Joined Dec 2008
D3: Woopster
Forum Thread
Why face masks ARE effective in limiting the spread of viruses.
March 20, 2020 at
01:02 AM
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I wondered why the CDC doesn't recommend face masks be used by the general public. So, I did a little research.
This report [nih.gov] indicates an efficacy rate of 30% to 50% for N95 face masks in normal use, within the assumptions and parameters of the study.
That doesn't mean using face masks will safeguard the user 30% to 50% of the time. It just means that under this particular test protocol, it provided some protection against airborne inhalation.
This other study [nih.gov] says that "... the effectiveness of surgical masks and N95 masks in blocking the transmission of SARS are 68% and 91%, respectively." Meaning that the person who is sick is much less likely to trasmit the disease by airborne particles if he or she is wearing a mask.
Nations that have the coronavirus under control now (China and Taiwan) have promoted the use of face masks by the general public as one of their cornerstones for epidemiological response.
So, why is it that the use of face masks within the U.S. is officially discouraged?
In a word: supply. With a limited supply of face masks on hand, the best and highest use for the face masks are for the health professionals and for the confirmed sick.
If there was an adequate supply of face masks, I believe the policy would be to encourage everyone to use a face mask. NOT because it protects the individual (maybe it does, maybe it doesn't). But because it significantly cuts down on the transmission from those that are sick (including silent carriers).
Think about it. Wouldn't you feel more comfortable if that person who just coughed or sneezed had been wearing a face mask?
* * * * *
The same can be said for testing. With a limited supply of tests, only those fitting a tight protocol get tested.
If there was an adequate supply of tests, everyone would be encouraged to get tested. The baseline information from such broad testing would be invaluable in mapping out a strategy for control of the pandemic.
This report [nih.gov] indicates an efficacy rate of 30% to 50% for N95 face masks in normal use, within the assumptions and parameters of the study.
That doesn't mean using face masks will safeguard the user 30% to 50% of the time. It just means that under this particular test protocol, it provided some protection against airborne inhalation.
This other study [nih.gov] says that "... the effectiveness of surgical masks and N95 masks in blocking the transmission of SARS are 68% and 91%, respectively." Meaning that the person who is sick is much less likely to trasmit the disease by airborne particles if he or she is wearing a mask.
Nations that have the coronavirus under control now (China and Taiwan) have promoted the use of face masks by the general public as one of their cornerstones for epidemiological response.
So, why is it that the use of face masks within the U.S. is officially discouraged?
In a word: supply. With a limited supply of face masks on hand, the best and highest use for the face masks are for the health professionals and for the confirmed sick.
If there was an adequate supply of face masks, I believe the policy would be to encourage everyone to use a face mask. NOT because it protects the individual (maybe it does, maybe it doesn't). But because it significantly cuts down on the transmission from those that are sick (including silent carriers).
Think about it. Wouldn't you feel more comfortable if that person who just coughed or sneezed had been wearing a face mask?
* * * * *
The same can be said for testing. With a limited supply of tests, only those fitting a tight protocol get tested.
If there was an adequate supply of tests, everyone would be encouraged to get tested. The baseline information from such broad testing would be invaluable in mapping out a strategy for control of the pandemic.
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So now they're basically saying wear *something* even if it's a bandana; For at least a week people locally have been making cloth (cotton) reusable masks for healthcare workers, but I don't think they are really intended to be used alone - usually just to "hold on" a traditional mask and perhaps act as a prefilter. In fact, N95's increase filtration efficiency as they are used because the "pores" (or rather, tortuous paths) in them become clogged. Of course this means more pressure drop (harder to breathe through it). What they really need is a method to cleanse them. You can sanitize it all you want but if you don't remove all the shit it's filtering out, at some point it's going to become useless.