Unfortunately COVID is going from a disease where we protect each other to one where we protect ourselves. We have vax/mask and anti-vax/ antimask as the basic 2 sides. Now we don’t want to overwhelm the health care system, but wouldn’t it just be better and quicker for those who try to protect themselves to wear vented masks so those who don’t can get COVID, and build immunity that way (or perhaps die in the process)? Should we all switch to vented masks and help spread acquired immunity to those who are not vaxed? For the same line of reasoning that we have a right to live our life how we see fit and can chose to wear such a mask even if it means spreading disease?
I’ve been wearing a vented mask for a while. At first I was very conscious about the vent so when I went indoors I would put a surgical mask over it.
Later, I read that the CDC (or someone) said that vented masks were just as good as surgical, cloth, or most other kinds of masks because while they allowed aerosols to escape they stopped the spread of droplets–just like the cloth (etc.) masks that most people wear.
I can’t remember where I read this but I wish I could find it because I still worry that someone will get pissed that I’m wearing a vented N95 mask.
These findings show that [masks] with an exhalation valve provide respiratory protection to the wearer and can also reduce particle emissions to levels similar to or better than those provided by surgical masks, procedure masks, or cloth face coverings.
On the use of vented masks I found this from the CDC:
A NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator with an exhalation valve offers the same protection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve. As source control, findings from NIOSH research suggest that, even without covering the valve, N95 respirators with exhalation valves provide the same or better source control than surgical masks, procedure masks, cloth masks, or fabric coverings.
Kinda ninja’d by Joey_P.
We now have enough N95 masks for those who need them most, but do we have enough for everybody? The in-person-working population of the country, times one mask per day, is an awfully large number of masks. Even if you discount it by the proportion who aren’t conscientious enough to want one.
To my knowledge, the CDC still advises people NOT to wear vented masks.
“DO NOT choose masks that
Have exhalation valves or vents which allow virus particles to escape”
The study referenced in preceding posts was conducted under the auspices of NIOSH (occupational safety and health) and its conclusions do not represent CDC policy re the pandemic. Further, the study’s conclusions talk about vented masks possibly representing adequate protection for health care personnel in the event of shortages of other masks, and also discuss how to cover the vent to limit particle emissions.
The philosophy that “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” makes lousy public health policy. And all those people with long Covid would disagree for a different reason.
The short answer is no. I would’ve liked to add emphasis but this isn’t the right forum in which to do so.
We most definitely do not have that right. How disgusting.
Even the first line of the OP made me go “WTF? Why would we NOT want to protect other people?”
Unfortunately COVID is going from a disease where we protect each other to one where we protect ourselves.
Especially since there are decent people who cannot get vaccinated for legitimate reasons, or who are still at real risk even if they are vaccinated.
Is one mask per day enough? if people are wearing them 8 hours a day at work, plus while shopping or doing other activities, they are probably going to need more than one.
Also, can everyone afford them? They are not too expensive, but if we are talking about 3 masks a day, and the best price I see for them is a bit over a dollar per, means $100 a month just for masks.
ETA: added a “not”
Yes. Remember the articles about ramping up N95 production and then having a glut and companies losing money?
Hardware stores are fully stocked with a variety of N95 masks. You can get a couple of boxes delivered from Staples tomorrow. There is no reason to “save” them for front line workers or anybody else.
The reason many health care workers are still in paper masks is because of the WHO and CDC being slow in acknowledging that COVID is airborne, and the continued insistence on droplet transmission and surface cleaning as effective prevention measures. Airborne transmission requires filtration and ventilation as effective prevention measures.
Additionally, it is not necessary to dispose of N95 masks after a single use. The straps will wear out before the filter medium. Recommendations are to let the masks rest for 3-5 days after each use in a paper bag or hanging to air out. That will let them dry, and kill any bacteria or viruses trapped.
A common practice is to have a mask (or two) for each day, and let them rest for a week between uses.
Everybody should be using an N95, KF94, KN95, or FFP2 respirator. Any mask is better than none, but these high quality respirators are much better than cloth or paper.
I said that there was enough for the people who need them most. OK, so there’s a surplus now. But how much of a surplus? Right now, only a small fraction of the population is wearing them. Is there such a large surplus that they could handle many times the demand they have now? This is a question that needs numbers to answer, not just “look, the shelves are full”.
Do you have a cite for this? All of the ones I’ve seen are very prominently labeled “single use only”.
Unfortunately I don’t have good citations. This is mostly stuff I’m picking up from COVID twitter and the likes of Professor José-Luis Jimenez and Aaron Collins. So just stuff I read on twitter? Yes, but from people who are experts in the field.
If you want something a bit less social media and more traditional media, here is an opinion piece by a professor in the UK.
And a twitter thread from the same author, where she talks about mask reuse. TL/DR manufacturer stated use limitations that apply to a dusty and contaminated worksite do not apply to doing some grocery shopping. 40 hours of use is well within specs.
Here is the CDC’s guidance on emergency respirator reuse due to limited supplies. Most important thing, is as of May 2021 “Healthcare facilities should not be using crisis capacity strategies at this time and should promptly resume conventional practices” aka supplies are readily available.
Advice on reuse in that article is applicable to medical settings where more than just COVID is a danger. They cite testing that the straps are good for about 5 reuses before fit is compromised. That is to achieve 100% fit in medical settings. At home, your fit is probably lower than that anyway, and you can always tighten straps that have loosened a bit.
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Surgical masks leak, cloth masks leak, so respirator that is leaking a bit is still more effective than the other options at filtering viruses.
If you want something that meets N95 certification and specifically can be washed and heat disenfected, look at the Airgami.
Bottom line, put the cute hand made cloth masks we all scrambled for in March 2020 into your COVID memory chest, and go get some real respirators.
What about those who would like to be vaxed but can’t? The whole point of getting vaccinated is to protect the community, not just our selfish selves, same goes for mask wearing.
Thanks for this. I hope it dissuades people from wearing vented masks.
This is exactly the problem this addresses. The selfish pro-covid people who refuse masks/vaccines are the threat to these people who can not get a vaccination. The 94/95 masks are pretty effective in and of themselves, and it appears even if the virus breaksthrough the mask it is a smaller dose and thus less chance of serious infection, so they can be protected that way. But the it would be a overall benefit to those exact people if people refusing to take precautions acquire immunity, and since they are anti-vax the only option for that would be for them to get COVID, hopefully receiver and have acquired immunity that way. More people, with immunity would be a great benefit for those who can not get the vaccine.
It appears like the way we are going this path forward has dead ended, so why keep on going in a way that is already know to be a failure? How is that protecting society?
How does your plan make sure that only those who don’t want to get vaccinated are exposed to your aerosols and not those who can’t get vaccinated?
Wow, just came here, and I’m going to pitch in without reading all the other posts, first, to avoid undue influence.
Both shot and boosted, here, and I still wear a mask in stores, etc, and congratulate myself for looking out for everyone else. But for some time I’ve been wondering why I bother to protect the dumb bastards, and especially the real bastards, who won’t try to protect everyone else.
Going to read, now; wonder how I feel at the end of the thread. Anyone want to bet a quatloo? I’ll be as honest as possible.
Dan
Perhaps we could psych the antis to proudly wear a scarlet “A” on their forehead,so I would know when I could pull off my mask and work on some deep breathing…
Yes; I like the sentiment, but until I can devise a targeting technique, I’ll continue to mask.
Dan
Because you* might need that hospital bed.
*Or me, and I say that as someone that has had to sleep in the ER during Covid because there were no empty beds in the hospital.