitigation process.
As for "fiddling with the mask", it actually prevents a person from touching their mouth and nose when properly wearing the mask. Fiddle away, just don't touch your nose and mouth or your eyes.
When you get the virus on your hands, which is very very possible when out and about in the real world, just DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE, specifically your nose, eyes and mouth. Four months in to this pandemic, I would hope most adult minded people have trained themselves to not touch their face with their bare hands. You can use the collar or any part of your shirt to scratch an itch on your face. It really is that easy to do.
I gave up very early on worrying about contaminating the car interior and car door handles. The virus is out there......EVERYWHERE!!! Just don't touch your face with unwashed hands. It is THAT simple. Really.
When I'm in a public building, besides a mask, I always wear eyeglasses, whether regular glasses or sun glasses. That gives me a bit of protection from the virus getting in my eyes. They certainly aren't 100% but are better than not wearing anything shielding my eyes. Not sure I will ever get to the point when I will wear a face shield in public but nothing is written in stone at this point.
Stay safe out there.
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