topic Re: Why No Face Masks? in Community Chat

Why No Face Masks?

KarenQVC — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:48:27 GMT

Why not enough face masks for heath care workers?

I thought the gov kept enuf of these for at least the beginning of a pandemic. Am I wrong?

Re: Why No Face Masks?

tansy — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:52:00 GMT

That would be a reasonable expectation 😏

Re: Why No Face Masks?

CherryHugs — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:54:35 GMT

I heard today that everyone is buying face masks and places are selling out. People are stocking up and hoarding them. IF they continue to do this, the Surgeon General said there will be a Shortage for HealthCare workers that need them! I keep hearing they will not protect anyone from the virus!

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Hooty — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:52:50 GMT

Actually I heard that the face masks really don't keep "you" from germs, it keeps your germs from other people!

Re: Why No Face Masks?

lovescats — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:55:41 GMT

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it's responding to "the first possible outbreak" of the respiratory illness in a long-term care center in Washington. The death was not associated with that facility.

Health officials in Washington said 27 patients and 25 staff members at the center have symptoms associated with COVID-19.

The Life Care Center of Kirkland said in a statement that new patients and visitors were being turned away, and patients and staff "with symptoms or who were potentially exposed are quarantined."

The person who died was a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions, and there was no evidence he contracted the virus through travel, health officials said. They suspect domestic "community spread" of the disease, a new phase for the United States

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/1st-coronavirus-death-u-s-officials-say-n1145931

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Kachina624 — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:00:24 GMT

@KarenQVC wrote:
Why not enough face masks for heath care workers?

I thought the gov kept enuf of these for at least the beginning of a pandemic. Am I wrong?

@KarenQVC Because individuals are buying huge quantities of them and hoarding them, perhaps to resell at exorbitant prices.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Porcelain — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:03:25 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@KarenQVC wrote:
Why not enough face masks for heath care workers?

I thought the gov kept enuf of these for at least the beginning of a pandemic. Am I wrong?
@KarenQVC Because individuals are buying huge quantities of them and hoarding them, perhaps to resell at exorbitant prices.

That's one way to really make a killing! *rimshot*

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Porcelain — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:04:20 GMT

I would assume health care entities have their own suppliers and don't have to get their masks at Walmart or Amazon. Right?

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Shawnie — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:09:42 GMT

@Porcelain wrote:
I would assume health care entities have their own suppliers and don't have to get their masks at Walmart or Amazon. Right?

Yes but they probably all buy from the same source. If Walmart and Amazon's orders are draining the supply chain then you have a shortage in the making.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Krimpette — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:13:23 GMT

It's because folks are stockpiling them, thinking that they'll help them. But from what I've read, it's the sick folks who need to wear the masks, not the well peopls. As a result of this "hoarding" the people who really need to wear them might soon be unable to readily get them. I've read several articles and have heard several doctor interviews on TV. Again.....wearing the mask isn't going to protect you from getting the virus. The people who need to wear the masks, again, are those who are sick. And the health care workers most definitely need them.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

qvcfreak — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:14:35 GMT

Sadly, I don't know how we can stay protected. Everywhere we go, we touch things. At the office, doors, printers, pens, papers, phones. I was just at the grocery store, being very careful not to touch my face but I don't know who touched what I purchased and what I'm bringing in my home.

Tomorrow, I'll be attending a Business Meeting with over 100 people, it is a mandatory meeting. How many people there will be sick and not know it yet.

I've been taking my lunch but there are times when I have to stop and eat out.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

BlueFinch — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:25:47 GMT

From what I'm hearing, the majority of face masks are produced in China. That's a problem. Other sources are cranking them out as fast as they can.

In the meantime, masks are being conserved, primarily for those at the bedside. Locally, they have even eliminated the annual face mask fit test, to avoid any wasted masks. Let's hope people aren't lax in remembering how to seal the masks securely.

We warehouse lots of supplies, but it's probably not considered cost effective to significantly overstock items. It's always -- the bottom line.

Ventilators are an example. We could never keep enough of such costly equipment for a catastrophic pandemic, nor would we likely have enough staff to attend to so many critical patients.

I'm still pretty sure that we've got this thing and it will not escalate to a historic health event. The flu has done enough damage this season, already, which hasn't received its deserved attention.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

KarenQVC — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:32:00 GMT

I thought the gov had warehouses with large numbers of masks for health care workers and military--not last minute buying.

Are health care workers required to work if they are not propery protected? I would think they would call in sick.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Starliteshine — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:37:00 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@KarenQVC wrote:
Why not enough face masks for heath care workers?

I thought the gov kept enuf of these for at least the beginning of a pandemic. Am I wrong?
@KarenQVC Because individuals are buying huge quantities of them and hoarding them, perhaps to resell at exorbitant prices.

Some are selling on Ebay for $150 for one box of Curad Anti-Viral masks. Ridiculous!

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Starliteshine — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:45:52 GMT

It's not just masks. It's spreading to other products. I went to Sam's Club today and our local club is out of Clorox Cleaning Wipes, powdered milk, Kleenex (Anti-Viral), Neosporin, and some brands of toilet paper. They said people are coming in and buying large quantities. My kids are cashiers at our local grocery store. I asked the store manager if corporate has a plan in place. He said they will eliminate delivery of groceries. If they can't supply facemasks for the employees they will look at other options (limited hours) but their priority is to keep their employees safe.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

BlueFinch — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:00:58 GMT

@KarenQVC Face masks have an expiration date that can be lessened with improper storage. Keeping huge supplies that are up to date can be a challenge and there's a lot of wasted product.

Health care workers are unsung heroes. I don't know a single one who would abandon their patient, or call in sick, in the midst of a crisis.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

DiAnne — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:06:37 GMT

If they start regular testing it will be showing up all over the US.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

chrystaltree — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:10:33 GMT

I don't know what you are referring to but the face masks are for the patients, to prevent transmission. And it has to be certain type of face mask They aren't all the same. No. The government is not the great keeper of face masks.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:12:32 GMT

You DO NOT need a mask UNLESS you are sick.

Re: Why No Face Masks?

Jinlei — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:14:25 GMT

Heard on TV today that the Coronavirus bacteria is so small that it can pass through a mask. This was a physician talking. He said if you are healthy you do not need a mask, but if you are sick you should wear one when you go out so you don't spread your germs to healthy people. Some of this stuff is really getting ridiculous. Like the lady that asked on one of the forums here, what are you stocking up on? What is that going to do? Man, people really freaking out over this stuff. Just use your common sense.