Masks

[alywin]

It's been known for ages that typical blue masks will keep out the virus to about 60% as do double layer home-made cotton masks,

(But they really need to be three-layer, with a non-woven filter layer in between the two fabric layers. Otherwise there's a risk of the holes in the weave of the two layers lining up and virus particles getting through them)

[mosy]

Yes alwyn. Although, tests on ease of breathing showed a drastic reduction with more layers or e.g. vacuum bag filter paper which is highly effective. Hence the now readily available double layer masks that more people can and are more likely to wear is considered a happy medium especially if coupled with reasonable distancing.

I don't know how one could check to see if they can breathe through a particular mask (before potentially wasting a tenner), unless putting on two thin ones to see how that feels. Any other way?

[JGD]

I don't know how one could check to see if they can breathe through a particular mask (before potentially wasting a tenner), unless putting on two thin ones to see how that feels. Any other way?

A harsh reality of the times and circumstances in which we find ourselves is that you are right to ask the question, but there is no other way.

You could mock up using patches of material perhaps - but the risk on these issues is caveat emptor on the purchase of a specific mask which may or may not match the characteristics of your mock up.

The principle of non-transferable use of single use breathing kit whether they be masks or breathing equipment, amongst others, is universally difficult and hence shared-use is prohibited.

I had equipment to aid my breathing prescribed for me in recent months and during a fit-out visit to hospital, it was not permitted to turn the machine on in the clinic to test it.

Staff gave me a dry run through on how to fit masks and operate the kit but it was left to me to run the equipment "live" for the first time at home. The support was fantastically good and replacements were mailed to me when alternatives were thought to be required. But the simple act of trying it "live" in the hospital environment was not permitted given the risks of virus particles being exhaled.

It is with certainty that we all would wish this could be different.

[mosy]

It was certainly in my thinking that people who most need high protection masks are often those least likely to be able to breathe through them, and probably aren't sewing wizzards either although home-made masks can be bought online (e.g. via Etsy). Maybe one of Sydenham's dry cleaners with an alternations specialist could offer to make individual masks to order from fabric brought in?

Footfall outside here is as quiet as during lockdown even though schools are back, so I'm guessing that people of all ages are simply not going out unless necessary, masked or not, which is not good for jobs in the hospitality sector and retail generally. It's a sorry state of affairs especially as testing is kaput again, but testing gripes is a topic probably more for The Pub.

[syd]

Syd, what is new about that study's findings please? What date was it published?

It's been known for ages that typical blue masks will keep out the virus to about 60% as do double layer home-made cotton masks, that inhaling fewer droplets usually leads to milder symptoms, and that being in contact with the virus for a shorter period (presumably less bombardment) is better, hence sustained engagement with others is not recommended. Don't, or shouldn't, people know all that already? So what's new in the Harvard report please?

Hi Mosy

It was updated 11/9 and here is the link.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases ... rce-center

[mosy]

Many thanks Syd. I'll have to peruse it later and will come back if anything useful to say.

[alywin]

I went into Wilko's in Bromley the other week, and was surprised to see that they had by the checkouts a collection container for recycling single-use masks. This leads me to wonder whether there's also one in the Penge branch.

Alternatively, Terracycle run a mask recycling scheme ...