Spreads so easily......

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Leo1277 said:
Regarding the vaccines, various folks are talking about first evidence that while the vaccination may protect (most) vaccinated folks from getting ill, it does not prevent them from getting infected, and potentially infecting others. That would be really unfortunate, since it would just increase the number of asymptomatic spreaders, and would also mean that vaccinations do not primarily help reduce the prevalence of the virus. So un-vaccinated folks and those unlucky ones for whom the vaccination does not produce immunity will continue to be in danger. Add to this that we don't know how long immunity (due to exposure or vaccination) lasts, and we still have an uphill climb.
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Even though I will be getting my 2nd Pfizer vaccine (thank you, VA) in 2 weeks and DH has had both of his (thank you, VA), I don't expect our behavior to change much with respect to masking, distancing, and not gathering indoors with others. I will feel less paranoid about getting COVID (and becoming a long-hauler) but I fully realize my potential to infect (and kill) people even though I have been immunized.
 
After one year, the media is finally getting the message out that cloth masks are for the most part useless. I'm glad I married a medical professional who had the foresight last January to buy some 3M NIOSH N95 masks when early reports of coronavirus were emerging. We also bought some KN95 masks for general use. KN 95 masks have flooded the market and can be purchased for under $15 for quantity 50. A simple guidance eight months ago to wear multi-layer masks such as a KN95 or double up on surgical masks could have reduced the spread and saved many lives.
 
Seems like cloth masks have been shown to be much better than useless, especially if everyone is masked,

however,

at this late stage people really should be wearing much better quality masks when out and about running errands, medical visits, etc.

I have been seeing more people doubling up masks. We have switched to good quality M95 masks when out in public. I’m seeing many more people wearing K/N 95 masks. But still so many with cloth or paper accordion masks.
 
I have a few real N95 masks that I had before the pandemic. These masks have valves. When I have to go inside a building I am wearing my N95 mask with a cloth mask over it.
 
Cloth is not useless. They help. But the risk is still significant of transmitting or getting it if you are inside and everyone is clothed.

I see the problem being that people now think if they have a cloth mask, they are OK, even if spending hours inside in close quarters. They are not OK. They are in a risky environment that is only of a lower risk than if everyone was unmasked. So then people unnecessarily spend more time inside either transmitting or receiving, since they think they are safe. People still need to limit their unnecessary contact. That message is fading even though I hear it on some PSAs.

Agree it is time to get (K)N95 out to people. It has been a year!
 
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We definitely need more competence with public health officials. After one year we get statements like this while they stated nothing for a year watching many people wear masks under theirs noses.

"An N95 that's well-fitted clearly is the best that you can do," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN Friday. "You could get production of that at a much higher rate now."

My wife feels vindicated now when she was telling people last January through April to wear a NIOSH N95 mask and not to listen to public health officials who in many cases have no medical training.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/health/face-mask-n95-coronavirus-transmission/index.html
 
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Yes, crazy that there wasn’t constant messaging like PSAs telling/reminding people how to properly wear whatever masks they had.
 
Germany is now requiring masks that look like the equivalent of the N95 (FFP-2) for people out in public. Here's one link.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...s-mask-rules-in-hopes-of-slowing-virus-spread

I have some pretty cloth masks but I think I'm going to wear them over an N95 from now on. I gave up on the gym almost 2 weeks ago- too many idiots working out with their noses exposed and the staff wasn't good about enforcing it. I'd probably have a hard time working out with N95 + a cloth mask but now I use workout videos at home.
 
Freedom56 said:
We definitely need more competence with public health officials. After one year we get statements like this while they stated nothing for a year watching many people wear masks under theirs noses.

"An N95 that's well-fitted clearly is the best that you can do," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN Friday. "You could get production of that at a much higher rate now."

My wife feels vindicated now when she was telling people last January through April to wear a NIOSH N95 mask and not to listed to public health officials who in many cases have no medical training.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/health/face-mask-n95-coronavirus-transmission/index.html
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Dang, I was looking for latest news on this, and you found it. Thanks. I was going to make a wise-guy comment about the incoming admin boosting N95 production. No wise-guy necessary, it is part of their plan. I'm not a huge fan of Joe - even though I like his name - but it is about damn time and I support this and his admin's efforts to get better masks out there.
 
JoeWras said:
Dang, I was looking for latest news on this, and you found it. Thanks. I was going to make a wise-guy comment about the incoming admin boosting N95 production. No wise-guy necessary, it is part of their plan. I'm not a huge fan of Joe - even though I like his name - but it is about damn time and I support this and his admin's efforts to get better masks out there.
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Sorry for the typos in my statement.
 
I stopped giving blood right now because of too many people coming in being nose-exposers and chin-strappers. Staff weren't any better.

I keep getting desperate texts and messages to donate. I need to call back and explain they need a plan for everyone to be (K)N95'd, staff and donors alike. It is part of the medical establishment and they should have some priority to get them.
 
Freedom56 said:
My wife feels vindicated now when she was telling people last January through April to wear a NIOSH N95 mask and not to listen to public health officials who in many cases have no medical training.
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I'm sure she does, but they haven't been exactly available until more recently (unless you count pop up sites from brand new companies), and are still not in stock at a lot of pre-covid places.

Cloth is/was better than nothing, especially combined with good avoidance behaviors. In and out of the grocery store without standing next to people for more than a few moments - that's fine. But to sit still in a group setting indoors, well...You could 5 masks on me and I'd still pass on that.
 
Just be aware that there are many counterfeit N95 masks out there. The CDC has a list of approved vendors here:

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1-d.html

We use 3M Aura NIOSH N95 (Made in USA) masks which are great. We also have some Swiss Made Optrel NIOSH N95 masks that are less expensive at about $2.40 each. KN95 masks (made in China) cost about 30 cents each but have ear loops not headbands that N95 masks have. They are much better than cloth masks and can be re-used up to 20 times.
 
JoeWras said:
I stopped giving blood right now because of too many people coming in being nose-exposers and chin-strappers. Staff weren't any better.

I keep getting desperate texts and messages to donate. I need to call back and explain they need a plan for everyone to be (K)N95'd, staff and donors alike. It is part of the medical establishment and they should have some priority to get them.
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I believe the term is "chin diapers" (from South Park - Pandemic Special episode).
 
Aerides said:
I'm sure she does, but they haven't been exactly available until more recently (unless you count pop up sites from brand new companies), and are still not in stock at a lot of pre-covid places.

Cloth is/was better than nothing, especially combined with good avoidance behaviors. In and out of the grocery store without standing next to people for more than a few moments - that's fine. But to sit still in a group setting indoors, well...You could 5 masks on me and I'd still pass on that.
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If your mask (cloth, surgical, KN95, or N95) cannot hold water, it offers very little protection. There used to be mask thread where people discussed where to buy NIOSH N95 and KN95 masks which have been available all throughout this pandemic. But it was shut down as many people rambled off topic.
 
Freedom56 said:
I believe the term is "chin diapers" (from South Park - Pandemic Special episode).
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I am SO stealing this term!

JoeWras said:
I stopped giving blood right now because of too many people coming in being nose-exposers and chin-strappers. Staff weren't any better.

I keep getting desperate texts and messages to donate. I need to call back and explain they need a plan for everyone to be (K)N95'd, staff and donors alike. It is part of the medical establishment and they should have some priority to get them.
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Yes, do call back and explain. My blood bank (Community Blood Center, not a Red Cross affiliate) has been great about precautions and I've been donating every 8 weeks right through the pandemic. It's pretty sad that even the staff at yours won't comply since they're probably more at risk than the donors and a COVID case traced back to the blood bank could affect their own health and their livelihood.
 
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athena53 said:
Yes, do call back and explain. My blood bank (Community Blood Center, not a Red Cross affiliate) has been great about precautions and I've been donating every 8 weeks right through the pandemic. It's pretty sad that even the staff at yours won't comply since they're probably more at risk than the donors and a COVID case traced back to the blood bank could affect their own health and their livelihood.
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What is yours doing about the snack/rest area?

I suggested they have it outside. No dice, not going to happen. So people are unmasked in the same room as donations. Granted, more than 6 ft away. But with this new strain, I really don't want to be inside in any space with unmasked individuals.

The staff issues were "brain farts." After two farts on two different occasions, I had enough.
 
JoeWras said:
What is yours doing about the snack/rest area?

I suggested they have it outside. No dice, not going to happen. So people are unmasked in the same room as donations. Granted, more than 6 ft away. But with this new strain, I really don't want to be inside in any space with unmasked individuals.
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This is Kansas City. Outside is a no-go! There's enough room in the snack area to maintain 6'+ distances and there's usually only me, or me plus one other person. There are plexiglas shields if you share a table but I've never had to do that.

I definitely need to watch the South Park episode. DS and I used to love that show and I could use some comic relief.

In getting to this thread I was directed to Post #1 about a hockey team- I just found out last week that this was the source of a COVID case one of my church members had last September, which he spread to his wife and her parents. We'd all assumed that it was contracted on the road trip they took to SC to get her parents, bring them back and move them into Assisted Living. Nope. He's on some sort of organized hockey team with friends (impressive for 70 years old) and 11 of them ended up with COVID after a game. And they would have gone on to the championship match, too.:rolleyes:
 
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Freedom56 said:
We definitely need more competence with public health officials. After one year we get statements like this while they stated nothing for a year watching many people wear masks under theirs noses.
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IMHO, the advice to wear an N95 is good advice. But, it also shows what was wrong and is still wrong with our public approach to corona virus protection information. The problem is the lack of easy to understand facts and procedures on how to do things right. N95 Masks are a great example.

We The Public mostly have no idea how to fit a mask and what a good fit is for a N95 mask. We don't know what makes a good fit and how to get a good fit.

I know several hospital employed people who have been fitted for N95 masks. A trained nurse or technician watches them attach the mask, and shows them how to properly adjust and tighten the straps (if that is possible). She then checks for leaks. If there is a leak, they try more adjustments, and maybe they try another brand of mask. I know this is not practical for all of us but at least offer something more than "Everybody should wear a properly fitted N95 mask". That's like PSAs telling us how safe, effective and necessary the vaccine is, but not providing a reasonable way for people to get the vaccine.
 
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Be aware that with the 100 day mask mandate many news sites are promoting sponsored articles that are linking to sources of overpriced N95 masks. These are popping up more frequently. If an article on N95 mask says "Sponsored", move on. Many of those sponsored articles are linking to sites that are selling counterfeit ones. Use only CDC recommended vendors or manufacturers.
 
Chuckanut said:
IMHO, the advice to wear an N95 is good advice. But, it also shows what was wrong and is still wrong with our public approach to corona virus protection information.

We The Public mostly have no idea how to fit a mask and what a good fit is for a N95 mask. We don't know what makes a good fit and how to get a good fit.
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It really doesn't take that much training to fit a N95 mask. My wife wore those every day at work and she even wore a surgical mask on top. It took her 2 minutes for here to show me how to fit one. The problem we have is many public health officials haven't even bothered to tell people not to wear masks under their noses. Many public health officials are so pathetically incompetent, they don't even know what N95 masks are. If the new administration successfully rolls out a mask mandate advising the use of effective masks and instructs people how to wear masks properly, the infection rates will drop significantly allowing the vaccines to be more effective. This will avoid a scenario of perpetual infections where we are headed now.
 
Freedom56 said:
It really doesn't take that much training to fit a N95 mask. My wife wore those every day at work and she even wore a surgical mask on top. It took her 2 minutes for here to show me how to fit one. The problem we have is many public health officials haven't even bothered to tell people not to wear masks under their noses. Many public health officials are so pathetically incompetent, they don't even know what N95 masks are. If the new administration successfully rolls out a mask mandate advising the use of effective masks and instructs people how to wear masks properly, the infection rates will drop significantly allowing the vaccines to be more effective. This will avoid a scenario of perpetual infections where we are headed now.
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I understand what you are saying for the most part. But a good fit is not always that easy. One nurse I know has a very small nose and very big cheeks. She wears a special N95 mask 'frame' that uses N95 filters that are inserted. Getting comfortable eyeglass frames is also a problem, but that won't kill her.
 
The professional training aspect was used against us in the early days to push people from hoarding N95s. It worked so well that people are now afraid of them.

Time's up. Let's get back to N95s. I'd rather have people incompetently wear N95s than incompetently wear cloth. The N95s I had on hand are pretty hard to wear and expose your nose. They are almost impossible to wear as chin diapers. Admittedly, they are easy to wear in a way that your cheeks are not properly contacted. It is easy to not properly fit the nose piece down over your nose, and even easier to forget to do it at all. Yes. This causes a bit of leakage. But all is not lost.

A few PSAs on TV would sure be nice. Maybe the "Love" PSAs can be converted to how to use a mask to love your neighbor.

Man, we gotta start somewhere.
 
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