Don't buy facemasks for the coronavirus!

[Naida_BR]

Yeah,  ordinary masks are useless in the  fight against Covid but respirator-grade ones  like 3M 6000, 3M 7500 and such are good.  Combined with both  the right protective goggles like  swimming    ones and gloves   they are capable to safe your lives.  In this respect, it is also important to select correct size for both respirator and goggles  that fits the face. 3M 7500 family:

This mask is not to face Covid.
It is for soldiers that are fighting in Syria... Stop scaring people and try to make them buy things that they are not necessary for them.
This situation and discussions just cause panic to them...

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[Subbir]

The Coronavirus is panic but Facemask can never protect us from the Coronavirus We are usually the victim of things and wear it Protects us from entering through our nose and mouth The coronavirus that attacks it cannot escape anything. i will be able to buy face masks for my very own protection.

[Spendulus]

Yeah,  ordinary masks are useless in the  fight against Covid but respirator-grade ones  like 3M 6000, 3M 7500 and such are good.  Combined with both  the right protective goggles like  swimming    ones and gloves   they are capable to safe your lives.  In this respect, it is also important to select correct size for both respirator and goggles  that fits the face. 3M 7500 family:

This mask is not to face Covid.
It is for soldiers that are fighting in Syria... Stop scaring people and try to make them buy things that they are not necessary for them.
This situation and discussions just cause panic to them...

I have both the 3M and the N95 masks and have occasionally used them on various jobs. A couple of hours of work with something that generates dust or airborne particles, like cutting concrete, and the N95 really does not do the job. How do you know? Go do it, then blow your nose. Your snot is colored and looks like 1/2 the dust generated. Conclusion: 95% is not so great.

The 3M masks are great, you feel better and healthier, and really get clean air.

The negatives of the 3M series ARE THE WAY YOU LOOK!

You look scary. But in a medical Metter like this, the choice of protection cannot be based on scary looking.

[Captain-Cryptory]

You look scary. But in a medical Metter like this, the choice of protection cannot be based on scary looking.

Better to be live and look scary than be handsome in coffin. Some life-hack for you. Instead of using costly 3M filters attached to 3M respirator you can place small pieces of medical cotton  into compartments with membranes  for inhaled breath and cover them with the shreds of papers used for ULPA filters. In turn that coverings cab be fixed tightly  by rubber bands of appropriate diameter. I'm using bands cut off from the end of children balloons.

[aioc]

Not everyone here in our country can buy this 3M made mask, majority of people are wearing mask made of cloth because it's now mandatory for us to wear masks whenever we go out, whatever masks will that be, as long as we can keep our nose and mouth from spitting droplets because everyone here is potentials carriers  

[Spendulus]

You look scary. But in a medical Metter like this, the choice of protection cannot be based on scary looking.

Better to be live and look scary than be handsome in coffin. Some life-hack for you. Instead of using costly 3M filters attached to 3M respirator you can place small pieces of medical cotton  into compartments with membranes  for inhaled breath and cover them with the shreds of papers used for ULPA filters. In turn that coverings cab be fixed tightly  by rubber bands of appropriate diameter. I'm using bands cut off from the end of children balloons.

Good comment, but why should I believe you are correct?

If you can show a simple method to test the efficiency of your materials when used as described, that would be quite valuable. I'm good with making filters for the masks, but if I run out and make them, I'll have devised a testing method to insure that my product does perform adequately. Otherwise a person would be relying on sheer guess work and essentially killing himself.

[BADecker]

You really need to buy facemasks for the coronavirus!










 

[Captain-Cryptory]

You look scary. But in a medical Metter like this, the choice of protection cannot be based on scary looking.

Better to be live and look scary than be handsome in coffin. Some life-hack for you. Instead of using costly 3M filters attached to 3M respirator you can place small pieces of medical cotton  into compartments with membranes  for inhaled breath and cover them with the shreds of papers used for ULPA filters. In turn that coverings cab be fixed tightly  by rubber bands of appropriate diameter. I'm using bands cut off from the end of children balloons.

Good comment, but why should I believe you are correct?

If you can show a simple method to test the efficiency of your materials when used as described, that would be quite valuable. I'm good with making filters for the masks, but if I run out and make them, I'll have devised a testing method to insure that my product does perform adequately. Otherwise a person would be relying on sheer guess work and essentially killing himself.

Well, such testing methods require sophisticated equipment and reagents. I hardly think you have that at home. However you can switch on your logic and compare the size (~ 0.12  µm,) of Covid with that one for pores (~0.1  µm) in ULPA  paper which is widely used in bacteria oriented filters. Besides, airborne viruses have a tendency  to form conglomerates that increases the dangerous particle size by 2x-3x times. You  can advance and use 2-3 layers of that paper. The 0.5 - 1 cm thick piece of medical cotton adds extra protection layer. Sure DYOR.

[nutildah]

Flat out bad advice to not buy a face mask.

The best arguments against wearing the mask I've seen come down to: "well, it doesn't stop the virus completely, so might as well not wear one."

This is just nonsense. Whatever precautions can be taken to slow down the transmission of the virus should be taken. Probably the best evidence for why masks should be worn is looking at the infection rates for mask wearing versus non-mask wearing countries.



Why masks lower COVID-19 deaths

Masks aid in decreasing COVID-19's virality by three pathways.

- Decreasing virus spread by infected individuals. The mask traps virus particles on the inside, preventing the virus particles becoming airborne. Protect others.
- Decreasing new infections by uninfected individuals. The mask prevents airborne virus particles being inhaled from the outside. Protect yourself.
- Limiting hand to face contact. The mask puts a physical barrier between potentially contaminated hands and passages to one's lungs.

Now, you can say this information is incorrect and just propaganda set forth by "big mask," or you could just use common sense in realizing that putting _any_ sort of physical shield (even a piece of bread) in front of your mouth and nose slows down transmission of airborn particles that might otherwise enter those orifices.

Where I live, wearing a mask outside is absolutely required. Even if its just a cloth mask or a bandana, you _must_ have one, as something is absolutely better than nothing. And its just a courtesy to others to stop your phlegm, mucous and spit from shooting freely into the open.

[Spendulus]

You look scary. But in a medical Metter like this, the choice of protection cannot be based on scary looking.

Better to be live and look scary than be handsome in coffin. Some life-hack for you. Instead of using costly 3M filters attached to 3M respirator you can place small pieces of medical cotton  into compartments with membranes  for inhaled breath and cover them with the shreds of papers used for ULPA filters. In turn that coverings cab be fixed tightly  by rubber bands of appropriate diameter. I'm using bands cut off from the end of children balloons.

Good comment, but why should I believe you are correct?

If you can show a simple method to test the efficiency of your materials when used as described, that would be quite valuable. I'm good with making filters for the masks, but if I run out and make them, I'll have devised a testing method to insure that my product does perform adequately. Otherwise a person would be relying on sheer guess work and essentially killing himself.

Well, such testing methods require sophisticated equipment and reagents. I hardly think you have that at home. However you can switch on your logic and compare the size (~ 0.12  µm,) of Covid with that one for pores (~0.1  µm) in ULPA  paper which is widely used in bacteria oriented filters. Besides, airborne viruses have a tendency  to form conglomerates that increases the dangerous particle size by 2x-3x times. You  can advance and use 2-3 layers of that paper. The 0.5 - 1 cm thick piece of medical cotton adds extra protection layer. Sure DYOR.

No (again).  No to someone's assertions on the internet regarding how to make a workable filter material.

Testing is required, and I am of the opinion it can be done without "sophisticated equipment and reagents."

Conversely, if it does require special gear, then prove it.

[Cratoon]

Flat out bad advice to not buy a face mask.

I strongly agree. People shouldn't be embarrassed wearing a mask, and they shouldn't simply "take their chances" with their and other peoples lives. Even if their country situation is currently not severe, preventive measures can save lives and give an example to other people.

If you are still able to buy masks -- stock on 3 - 5 of them, and dry them in a warm place for 3 full days after each use. Using a UV light source for sterilization of the masks is very effective, but you should make sure that your mask filters can be treated with UV, since some of them deteriorate on UV.

Please wear a mask, ignore any weird looks if you're wearing respirator. With mask you increase your chances of not being infected, and believe you Don't want to get infected. If you do - you simply don't have enough information about the threats that this virus presents to population of our beloved Earth.

[Captain-Cryptory]

No (again).  No to someone's assertions on the internet regarding how to make a workable filter material.

Testing is required, and I am of the opinion it can be done without "sophisticated equipment and reagents."

Conversely, if it does require special gear, then prove it.

Well, then conduct that testing yourself if you believe that is not hard task for your to test the   virus penetration  through materials. The stuff  used in my home designed filter has been described above. But before you start I would advise you to familiarize yourself  with requirements  for  such kind of procedures. https://www.astm.org/Standards/F1671.htm  Good luck in testing.

[Spendulus]

No (again).  No to someone's assertions on the internet regarding how to make a workable filter material.

Testing is required, and I am of the opinion it can be done without "sophisticated equipment and reagents."

Conversely, if it does require special gear, then prove it.

Well, then conduct that testing yourself if you believe that is not hard task for your to test the   virus penetration  through materials. The stuff  used in my home designed filter has been described above. But before you start I would advise you to familiarize yourself  with requirements  for  such kind of procedures. https://www.astm.org/Standards/F1671.htm  Good luck in testing.

Sure, thanks. I consider it very important to actually know what you are doing, instead of relying on guesswork. Looks like other people are looking into it.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic

[madnessteat]

I recently watched a video of a guy testing masks and respirators to try to smell substances such as acetone, gasoline, and solvent. He said that if you manage to smell acetone/gasoline/solvent in a mask/repirator, that mask/repirator will not protect you from coronavirus. What do you think of this test?

[Spendulus]

I recently watched a video of a guy testing masks and respirators to try to smell substances such as acetone, gasoline, and solvent. He said that if you manage to smell acetone/gasoline/solvent in a mask/repirator, that mask/repirator will not protect you from coronavirus. What do you think of this test?

That's ridiculous. These are "volatiles" which mean they are molecules in vapor form in the air. There are specific cartridges for the 3M masks for volatiles, which are extremely important say for painters and those working with various chemicals.

There are other cartridges for small particles. Actually there's a large variety of cartridges for different purposes.

As the absolute simplest example of this, ANY cloth-based or paper-based filter material could not stop volatile solvent fumes. Here is a link to some of these available from 3M.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Safety/Personal-Safety/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Reusable-Respirators/Cartridges-Filters/?N=5002385+8709322+8711017+8711405+8720539+8720550+8720746+3294857497&rt=r3

[Captain-Cryptory]

I recently watched a video of a guy testing masks and respirators to try to smell substances such as acetone, gasoline, and solvent. He said that if you manage to smell acetone/gasoline/solvent in a mask/repirator, that mask/repirator will not protect you from coronavirus. What do you think of this test?

Viruses and odors are different stuff. The size of molecules for the last is far less than that the dimension of viruses. Molecule of acetone is around 1 nm small while the size of covid is ~ 0.12  µm  i.e. ~ 12 nm. That is why the filters designed to protect against viruses will not protect you from odors. There are special filters filled with nanporous stuff capable to absorbs molecules of odors.

[Spendulus]

...Molecule of acetone is around 1 nm small while the size of covid is ~ 0.12  µm  i.e. ~ 12 nm. That is why the filters designed to protect against viruses will not protect you from odors. There are special filters filled with nanporous stuff capable to absorbs molecules of odors.

0.12 um = 120 nm

But acetone travels around as a gas while the cover is quite likely to be associated with water micro drops and such, so the true gap in side even bigger.

[Chrystora123]

fashionable and best clothes from Elon Musk to dispel the sars-cov-2 virus if the facemask can't do it 

[Hulhala15]

I do not know why the heck people are just bringing in more and more complications. Telling people that thenormal masks  won actually help them only increases the panic that they already have. I am sure that even though the normal masks dont provide that much protection, they are better than nothing. That mask you have recommended looks like a gaming equipment, how can I wear that thing in public. It would just seem weird, the normal mask will do, all you need to do is stay with in a safe distance when next to a person. If a person is wearing a mask then they will probably sneeze in their own mask,the germs wont get to you.

[squatz1]

I'm assuming this has been discussed on here by now, but the CDC has changed their directive regarding facemasks and is now recommending that all people wear facemasks when they're out of the house. It's NOT to protect you from getting the coronavirus, because JackG has correctly pointed out that these masks won't help, but it will stop you from spreading the virus to others.

CDC Directive: https://theconversation.com/the-cdc-now-recommends-wearing-a-mask-in-some-cases-a-physician-explains-why-and-when-to-wear-one-135590

So yeah, just wear one. You can make them from home with an old shirt and some rubber bands.