Community Chat

[FlowerBear]

what does worry me is that stores will sell out of things like cleaning supplies and bleach wipes! and maybe not get them back in stock.

[Financialgrl]

Every winter during flu season I revert back to the advice years ago when in chemo.  The oncologist said to be vigilant about hand washing and avoid large crowds.  Only example of changing my ways - I don't attend lectures in our clubhouse during the winter bc the room is too small for normal attendance and the chairs are set up very close to each other.  Perfect storm for getting sick.

[FlowerBear]

What do you think about gatherings at this time like Church and crowd? Do you not worry at this time? Our local news keeps saying stay away from crowds and groups of people

[pitdakota]

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@santorini wrote:

I did buy 4 N95 masks from Amazon this week.  My local news had a story and the conclusion was that N95 masks DID work in preventing the spread but the other masks (thin kind that you use when you're painting your walls or mowing your grass) did not.  They showed local stores (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) and said they were all sold out of the N95 masks.  I got online that night and ordered 4 from Amazon.  Better safe than sorry.  They weren't that expensive and they are the reusable kind.

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@santorini, I hope you take this message in the true manner it is intended.  If you are planning on wearing the N95 respirator mask please look on youtube and research for videos that are for professionals in how to ensure a proper fit of the mask and how to take it off.  I am pretty sure there are videos out there that are geared toward medical professionals.  

N95 masks are also used by people that work in construction, insulation, etc.  In those cases I can see that the mask could be reusable.  If you are wearing it to protect you from any type of virus that is transmitted via respiratory droplet or airborne transmission that they are absolutely NOT reusable.

Think about this scenario.  You wear the mask to protect you while you from said virus while you go to the grocery.  While walking through the aisle someone infected with said virus sneezes just as you are walking by.  Respiratory droplets from said virus land on your mask and remain on the outside of the mask.  The virus can live for a number of hours on the outside of that mask.

One reason you want to know how to correctly remove the mask and dispose of the mask.  But you certainly don't want to be handling the outside of the mask and have it laying around since it would contaminate any surface it comes into contact with.  Including your hands.

And if you reapplied the mask while the virus was still active, you would certainly contaminate yourself with the very act of putting it on.  You must use your hand over the outside surface of the mask to place it correctly over your nose and mouth, then pinch the metal strip closely across the bridge of the nose.  A mask you are reusing theorectically could be contaminated with a live virus.  

So there is no way that using this type of mask as a way to prevent contracting an airborne or respiratory droplet transmitted virus is reusable.

I understand that there are people that are immune compromised that need to take more precautions than the average person.  But unless you are one of those individuals, this is why the experts tell people you can actually put yourself at greater risk by wearing a mask. 

There are all kinds of infection control principles for donning the mask, wearing the mask, and disposal of the mask.  

[Porcelain]

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@FlowerBear wrote:

What do you think about gatherings at this time like Church and crowd? Do you not worry at this time? Our local news keeps saying stay away from crowds and groups of people

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Church was how the virus spread in South Korea.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/27/coronavirus-south-korea-cults-conservatives-china/

https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-superspreader-south-korea-church.html

[Porcelain]

I think it's really important that if we post information about this virus that we A) don't sensationalize or exaggerate things, and B) don't put a political spin or tone on the information, even if that is very tempting.

A is misinformation. And B will mean that half of the people who read what you said will dismiss it out of hand as trying to be manipulative as opposed to informative--and it will probably be reported and deleted anyways.

[golding76]

Yes.  I am picking up those things that I'd use, in time, anyway.

[Moonlady]

Why is it puzzling that everyone in close proximity to those who have the virus, don't get it, themselves?

Likewise, everyone isn't susceptible to catching the common cold, influenza, or any number of things which aren't even communicable.

[suzyQ3]

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@Moonlady wrote:
Why is it puzzling that everyone in close proximity to those who have the virus, don't get it, themselves?

Likewise, everyone isn't susceptible to catching the common cold, influenza, or any number of things which aren't even communicable.

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@Moonlady, what?

[Moonlady]

You don't understand....what?

Some are "puzzled" that everyone in a family doesn't get the virus, when most do. As I said, everyone does not catch colds or flu, even when exposed to others so afflicted. Just as everyone doesn't contract diseases which are not communicable.

...which is what I posted.