Community Chat

[on the bay]

An alarming thing I noticed today when they showed the deaths of this horrid virus was that China, the original horrifying amount of deaths was not below the US-#1, Italy, and Spain.

They were ordered to wear masks in public!

So we probably should have too, only there wasn't really enough.

I may rethink wearing one when if and when I go out to the store again and don't care if people think I am sick or just trying not to get sick! Most people at my Walmart last week were not wearing masks.

I believe a lot of us followed the surgeon general's plea not to wear them because of shortage for health care workers and also saying it wouldn't protect the well but only keep the sick from spreading germs.

Maybe another way we went wrong since we are number 1 in deaths now-sobering!

But also because some are not following stay at home at all.

I know we've all been over this many times, it just came as a sad realization to me today.That maybe we could have prevented so many more. 

And I don't care if this gets deleted or not!! As most of them do anyway.

[Lucky Dog]

Not sure if some countries are reporting accurate numbers, but I could be wrong.

[1Snickers]

 Months ago I searched everywhere for masks. There were none in stores. I found the better ones online and begged  my son to order some. He wouldn't and the price went up daily. 
  Today I really needed groceries and all the seniors had them on. I wore a yard mask. 

   News today said the virus can be spread just from breath and talking. So now we are supposed to wear a mask. The homemade ones will let the virus in. My yard mask that I found 2 of in my garage disintegrated, so I wore my one to the store. I could smell lilies through it. 
 

  

[on the bay]

It totally makes sense to wear one if the virus is spread even by breathing or talking.

I wish we could redo a lot of things but from now on, lets try to find a mask if we have to go out!

[suzyQ3]

I was using my Buff headgear but found out that polyester is not a good fabric for protection. I just ordered a triple-layered cotton mask from etsy. It's not medical grade but it will do.

[haddon9]

I don't believe the numbers that China is reporting.

[happycat]

There are no masks for sale to be found where I live. I found 2 of the ones they were recommending in my husbands shop. One was dirty on the outside, so I washed it. He took one to work and wore it yesterday. However, there are over 2000 people who work there, only a few with masks and 2 people have tested positive who work there, that we know of. 

I am worried sick and very disappointed in the leadership at his company. I cannot express just how disappointed I am feeling, actually. 

My son and daughter are both working also. They also have no masks. 

I feel like this country was so ill prepared for this its just hard to comprehend or believe. 

[Lipstickdiva]

We need to put things in perspective as well.  Yes there are a lot of deaths in the US.  But look at our population compared to that of Spain, Italy, etc.  This was bound to happen.  It's really not a fair comparison.

People in China often wear masks everyday because there is so much pollution.  

[pitdakota]

I don't think the recommendations have actually changed due to the research that is out there.

They may be doing studies that will change previous research, but currently surgical masks are not considered appropriate to filter a virus via respiratory droplet or one that is aerosolized.  That is why when you see pictures of our nurses and doctors working directly with patients they have a face shield on. 

The face shield is another layer to protect inhaled air for the person before it gets to the surgical mask.  It isn't just to protect their eyes.  If you see a health care worker with a N95 mask on, they typically will have goggles on because they don't really require the face shield with the N95 respirators in many situations.  

What the masks will do is cut down on community transmission when someone is asymptomatic out in the public area.  If they talk, laugh, or happen to cough or sneeze they are containing their respiratory droplets within their own mask & not dispersing them into the air.  You are keeping your own germs to yourself.  And that is never a bad thing, by the way.  

And that is why China mandated everyone to wear a mask when out in public.   It is to prevent someone with the virus from spreading it from others.  

So if you want to wear a mask you can make a fabric mask or even purchase those.   I will caution though of many years teaching nursing students surgical asepsis that the tendency is to reach up and adjust the mask.  If you wear a mask, it doesn't matter if is slips or you think it needs to be adjusted, you can't touch it until you use hand sanitizer on your hands.  

So while they are considering recommending that people wear masks, right now it is because they want to cut down on the people that have the virus and don't know it, getting out in public and spreading with just talking, laughing, or maybe even exhaling after a deep sigh.  That is the biggest risk to people out in public right now.  And you can't blame the person because they don't have a clue they might have the virus and be shedding it all over the place.  So if everyone is wearing a mask, that protects others.

[Happiness Is Inside JOB]

I did not take action as "fast" as I should have.  When the virus was taking "HOLD" in China I should have taken action.  I just did not realize, accept that iwth constant travel it would be 'HERE" before you know it.

SO I did not even think to order masks and gloves.  I just ordered last week from a medical supply store.  They have not arried yet.

I also ordered a second set of masks that won't arrive until May but I figured better be on the list to receive then be running around in may.  I think I might order a second set of gloves for when I'm on the train going to work.