Coronavirus- Why aren't more American wearing masks out in public ???

[Cranky]

Seamstress and tailor both imply professional levels of skill.

Really, we were all home sewers until the internet came along and decided that that looked funny, and we had to be sewists.

[Laserjet3051]

As someone who has worked, and still does work, professionally with virus in a BSL-2 environment I'd like to clear up a huge misconception and point out one other thing.

Let me first state that I have specific and extensive training spanning ~15 years with how to reduce/eliminate exposure to BSL-2 viral infection when working directly with these pathogens. The consensus is quite clear and diametrically opposed to the CDC guidance. You drones go ahead and listen to, and believe everything your government shovels to you. A properly fitted N95, used correctly, in conjunction with other PPE profoundly reduces your risk of viral infection. The idea that healthy people dont benefit (reduce risk of getting infected) from wearing viral excluding masks (N95 and others) is nonsense and likely based on the premise that the CDC is lying to all you in the best interest of preserving the limited supply of masks for health professionals. One mask to a physician could save countless lives, one mask to you would save one life. It is this justification, almost certainly, as to why the CDC is outright deceiving the American public.

The final point I'd make is that there is a lot of misinformation on this board and elsewhere regarding what does and doesnt protect oneself from viral exposure. Be cautious in what you take as truth.  And before you lambaste and crucify me for my supposedly controversial comment, please know that the firm I work for is engaged developing treatments/vaccine for this scourge; I am certainly not uninformed about what it takes to protect from pathogenic viral exposure.

I whole heartedly believe if americans wore masks in large numbers, like in  korea, we could stymie this thing much more effectively. It isnt too hard to make tens of millions of masks.

[maizefolk]

Except a seamstress is a woman who sews. What's a non-gender specific word for someone who sews?

By analogy to other words with male and female forms, I'm pretty sure if there was a male form of "seamstress" it would be "seamster" (or seamstor)

If we take the trend that has appeared more common in recent years of referring to both men and women who act as "actors" rather than men as "actors" and women has "actresses", I think you could get away will calling anyone who sews a "seamster" and while people might look at you a little funny, they'd also probably follow your meaning.

[frugalnacho]

Seamstress and tailor are different things. I don't think seamstress implies a professional level, I think an amateur that sews should be considered a seamstress, although it does imply at least a minimum proficiency.  I've sewn my merit badges on, and I've sewn some holes in some clothes, but certainly wouldn't consider myself worthy of being deemed a seamstress, but I know plenty of amateurs I would seem as seamstresses. I don't know a word for a male seamstress, I would think saying male seamstress would get the point across most effectively.

[LWYRUP]

Thank you to @Laserjet3051 and @Steeze for your great work on this thread.  I get worn out arguing with people so I usually just stay silent, but I appreciated your posts in this issue.

Note how badly we all have been harmed by the "Great Firewall" on this issue.  Chinese human rights activists smuggled videos out of China detailing the situation there including horrible human rights abuses, risking their lives to tell us the truth... and our cowardly media ignored it and our "do no evil" tech companies like YouTube and Twitter deleted it... because apparently showing Chinese police beating elderly people in the streets, stealing their last vegetables, welding them into their homes, dragging them screaming into white vans to go... elsewhere (probably not the ICU) was offensive apparently.  So everyone was caught with their pants down.  I believed the human rights dissidents instead of the WHO and CDC and prepped early. 

Note that you can damage N95 masks by disinfecting them.  The virus only lives a few days on surfaces, so if you are going to the grocery store once a week, just put it in a ziplock bag above your toaster oven or microwave and it will be fine.  You can put them in the oven too (search reddit for the right temperature) but I would only do that so many times. 

We need to conserve in times of need.  Nobody except medical professionals in actual coronavirus ICU units should be throwing out these masks every day.  It's crazy that some hospitals have no supplies and in other places at lower risk they are still chucking them every few hours.  I have a handful of them and I object to giving them to someone that's just going to throw them out that day.  I am waiting until a doctor (like my sister) or nurse (several friends) that I know needs them and are planning to use them long term.  Right now the people I know personally do still have adequate supplies.  I also gave away a bunch in February to people who were taking this seriously and didn't think I was crazy, all with the same advice -- take one, when things get bad don't leave your home except to get supplies once a week or two, and reuse.  I saw the videos in China and figured the way the rest of the world was responding this would be us eventually.

[totoro]

I whole heartedly believe if americans wore masks in large numbers, like in  korea, we could stymie this thing much more effectively. It isnt too hard to make tens of millions of masks.

Yes.  And thanks for weighing in with your expertise on this.  I've read all the credible studies I can find and my conclusion mirrors yours.  The CDC's approach is to preserve masks for medical use because of the shortage, not because masks don't work for the general public.  They should be ashamed of themselves.  At the very least, if there was a campaign to have the public all wear cloth masks in public plus all the other measures we'd all be a bit more protected.

[wenchsenior]

As someone who has worked, and still does work, professionally with virus in a BSL-2 environment I'd like to clear up a huge misconception and point out one other thing.

Let me first state that I have specific and extensive training spanning ~15 years with how to reduce/eliminate exposure to BSL-2 viral infection when working directly with these pathogens. The consensus is quite clear and diametrically opposed to the CDC guidance. You drones go ahead and listen to, and believe everything your government shovels to you. A properly fitted N95, used correctly, in conjunction with other PPE profoundly reduces your risk of viral infection. The idea that healthy people dont benefit (reduce risk of getting infected) from wearing viral excluding masks (N95 and others) is nonsense and likely based on the premise that the CDC is lying to all you in the best interest of preserving the limited supply of masks for health professionals. One mask to a physician could save countless lives, one mask to you would save one life. It is this justification, almost certainly, as to why the CDC is outright deceiving the American public.

The final point I'd make is that there is a lot of misinformation on this board and elsewhere regarding what does and doesnt protect oneself from viral exposure. Be cautious in what you take as truth. And before you lambaste and crucify me for my supposedly controversial comment, please know that the firm I work for is engaged developing treatments/vaccine for this scourge; I am certainly not uninformed about what it takes to protect from pathogenic viral exposure.

I whole heartedly believe if americans wore masks in large numbers, like in  korea, we could stymie this thing much more effectively. It isnt too hard to make tens of millions of masks.

So....?  What is and isn't truth, then, apart from the mask info you just provided? Or, alternatively, what sources do advise as credible?

[Peony]

Here are a few articles that have convinced me that it is worth the effort for me to sew homemade 3- or 4-ply cotton masks for myself and my loved ones, and to wear a mask when I go out for food or pharmacy needs. I mean, really, why not? I'm still washing hands constantly and staying inside but it's just a little bit more protection and when I go out I feel like a walking PSA for caution.

If I were working in a grocery store or as a delivery person or any other public-facing job I would definitely want to be wearing a mask, even a homemade one.

"More Americans Should Probably Wear Masks for Protection" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/health/us-coronavirus-face-masks.html?searchResultPosition=5

"Why Telling People They Don’t Need Masks Backfired"
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-face-masks.html?searchResultPosition=11

"Simple DIY masks could help flatten the curve. We should all wear them in public."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/03/28/masks-all-coronavirus/

"White House Pays Underwear Makers to Churn Out Millions of Masks"
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-27/underwear-t-shirt-makers-making-millions-of-coronavirus-masks

[Davnasty]

Here's a good guide on the effectiveness of homemade masks using various materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

[ixtap]

Here's a good guide on the effectiveness of homemade masks using various materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

And me with a bagless vacuum :(

[RetiredAt63]

Here's a good guide on the effectiveness of homemade masks using various materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

And me with a bagless vacuum :(

And me.   :-(

But I do have some 100% cotton t-shirts that can be sacrificed.  And tape for ties so I can wash them in REALLY hot water after use.

[maizefolk]

Here's a good guide on the effectiveness of homemade masks using various materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

Looks like the t-shirt ninja masks you posted up thread may be the best option for a lot of us until real surgical masks become more widely available.

[RetiredAt63]

Here's a good guide on the effectiveness of homemade masks using various materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

Looks like the t-shirt ninja masks you posted up thread may be the best option for a lot of us until real surgical masks become more widely available.

They will be hot in the summer.  A bit of basic sewing should be enough to turn out surgical mask facsimiles.  You wouldn't even need a sewing machine, needle and thread should do it.

Without sewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-gjBR_TT2w

2 layers, a bit of sewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R557P8tHUlg

And if you have vacuum cleaner bags
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6d3twpHwis

[GuitarStv]

Here's a good guide on the effectiveness of homemade masks using various materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

Looks like the t-shirt ninja masks you posted up thread may be the best option for a lot of us until real surgical masks become more widely available.

Do most people not have dish towels?  :P

[RetiredAt63]

Here's a good guide on the effectiveness of homemade masks using various materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

Looks like the t-shirt ninja masks you posted up thread may be the best option for a lot of us until real surgical masks become more widely available.

Do most people not have dish towels?  :P

Apparently dish towels filter better but don't breathe as well.  I am considering making a dish towel mask with pleats so it stands away from the face more. Like a surgical mask, which also has pleats.

I've worn an N95 mask when dissolving dyes, and they are not fun for long term use like grocery shopping, and not necessary either.

[maizefolk]

Austria is mandating the wearing of masks in grocery stores or anywhere people congregate. Apparently they've secured a large enough supply to hand them out at the entrances to supermarkets.

The Czech Republic is crediting the much slower growth of the virus in their country to mandating the wearing of masks whenever people go outside which was put in place back on March 18th.

This surprisingly catchy song about masks also came from CR.

[Nangirl17]

Nangirl - follow the thread up for links to studies. They show that they only protect against some larger droplets and not so good for aerosolized covid- but that is rarer anyway outside of a hospital setting.  What they really help with are:

1. face touching while outside of the home
2. if you are sick, giving it to someone else - and if everyone wears one that means you get protected too - plus there are asymptomatic contagious with covid

Czech Republic just made them mandatory in all public spaces.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/would-everyone-wearing-face-masks-help-us-slow-pandemic
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30134-X/fulltext

I agree that the proper use of medical masks would prevent infection (and I'd be a-okay to wear them when in public), but my comment was on cloth masks. All the links here didn't have any research on cloth masks. The only RCT that I have seen on cloth masks had this to say:
"Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in INCREASED RISK OF INFECTION". (emphasis mine)

I'd rather go without a mask than wear a cloth one, considering the only research was have is that they may actually make us sicker.

[totoro]

Nangirl - follow the thread up for links to studies. They show that they only protect against some larger droplets and not so good for aerosolized covid- but that is rarer anyway outside of a hospital setting.  What they really help with are:

1. face touching while outside of the home
2. if you are sick, giving it to someone else - and if everyone wears one that means you get protected too - plus there are asymptomatic contagious with covid

Czech Republic just made them mandatory in all public spaces.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/would-everyone-wearing-face-masks-help-us-slow-pandemic
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30134-X/fulltext

I agree that the proper use of medical masks would prevent infection (and I'd be a-okay to wear them when in public), but my comment was on cloth masks. All the links here didn't have any research on cloth masks. The only RCT that I have seen on cloth masks had this to say:
"Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in INCREASED RISK OF INFECTION". (emphasis mine)

I'd rather go without a mask than wear a cloth one, considering the only research was have is that they may actually make us sicker.

A 2013 Cambridge University study found that homemade masks made from cotton t-shirts "Reduced the number of microorganisms expelled by volunteers, although the surgical mask was 3 times more effective."   They are not that great for reducing your risk from getting it from others, more so about you giving it and there are many symptomless contagious. As far as the risks, there are similar risks with medical masks.  You need to follow CDC guidelines for donning and doffing and use cloth masks once - ie. when you go to the grocery store (or use during one shift if you are a grocery worker and have a backup) and then wash in hot and dry in dryer.   Here is some interim guidance: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/hcp/masksalt.pdf

[Peony]

Here's a video from the Czech Republic about their mandated use of (usually homemade) face masks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZtEX2-n2Hc

[Cranky]

A majority of the shoppers in the store at 6AM today had on masks.

I’m never robbing a bank - I am finding the face mask pretty annoying.

[maizefolk]

A majority of the shoppers in the store at 6AM today had on masks.

I’m never robbing a bank - I am finding the face mask pretty annoying.

Could post this in one of the bright sides of coronavirus threads. It's allowed you to experiment with bank robber life and realize it wasn't for you without first having to make an irreversible commitment to the lifestyle. ;-)

[GreenToTheCore]

As someone who has worked, and still does work, professionally with virus in a BSL-2 environment I'd like to clear up a huge misconception and point out one other thing.

Let me first state that I have specific and extensive training spanning ~15 years with how to reduce/eliminate exposure to BSL-2 viral infection when working directly with these pathogens. The consensus is quite clear and diametrically opposed to the CDC guidance. You drones go ahead and listen to, and believe everything your government shovels to you. A properly fitted N95, used correctly, in conjunction with other PPE profoundly reduces your risk of viral infection. The idea that healthy people dont benefit (reduce risk of getting infected) from wearing viral excluding masks (N95 and others) is nonsense and likely based on the premise that the CDC is lying to all you in the best interest of preserving the limited supply of masks for health professionals. One mask to a physician could save countless lives, one mask to you would save one life. It is this justification, almost certainly, as to why the CDC is outright deceiving the American public.

The final point I'd make is that there is a lot of misinformation on this board and elsewhere regarding what does and doesnt protect oneself from viral exposure. Be cautious in what you take as truth. And before you lambaste and crucify me for my supposedly controversial comment, please know that the firm I work for is engaged developing treatments/vaccine for this scourge; I am certainly not uninformed about what it takes to protect from pathogenic viral exposure.

I whole heartedly believe if americans wore masks in large numbers, like in  korea, we could stymie this thing much more effectively. It isnt too hard to make tens of millions of masks.

So....?  What is and isn't truth, then, apart from the mask info you just provided? Or, alternatively, what sources do advise as credible?

Agreed. I'd like to learn.
(Again, I'm not opposed to cloth masks. I am opposed to fear mongering and not teaching them how to use materials properly)

The sources/bibliographies I've been using to learn about transmission (eg. the explanation behind 6ft and indirect contact):
https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/isolation/scientific-review.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations

[maizefolk]

Bulgaria is bringing in a requirement for facemasks whenever anyone is out in public, as well. Goes into force tomorrow.

[wenchsenior]

So I I had to go to the grocery store for the first time in about 2 weeks, and I wore a fitted bandana/scarf over my mouth, bowing to the logic presented in this thread that at least I'm sending some sort of message of normalizing the act, even if I'm not reducing my own risk. 

Our city has been under social distancing/essential business only orders for close to 3 weeks, and 'stay at home' orders for several days.  Our virus caseload has been doubling every 2 days for the past 6 days, and the news is reporting that the hospital is preparing for the upcoming need to support two patients per one ventilator b/c of their limited number.  So I figured that there'd have been some notable changes from normal since last time I'd ventured out, and that I'd see a lot more face covering.

It was pretty hilarious, really, if you are into black comedy.  The store at mid-morning was quite full, probably 50-75 customers, about a third of them not even attempting to practice social distancing (particularly irritating was the mother with 3 boys in the 8-12-year range who were 'helping' by racing around and invading peoples' space to get stuff).  The only store employees with masks were at the pharmacy, and they kept pulling them down to sip coffee, talk to each other, etc.  Most of the store employees were making no apparent effort to social distance from customers, and certainly not from each other.  People looked at my face-scarf like I was 'one of those neurotic or sick ones'.  I felt pretty dumb, particularly b/c, with the air flow through my bandana as I breathed, it was very apparent that I certainly wasn't protecting MYSELF, even if I was hypothetically protecting others from a virus that I certainly don't currently have.

:sigh:

[GuitarStv]

Thinking of going to Costco tomorrow with my P99 canister mask, latex gloves, goggles and hood.  Fuck it if I look goofy . . . nobody's going to know who I am anyway.  Then I'll bring the groceries in to our decontamination area in the house and let them sit for three days, strip off everything I was wearing and put it in the wash, shower, and then decontaminate all areas of the house that I was in.

Might be overkill . . . but can't hurt.

[wenchsenior]

Thinking of going to Costco tomorrow with my P99 canister mask, latex gloves, goggles and hood.  Fuck it if I look goofy . . . nobody's going to know who I am anyway.  Then I'll bring the groceries in to our decontamination area in the house and let them sit for three days, strip off everything I was wearing and put it in the wash, shower, and then decontaminate all areas of the house that I was in.

Might be overkill . . . but can't hurt.

Yeah, I left some of the groceries in the garage, and wiped most of the packaging of the rest down with a bleach solution.  And it's such a pain to sterilize everything after a trip.  Gotta do your wallet/credit cards/car keys/steering wheel/gear shift/inside and outside car door handles/door knobs into and out of house from your garage/light switches if you touched them/garage door button if you touched it.  So damn annoying.

[GuitarStv]

I'm not bringing anything I don't need.

Will just have my written paper list (to be disposed of when leaving the building), credit card, and driver's license.  Keys can stay in the decontamination area for three days.  Won't use the car again for three days.

My understanding is that the virus doesn't live more than 1-3 days on most surfaces.

[OtherJen]

I'm not bringing anything I don't need.

Will just have my written paper list (to be disposed of when leaving the building), credit card, and driver's license.  Keys can stay in the decontamination area for three days.  Won't use the car again for three days.

My understanding is that the virus doesn't live more than 1-3 days on most surfaces.

I went to the grocery store last week with a ziploc bag containing my driver's license, credit card, hand sanitizer, and stack of Lysol wipes. I had three stops to make (produce market, big-box grocer, pet supply store) and wrote out a separate paper list for each; these were kept in the car until needed. The wipes were used to wipe off all cart surfaces that I might have grabbed, the credit card scanner, my card when I was done swiping, and the outside surface of the ziploc bag. Each list got tossed in the garbage can outside of the store. Keys went in my pocket immediately after I got out of the car, and I used the hand sanitizer before fishing them out.

It felt like overkill when I was planning to leave the house, but it worked out quite well and no one batted an eye at the stores.

[totoro]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4pt4oFDBhsC_jpblXpNtQ/preview#

Comprehensive source of info for those who enjoy fact-checking/research.  Spoiler - wear a damn mask!

[GreenToTheCore]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4pt4oFDBhsC_jpblXpNtQ/preview#

Comprehensive source of info for those who enjoy fact-checking/research.  Spoiler - wear a damn mask!

Thanks @totoro  I had been using that list to track down studies.
Since you've been looking into this a lot, do you know where to find the study mentioned in Paper/Article #2?
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3074351/coronavirus-can-travel-twice-far-official-safe-distance-and-stay

The article lists the publication and author (Practical Preventive Medicine, Hu Shixiong) but I haven't been able to get through to a copy. Have you?

[GreenToTheCore]

Found it! Here's the study where the news is getting COVID-19's surface longevity numbers:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973?query=recirc_mostViewed_railB_article
copper - 4hrs
cardboard - 24hrs
plastic & SS - 72hrs

The purpose and conclusion of the study was the comparison of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1. Does anyone have insight into if it's appropriate to use their results to define how long the virus stays viable on surfaces?


@GuitarStv and @wenchsenior , thanks for talking about your decontamination practices. I feel like it's another area where the general population isn't given much guidance and if they haven't had experience with incoming material practices they wouldn't know to even think about it.

[maizefolk]

So I I had to go to the grocery store for the first time in about 2 weeks, and I wore a fitted bandana/scarf over my mouth, bowing to the logic presented in this thread that at least I'm sending some sort of message of normalizing the act, even if I'm not reducing my own risk.  ...  People looked at my face-scarf like I was 'one of those neurotic or sick ones'.  I felt pretty dumb ...

Hey, thank you for doing your part to normalize this, wenchsenior.

Hopefully the next person wearing a banana bandana (oops), homemade mask, or professional mask will get a few fewer stares and feel a little less dumb as a result of your efforts.

[DaMa]

I'm a quilter, and several women in my group are sewing masks.  I know that studies show they don't work, so I was not sewing them.  Then my DIL asked me to make some for her sister, a hospice nurse.  So I made 10 and posted a picture on Facebook.  My niece messaged me and asked if she could buy some from me.  She is a nurse in a Baltimore area hospital.  Then I got a message from a friend in Tennessee asking if she could buy some from me.  She is a nurse in a Nashville area hospital. 

Apparently, there is a need.  Scary.

It pisses me off when I see people out there with masks. I’ll give an exception to elders or other high risk groups but for young people like myself to be wearing one is shameful. Both healthcare and construction workers are having a hard time getting any of them them because other people panic and buy them out.  It disrupts those who actually need them. Instead they’re used to prevent what to most people is equivalent to the flu.

My daughter has two N95 masks (she had them long before C-19).  To look at her you'd think she was a young person like yourself.  But she has scarred lungs from cancer treatments and asthma.  YOU can't tell looking at someone what the situation is.

[Villanelle]

I've read that old tees and bedsheets are best.  We bought a new bed in a new size earlier this year and I haven't tossed the sheets yet.  I think I will make a few masks out of them.  The no-sew version where you slit the ends and tie them together, like those fleece blankets are were all the rage for a while, seem super easy, and apparently you can add a middle layer as a filter if you want additional protection. 

That said, I haven't let the house in more than three weeks, and I doubt DH would be willing to wear one at work. 

[Crease]

Dr. Price is an ICU doctor at Cornell Weill in New York City. He said in a video last week that non-N95 masks do not block the disease. But non-N95 masks are still beneficial because they train you to not touch your face and signal to others that the disease should be taken seriously. An overwhelming majority of people who contract the disease get it by touching a contaminated surface and then their face. Hand washing and not touching your face is key.

With respect to N95s, Dr. Price said that the virus could be aerosolized, but you're unlikely to contract it through airborne transmission unless you're in sustained contact with a COVID patient. Sustained contact means 15-20 minutes in a closed balloon environment. Dr. Price said that when having passing interactions with COVID patients, doctors in his ICU have been using simple surgical masks (which do not block the disease) without issue, because they wash their hands and do not touch their face. Only when the doctors undertake procedures that induce spitting, breathing, coughing do they use the N95 masks.

[maizefolk]

Now Israel is going to require masks for anyone who goes out in public as well.

[Jack0Life]

Its fucking unbelievable I posted this thread 10+ days ago and some of the people in charge of this country are just now realizing the important of wearing masks in public.
Stop procrastinating. Have enough masks that you can mandate people to wear one when out in public especially in a grocery store.

Just for example I went out shopping yesterday.
Stop #1. I went to Lotte(its a Korean grocery store). I'd say about 90% of people shopping in there have masks on.
Stop #2, Went to Costco. Maybe 25% of the people there had masks on. Huge contrast.
I wear my thick clothe mask every time I'm out in public. I don't care if people stares.

BTW. Its irritates me to see people wearing gloves while shopping like its some kind of miracle protection.
Whats the point ?? They wear them the entire time shopping. Don't they touch everything just like people not wearing gloves ??
Gloves are highly effective when physician throw them away once they are done examine you. If you wear them for the entire shopping trip, how exactly is that helping ??
I bring a hand santitizer with me and I try using it as much as I can during my shopping trip.

[totoro]

I wear single use disposable gloves shopping.  They, along with a cloth mask, make it very difficult for me to accidentally touch my face. For those without hand sanitizer, there are shortages where I am,   Single use gloves  can be helpful.

[Cranky]

Gloves have been very effective at keeping me from touching my face.

I’ve gone to the grocery store once/week and I’m the only person in my house doing that. I won’t go for another two weeks now, so my mask supply seems adequate.

[RetiredAt63]

I have been in 14 day quarantine since I got home, so have no idea what people are wearing here.  But any masks will be home-made, all the medical grade ones are needed by medical facilities.  They are still better than not wearing anything.  That and 2 meter spacing.

[Raenia]

I've started sewing masks for my family.  I gave away three to my sister, mom, and mom's boyfriend - mom and sister work with children, so they all have a higher likelihood of exposure than me and DH, who are completely sheltering in place, going out only for groceries once every 2 weeks or longer.  I have materials to make two more today for us, then I'll run out of elastic cord and have to try a method using elastic hair ties instead.  I want to get one to my FIL, as he works around a lot of elderly people.  MIL works at home, but I may as well include her and SIL for completion's sake.

If I have any materials left, I'll donate any extra to the hospital where sister's employer works.  They have asked for donations of homemade masks and posted guidelines on what materials to use.  I believe that they intend to use homemade masks for visitors/parents (it's a children's hospital), or for medical personnel to wear over their medical grade mask to extend their use.  I certainly hope they don't get to the point of homemade cloth masks being the only line of defense for health care workers.

[Kris]

So much is determined by culture. In many Asian countries, masks are seen as normal, so people wear them because it's socially sanctioned, and even expected, at times like this.

In the US, of course, we don't have a precedent of wearing them. Not that it should matter, but it does. People don't want others to judge them, so peer pressure works both ways.

For a bunch of "rugged individualists," Americans sure are afraid of what others will think of them.

[mm1970]

So much is determined by culture. In many Asian countries, masks are seen as normal, so people wear them because it's socially sanctioned, and even expected, at times like this.

In the US, of course, we don't have a precedent of wearing them. Not that it should matter, but it does. People don't want others to judge them, so peer pressure works both ways.

For a bunch of "rugged individualists," Americans sure are afraid of what others will think of them.

I've made a couple of masks (and have a metric ton of "buffs" for my head that I can fold over and use).  I don't go out though.

It occurred to me today that a lot of the anti-mask thing in America - I couldn't figure out WHY, then I realized - not everyone has spent 40+ hours working in a cleanroom like me!  I don't anymore, but did for a good 15 years.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

So much is determined by culture. In many Asian countries, masks are seen as normal, so people wear them because it's socially sanctioned, and even expected, at times like this.

In the US, of course, we don't have a precedent of wearing them. Not that it should matter, but it does. People don't want others to judge them, so peer pressure works both ways.

For a bunch of "rugged individualists," Americans sure are afraid of what others will think of them.

I think a lot of western countries have a cultural bias against covering faces generally. To us, it's a way of deleting identity or hiding. Think of covering your face with a mask (like a halloween mask) or hiding your face in shame. Honest people are open-faced. I've often thought that's why there's such a negative reaction to burqas. Aside from the whole forced to wear it thing, which may or may not be the truth depending on the case.

[RetiredAt63]

Successful first run today with the new homemade masks.  If anyone stared, I didn't notice, I was too focused on sourcing what I needed and staying out of other people's personal spaces.  I saw two other shoppers with cloth masks (hooray!) and watched an Aldi cashier pull her paper mask off to talk to a customer (boo!).  Now its back to the drawing board to make tweaks to the design before we need to go out again next week.

Definite boo to the Aldi person. You need the mask more when you are talking, all sizes of particles are hitting the air when you talk.

[GuitarStv]

I live near a very large Asian-American community and lots of people there wear masks on a regular basis pre-covid so not unusual. I've taken to making a few out of old bras and works good. Since I'm RE and live alone now I dont really need to be around people so rarely need one anyways.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sea.mashable.com/culture/9489/out-of-face-masks-try-using-an-old-bra%3famp=1

I feel like people would judge me for wearing a frilly blue bra face mask.  :P

[Kris]

I can't sew and don't own a sewing machine anyway, so this is what I'm doing:

https://www.facebook.com/100007964100586/videos/2611871689088276/

(Sorry, I don't have a non-Facebook link)

[GuitarStv]

I live near a very large Asian-American community and lots of people there wear masks on a regular basis pre-covid so not unusual. I've taken to making a few out of old bras and works good. Since I'm RE and live alone now I dont really need to be around people so rarely need one anyways.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/sea.mashable.com/culture/9489/out-of-face-masks-try-using-an-old-bra%3famp=1

I feel like people would judge me for wearing a frilly blue bra face mask.  :P

Well there's always the plain white utilitarian nursing bra. Even comes with a "trap door" flap if ever needed. I'm sticking with the lacy red bra-mask because WTF not. It is the end of the world after all! Plus as a single woman living alone and self-distancing I don't have any where else to wear them ;-)

What are your thoughts on these n95 replacements that I've been reading about?



They seem to be widely available in drug stores and come with handy self adhesive strips.  :P

[DHMO]

No wonder they've been in short supply! :-P
Here I was thinking they sold out due to panic buying, when they've just found a use valuable to the previously-untapped male market.

[OtherJen]

I have some sturdy cotton yarn, so I think I'm going to knit a dense outer layer in a mask shape with ear loops and sew a couple of layers of T-shirt fabric on the inside. My sewing skills don't go further than that but I am a decent knitter, so we'll see if this works. If so, I'll make versions for my parents and husband (assuming I have enough yarn in appropriately manly colors).