Wearing masks is as much about protecting others as yourself | Hacker News Reader

Wearing masks is as much about protecting others as yourself

bbc.com

28 pointsmmhsieh14 comments

Everyone should be wearing a mask, even if it's a DIY mask [1]. Perfection is the enemy of good. We don't all need medical grade masks!

If everyone wears masks, then transmissibility of any virus is dramatically reduced.

Don't fall for the myths that you don't need a mask, don't fall for the arguments against masks. Don't think you're so damn smart.

The key here is to create a culture of mask wearing. The advantages are worth it!

[1] https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-...

I have no idea if you're right, but I'd be happy if fashion changed that way before all the facial identification cameras take over every public space. :-)

The information on the WHO website as of 2 days ago said that masks will only prevent spread from people who have symptoms, but not protect people who do not have symptoms, unless they are caring for someone who has Covid-19. This is, of course, logically inconsistent, and made me distrust the information from WHO.

That information is now gone from the website, and they no longer appear to be saying this. There is speculation that WHO was intentionally distorting facts in order to prevent hoarding.

I think it might have served them and us better to have been truthful and transparent: "There is a global shortage of masks, so please do not hoard masks. Priority should go to those who care for covid patients, and those who have symptoms."

Man, any story about masks seems to rapidly get flagged off the home page today.

Not very odd given the shortages of masks.

Don't use medical grade masks. The rest might not help and cause a false sense of security. You also need to cover your eyes.

Ugh, see, that’s all wrong.

A non-medical mask still catches droplets, both in and out, and eyes aren’t the primary source of infection.

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

I’ve heard several times from experts that I should only wear a mask when I show symptoms, to protect others. But what about the incubation period? Could I not spread the disease before I start showing symptoms?

Not all experts are saying this. CDC organizations in different countries recommend wearing masks.

I think mainly this was to prevent supply problems. But we don't all need to wear medical grade masks to gain the benefits.

You may never show symptoms and still spread it. Everyone should be wearing masks in public, if you must be out and near anyone else. The title of the post says it all.

I think this should be taken with a grain of salt. You can't be physically shedding large quantities of virus if you are not coughing or sneezing, and being exposed to large quantities is essential for infection.

Which experts in the western countries because of shortage of masks they have spread this false narrative that masks don't work. Masks work they won't 100% of the time but even if they work 50% the spread of the virus halves.

In the United States, where we seem to have a shortage of masks, all of this discussion goes out the window though. We need to ensure we have enough masks for health care workers and the sick, before we encourage the healthy to wear them.

(My understanding is that it’s not just N95 masks that are lacking, but simple surgical masks too.)

DIY masks are available however. Or non-medical grade masks.

Even a simple cloth mask - not N95, not surgical - has some benefit. The Czech Republic has made them mandatory.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/would-everyone-weari...

> But some health experts, including the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, think that’s a mistake. Health authorities in parts of Asia have encouraged all citizens to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the virus, regardless of whether they have symptoms. And the Czech Republic took the uncommon step last week of making nose and mouth coverings mandatory in public spaces, prompting a grassroots drive to hand make masks.

The entire article is worth a read.

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