I’m sure I have an unpopular opinion but does anyone else feel like the mass push for facial coverings and masks has very little benefit? Think about it (I know this is immature, so forgive me) if a fart can go through underwear and a pair of jeans... can’t good ol’ Rona go through a piece of cotton? Not only that, the general public is not educated in how to wear PPE and are not wearing the masks or gloves correctly.
Frankly... mask and gloves provide them with a false sense of security.
As nurses, we are keenly of what’s clean or sterile so we can do a pretty good job navigating ourselves in public during this pandemic. However, not trying to be disrespectful or anything, watching the public on with their masks and gloves on is quite entertaining to say the least. I was in Whole Foods recently and you can see who’s a medical professional from a mile away as it’s obvious to see which hand they’ve designated as their “dirty hand” and how they hold they hand in resting position while grocery shopping! If I can smell my coffee through my mask as I pick up a new bag from the shelf and toss it into the cart, then Rona ain’t going to be fooled by my mask. I’m not willing to waste an N95 for grocery shopping. I just don’t see the need for a mask out in public unless you have a new or sudden change in cough or are immune compromised. We will always have rouge individuals who will defy advice and not wear a mask when sick, but I’m talking about the general public. I do see the benefit when you have a cough as it will stop the droplets from traveling further. But just breathing in and out can transfer this virus... I don’t know how a mask will provide protection from this. I live in a fairly wealthy area where almost EVERYONE is wearing a mask in public. For those who are not wearing a mask, is it because of a conscious decision, typically unrelated to financial reasons.
My case is: I don’t see the efficacy of surgical/homemade masks against coronavirus for healthy individuals.
And I think you’re missing the point of the public’s wearing masks. It’s so the virus is shed downward and not towards someone’s face when you’re speaking, coughing, etc. It’s for protecting others around you and that’s the point of everyone wearing a mask.
But if you have no cough?
In my area (Greater Seattle) there are so many precautions in place:
There are taped square outside stores for lines to stand 6 feet apart.
Only 50 people allow inside a store at a time.
Grocery carts are disinfected between each person.
Grocery store isles are 1-way only to guide the flow of traffic.
There is plexiglass installed at each checkout counter between the customer and the salesperson.
The salesperson does not even touch the receipt anymore but expects you to grab it without touching anything else.
re-usable grocery bags are no longer allowed
Special store hours for seniors at all major retailers
employees are watching at every isle to guide the flow of traffic and ensure that people are 6ft apart and families are together, not mingling with others.
no returns accepted at stores.
We can't put food on the belt before the other customer has finished and gone.
Sick people should wear masks, as was always the expectation even before this pandemic.
That would be true except again...how do we know who the sick people are? Unlike nearly all the other viruses we are used to, people have been shown to be asymptomatic carriers of this particular disease. There is absolutely no way to know that we are not infectious without being tested daily. That is the reason for the masks.
That would be true except again...how do we know who the sick people are? Unlike nearly all the other viruses we are used to, people have been shown to be asymptomatic carriers of this particular disease. There is absolutely no way to know that we are not infectious without being tested daily. That is the reason for the masks.
Is the goal to completely eradicate this virus? Even with a vaccine, I am not hopeful that that will be ever achieved globally.
I am seriously just having simple conversation here, not being snarky at all; but what about heard immunity? Have we considered if it will be helpful to establish that and how?
I am seriously just having simple conversation here, not being snarky at all; but what about heard immunity? Have we considered if it will be helpful to establish that and how?
It's fine to rely on herd immunity by exposure for illnesses that aren't as dangerous as COVID or for that matter the flu but the risk of severe illness/death is much too high. That is where vaccines come in and why we have one for the flu. It is much less risky to achieve herd immunity by vaccine than it is by incidental infection. Unfortunately we are at least 2 years out and some say closer to 4 for a COVID vaccine. Also, we have no idea what kind of immunity being exposed to or having the illness will confer. Will it last 2 hours, 2 days, 2 months. Who knows? Do
And I think you’re missing the point of the public’s wearing masks. It’s so the virus is shed downward and not towards someone’s face when you’re speaking, coughing, etc. It’s for protecting others around you and that’s the point of everyone wearing a mask.
And you might have missed the point of my post -- I'm trying to address both sides of this issue.
You can't make the unworried possibly sick wear masks at all times in public. Right now we're honestly lucky that no security guards have been killed by people who refuse to either wear a mask or leave in retail stores -- not excusing the behavior, but far too many people are idiots.
You CAN keep the worried well from using up all of the PPE meant for health care professionals, especially when it's Winter and people refuse social distancing and insist on having Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when there's no vaccine likely by then -- they're going to be needed.
So even if a person does not believe that cloth are effective at reducing spread of the illness, they ARE effective in keeping people who might be trying to buy up surgical masks or N95s from feeling the need to do so. And that will be important.
I see them as a win/win in that way -- even if I do dislike the idea of people spending money on "vanity masks" vs supporting a local quilter to get a quality one.
Of course, I can't put one on someone else's face, as much as I might want to. I cover my own face instead, just like I cover another region. ?
Right now we're honestly lucky that no security guards have been killed by people who refuse to either wear a mask or leave in retail stores -- not excusing the behavior, but far too many people are idiots.
I can smell many things through my N95 with surgical mask over it when I am at work. What makes you think a smell is the same as a droplet? You can smell a baby's poop AND farts through diapers but, they still keep the poop and pee from going everywhere. I feel like it's probably better than people sneezing and coughing all over the items at the store and it also hopefully keeps people from touching their faces. I don't see the harm in it even if the effectiveness is small. Gloves, on the other hand, I don't agree with. Just wash your hands. Those are my thoughts.
And you might have missed the point of my post -- I'm trying to address both sides of this issue.
You can't make the unworried possibly sick wear masks at all times in public. Right now we're honestly lucky that no security guards have been killed by people who refuse to either wear a mask or leave in retail stores -- not excusing the behavior, but far too many people are idiots.
You CAN keep the worried well from using up all of the PPE meant for health care professionals, especially when it's Winter and people refuse social distancing and insist on having Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when there's no vaccine likely by then -- they're going to be needed.
So even if a person does not believe that cloth are effective at reducing spread of the illness, they ARE effective in keeping people who might be trying to buy up surgical masks or N95s from feeling the need to do so. And that will be important.
I see them as a win/win in that way -- even if I do dislike the idea of people spending money on "vanity masks" vs supporting a local quilter to get a quality one.
Of course, I can't put one on someone else's face, as much as I might want to. I cover my own face instead, just like I cover another region. ?
Well, I agree with your post and I guess it’s our job as nurses to provide information or at least inform people where to get information. I just can’t believe how uneducated people are and can’t be bothered to research basic science. Don’t really have an answer ?♂️
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
I am glad that in our part of Los Angeles people are mostly polite and considerate. Most wear a mask when out. If someone does not they are given one and asked to wear it by a store employee, police officer, or other person. I have a few clean cloth masks with me. Once a woman with a dog got close to me, I handed her a mask and asked her to please wear it or stay six feet away from me. She put it on and began asking about my Pearlie Girl dog.
But then in my city masks are required when not at home.
And you might have missed the point of my post -- I'm trying to address both sides of this issue.
You can't make the unworried possibly sick wear masks at all times in public. Right now we're honestly lucky that no security guards have been killed by people who refuse to either wear a mask or leave in retail stores -- not excusing the behavior, but far too many people are idiots.
You CAN keep the worried well from using up all of the PPE meant for health care professionals, especially when it's Winter and people refuse social distancing and insist on having Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when there's no vaccine likely by then -- they're going to be needed.
So even if a person does not believe that cloth are effective at reducing spread of the illness, they ARE effective in keeping people who might be trying to buy up surgical masks or N95s from feeling the need to do so. And that will be important.
I see them as a win/win in that way -- even if I do dislike the idea of people spending money on "vanity masks" vs supporting a local quilter to get a quality one.
Of course, I can't put one on someone else's face, as much as I might want to. I cover my own face instead, just like I cover another region. ?
I breast feed In public without covering up. There is nothing sexual about it unless the other is mentally ill.
Thanksforthedonuts, MSN, APRN
282 Posts
But if you have no cough?
In my area (Greater Seattle) there are so many precautions in place:
There are taped square outside stores for lines to stand 6 feet apart.
Only 50 people allow inside a store at a time.
Grocery carts are disinfected between each person.
Grocery store isles are 1-way only to guide the flow of traffic.
There is plexiglass installed at each checkout counter between the customer and the salesperson.
The salesperson does not even touch the receipt anymore but expects you to grab it without touching anything else.
re-usable grocery bags are no longer allowed
Special store hours for seniors at all major retailers
employees are watching at every isle to guide the flow of traffic and ensure that people are 6ft apart and families are together, not mingling with others.
no returns accepted at stores.
We can't put food on the belt before the other customer has finished and gone.
They don't touch credit card or membership cards