Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[rdodolak]

[The Administration] invokes Defense Production Act on 3M N95 respiratory masks

State Leaders: Business Practices Around Mask Maker ‘Shady as Hell’ in Crisis

Florida emergency management official says 3M selling masks to foreign countries: 'We're chasing ghosts'

Looks like we shall start seeing an increase of masks reaching US health care facilities in the near term.

[MifuneFan]

Apparently we could have gotten millions of KN95 masks, the Chinese equivalent of an N95, a long time ago, but because they weren't approved by the FDA (despite the CDC's approval of them), hospitals, and companies weren't allowed to import them. Only earlier today did the FDA finally okay them.. It sucks that this red tape stuff likely cost people's lives, and put healthcare workers in greater danger.

[LordoftheRings]

Prevention ... Don't talk, don't even breathe ...
◙ https://www.prevention.com/health/a3...ing-breathing/

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Apparently we could have gotten millions of KN95 masks, the Chinese equivalent of an N95, a long time ago, but because they weren't approved by the FDA (despite the CDC's approval of them), hospitals, and companies weren't allowed to import them. Only earlier today did the FDA finally okay them.. It sucks that this red tape stuff likely cost people's lives, and put healthcare workers in greater danger.

And yet companies here are exporting critical medical supplies to foreign countries yet our own can't get those same supplies. Nor have we put restrictions on exports of critical medical supplies like other foreign countries have.

[Lee A Stewart]

New England Patriots team plane flying 1.2 million N95 masks from China to help ease coronavirus shortages

[intoanewlife]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I was talking about everyone wearing masks weeks before it got more attention. I even got pushback from people on here for suggesting it

One would think that if you're infected and just talking to someone else and you're both wearing masks the droplets may go through your mask, but it then has to travel through the air and through a 2nd mask to infect the other person. Your mask would slow it down too would it not? Or are the droplets so minuscule they just pass straight through it with no contact what so ever?

Sure sneezing and coughing is different, but who sneezes or coughs directly into someone's face...

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by MrHT

So are you saying people should NOT wear a mask? I'm confused at what you're getting at with your question...

You said you don't think masks keep you from getting infected, so why would doctors and nurses be desperate to use them when treating patients they KNOW have coronavirus?

[Eye Candy]

[Waboman]

[Hitman Horton]

There's a lot of discussion about masks so here's the information. The first thing that everybody needs to know is that the research into the effectiveness of masks is inconclusive. Nobody REALLY knows for sure.

Having said that, people who are sick or are treating people who are sick are told to wear a mask. Why? If you are sick, you will be expelling the microscopic droplets of water that will be containing the virus. Wearing a mask may provide a barrier to catch at least some of those droplets. It is VERY important to know that if the mask gets wet it MUST be changed because it is no longer effective and may actually attract other moisture to it. Health care professionals wear masks because it may provide some protection against those microscopic droplets. Keep in mind, they KNOW the people they are working with are contagious.

Can a mask worn in public protect you from getting the virus. NO. Why? A properly worn mask will cover the mouth and the nose and that is it. The virus can still get into your eyes and onto your face. If you have it on your face and touch it when removing the mask, you now have it on your hands. In addition, the virus can get onto your body and/or your clothes. Touching those items, you now have the virus on you. So, if a properly worn mask was 100% effective against the virus, there are still many ways that you can become infected, as I've just pointed out.

If you are somebody that is wearing a mask or gloves, do your research. Look for videos from health care professionals on how to properly use these things. If you're not using them properly, you're wasting your money.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Hitman Horton

A properly worn mask will cover the mouth and the nose and that is it. The virus can still get into your eyes and onto your face.

That's not really true, many people wear glasses and/or shades; you can also get a face shield to use along with the mask, I've seen folks (including doctors) doing this.

[Hitman Horton]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

That's not really true, many people wear glasses and/or shades; you can also get a face shield to use along with the mask, I've seen folks (including doctors) doing this.

Do you realize that your comment actually proves my point?? I am providing information in the hopes that people will read it and make a decision for themselves. I am not here to argue my point. If you don't agree, that's fine.

[LordoftheRings]

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Why are doctors and nurses, all of whom were healthy before the pandemic, desperate to wear masks when treating people they already know to be infected, then?

Because anything that can reduce risk to as minimum as possible right now seems to be saving lives. I'll tell you, i read a story here in the UK about an NHS worker who was basically dealing with patients using gloves and flimsy plastic apron thing. No proper PPE or anything. He caught Coronavirus and ended up being told to self isolate and wasn't even tested for COVID-19 and ended up ill and died.

Frontline NHS workers are then "Clapped and Cheered" for as a PR stunt by our government. What the HELL is clapping going to do you morons! You're literally thanking thin air like an idiot. I can almost guarantee once the Coronavirus is dealt with people will go back to being selfish asshats who won't really care for or remember the key role these people played. We're gonna end up with a repeat of this moronic handling because economies will still be chasing savings of money and not lives.

Plus, when there's a shortage of medical equipment vital to the front line workers, telling a general population to wear it is a recipe for disaster. How many unscrupulous people do you think are still sat on medical supplies ready to profit off it?

I read an article recently on the BBC that said Ventilator pricing went up from around $20k to circa $90k plus in range. There's no way companies are NOT trying to take advantage of this crisis and some people are getting very RICH from this disaster.

[Himmel]

Human Kidney is a Target for Novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection. Source

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[Lee A Stewart]

Florida officials are using some of the state’s weigh stations as a checkpoint for motorists only to try to slow the spread of COVID-19/Coronavirus from other states.

Florida Highway Patrol will staff the checkpoint at I-10 at the Alabama/Florida line, 24 hours a day with approximately 16 troopers in 12-hour shifts.

Commercial motor vehicles should proceed in the left lane and may bypass the checkpoint to ensure timely delivery of products across the state.

Motorists who have been in areas with substantial outbreaks of Coronavirus including Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will be required to quarantine for 14 days before they are allowed into Florida.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Get your hand away from your mouth Ryan!!

[Moe Szyslak]

Originally Posted by Hitman Horton

Can a mask worn in public protect you from getting the virus. NO. Why? A properly worn mask will cover the mouth and the nose and that is it. The virus can still get into your eyes and onto your face. If you have it on your face and touch it when removing the mask, you now have it on your hands. In addition, the virus can get onto your body and/or your clothes. Touching those items, you now have the virus on you. So, if a properly worn mask was 100% effective against the virus, there are still many ways that you can become infected, as I've just pointed out.

Aren't the mouth and nose literally the most important part of your body to protect?

Using the above logic all PPE is useless because it's just an additional item where the virus could attach. That's the entire point, PPE is the last line of defense. You'd rather have it on something you can dispose of later than have it on your body. I don't think anyone is saying that wearing a mask supersedes other safety measures such as washing hands and social distancing.

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Get your hand away from your mouth Ryan!!

And go home! Buying cearl is not essential shopping!

[Himmel]

The debate and confusion about masks for #COVID19 just got some real and important data from a rigorous randomized trial in patients with coronavirus (and influenza). They work. Source