As someone who regularly uses face maks whilst doing DIY work, I know that face masks work and to suggest otherwise is total bullshit conspiracy theory.
However, they only work if used properly and their effectiveness decreases the smaller the particles that are trying to be screened – otherwise they wouldn’t let air in!!
In order to protect against Coronavirus, we need to protect against water droplets sprayed out when fast moving air is expelled during a cough. These not only start at a range of different sizes, but because they rapidly evaporate in air, they get smaller and smaller, until only the solid parts (including virus) are left.
Masks will be effective at stopping larger droplets, but as the atomised droplets get smaller, their effectiveness decreases. And even with the best quality mask, it is more than likely that some masks will let through the smallest virus particles some of the time. But even if you put a pair of ladies nickers on your face, that will have some benefit.
Masks do work – but they are not 100% effective
Masks only concentrate the virus on their surface which is then touched so they are pointless.
This is one of the most ridiculous reasons for not wearing a mask. The idea is that as we breath in and out, the virus gets trapped on the mask, and this then is a hot spot of virus which (the ignorant peasants) are bound to touch and infect themselves (but apparently medics are such godly creatures that they aren’t as stupid as us plebs).
What is so ridiculous about this claim, is that for the virus to be concentrated on the mask, the mask must have been doing its job at stopping virus getting into the airways. So, the front of the mask is only a risk, if it has been working. Which more or less tells us that this whole conspiracy theory that masks don’t work is bullshit. Because if they didn’t work, there would be no risk from virus on their surface (it all having gone into the airways).
However, it does mean that there is little point having a mask, and then touching the front when taking it off (and then touching eyes or mouth).
Masks don’t work because they soon get damp
I have used masks in very humid conditions, doing extremely heavy work (so sweating) and they work. I’ve often had to replace masks because they have been clogged by dust, but never because of “damp”. But I’ve not worn one for extensive periods in the cold where condensation might be a problem, but there really is no need for a mask outside with free flowing air unless for some reason you are in a crowd in relatively still air.
Masks don’t work because they are ill fitting
Correct – they do need to be fitted so that all air being breathed in comes through the filter. And if you are going to wear one, it is well worth spending a minute or two making sure it is fitted correctly before using.
Masks for those infected
At the moment everyone is thinking about how to protect against getting infection. However fairly soon, lots of people will be potential carriers of CV and if it spreads like wildfire, then most cases will present like coughs or flu/pneymonia and there won’t be an easy way to tell who has it (as in the worst phase, there will not be capacity to test everyone).
So, if one person in a household gets a “bug”, you should give them a room to themself (themselves), ideally in the NE of the house (at the opposite side to prevailing winds) and to open a window (unless the wind that day is blowing into the window). Because you want any draft from the patient heading straight out the house (where the virus will not last long). However, who has a wind gauge and is constantly monitoring the direction of the wind at 3am?
This is where a mask for patients will be useful. Again, there is not a hope in hell of being 100% effective, but even if they only catch half the droplets coughed out, that will dramatically reduce the chances of infection, if all the other measures are also being applied.
Glasses
Masks work, because we breath in a lot of air. However the eyes are also exposed to dust in the air, but to a much less extent as air is not flowing into and out of our eyes. Unfortunately, in my experience (doing work with them on), they quickly mist up and as such they are useless without air vetns so are only effective at protecting the eyes against things that being “flung” at the eyes by someone coughing into your face. Unless you are looking after a patient, and given the risk of reduced visibility can cause accidents, I would personally avoid using “goggle” type glasses. However, in good visibility, there may be a benefit to glasses intended for dailyuse (but I would not wear dark sunglasses indoors).
PPE suit & gloves
Creates a removable barrier which can be taken off (very carefully so as to not contaminate protected skin) which is only appropriate for very high risk areas – such as those looking after patients.
In particular on gloves – anything that is easy to put on and take off, tends to be expensive or are ill-fitting and a real pain to work in. Anything like latex gloves that are snug fitting, I find tend to tear and/or are difficult to take off without touching the exposed surface (I often end up with paint on my hands after I take off the gloves).
So, in the past I’ve tended to buy quite expensive gloves (£10 a pair) and use them time and time again. But that would be pointless if the aim is to protect from this virus, unless they are boiled each time.
So what’s the real reason for saying masks don’t work
Having worked in industry where the health and safety executive were constantly trying to raise safety standards and making it mandatory to wear masks for activities like removing asbestos, I think a few of them will be blowing blood vessels hearing the press tell everyone that masks don’t work, as this is entirely the opposite message.
Instead I think this myth has grown up amongst doctors trying to convince themselves that they are somehow immune to disease and therefore do not need to wear a mask. So, they are trying to discovage the public from wearing masks that do work, because they know that as those on the front line, they will be forced to wear them – and like all people and health and safety – it’s always a good idea, until you are the one who is being forced to comply.
Doctors need to wear masks
Bizarrely I think this “conspiracy theory” idea about masks being a waste of time, has nothing to do with masks, and instead relates to the culture and attitude of doctors who don’t want to be forced to wear masks. And at the moment we need doctors & other medics to be fit and active because we are about to be massively under-staffed. So the government is going to have to force healthcare workers to wear masks even though some will be spitting blood having this imposed on them.
