OT: When you go out, are you wearing a mask?

And here's another argument for wearing masks:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/03/28/masks-all-coronavirus/

We were just discussing this today and have decided gloves and masks for the foreseeable future. We were then trying to figure out not contaminate our vehicle with the gloves, etc.

This whole don't wear a mask thing was a ruse in my opinion because there were not enough of them. I was prepared because I started watching this going on early in China. I won't be made to feel guilty for preparing for this when others were not. I also sold stocks well before and picked up some last week. If you relied on your government for news they you heard it was nothing and fake news. If you understand China, you also understand that the Chinese government is pathological and so if you heard was bad, that means was horrific.

VX gas is worse. Truth.

Not all masks are created equal. BTW, when you see pictures of Drs/nurses wearing surgical masks during this pandemic, they are usually covering/over N95 respirators. The reason they add this extra layer is because they are being forced to wear the respirators all shift so having a disposable surgical mask to protect the respirator underneath, makes sense. A surgical mask alone is not going to provide much protection but if you have a couple of N95/99/100 masks laying around like I do from house projects, then it's a good idea wear one properly and to avoid touching the mask to remove it before you have washed your hands. Also, never touch the inside of it or you can contaminate it quickly

Did first time today and will continue to do so..problem is my gloves and keeping them separate from everything else.

I also noticed a ton of people on my street leaving packages on their porch for a few days before bringing them in.

In searching Amazon for surgical masks, I see a lot of shaky sellers. Many are $25+ for 10 masks!

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting decent masks in store or online

During a recent move we misplaced or lost a few basic masks and I can't find them. I'm not sure if we can get any now.

Ironically, one of my sons and his wife were living in China until early last year and we made sure they had good masks for the pollution in Beijing.

We're also lucky that our other son and his wife can both work from home.

Stay safe everyone.

I saw a man the other day wearing an American flag as a scarf around his face. It was like a more patriotic version of the one you'd see on The Lone Ranger. I might try a scarf the next time I have to be near people.

Folks on one of the other threads seem to believe that masks and tests will still be in short supply after another FOUR months (the end of July). I find that extremely unlikely.

Companies can make lots and lots of money selling masks and testing equipment. I'm sure that the administration knows companies who want to make some of that money.

It is one thing to deal with the extreme shortages created by mistakes at the beginning of a crisis (Jan-Mar). It is quite another thing to expect the almost total incompetence (at all governmental levels) to continue for another FOUR months.

mgteich said:

Folks on one of the other threads seem to believe that masks and tests will still be in short supply after another FOUR months (the end of July). I find that extremely unlikely.

Companies can make lots and lots of money selling masks and testing equipment. I'm sure that the administration knows companies who want to make some of that money.

It is one thing to deal with the extreme shortages created by mistakes at the beginning of a crisis (Jan-Mar). It is quite another thing to expect the almost total incompetence (at all governmental levels) to continue for another FOUR months.

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Companies are selling millions of masks abroad daily. They are selling to the highest bidder. The WH is holding back ventilators and the Pentagon hasn't been instructed where to send them

With these leaders? I can see a short supply of every single thing needed for the rest of the year unless private companies like GE, Ford ect only make them for the US and don't sell them abroad.

Plus Trump has the agenda vs certain governers who "don't play nice" so they will get less from the feds

IcyPatriot said:

I hold my breathe when walking past people. Girl at doctor told me today a mask will not help someone who is not sick ... touching an infected spot and transferring that to your body is the problem.

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We keep hearing this but cultures that tend to wear them seem to be having more success in preventing the spread, so...

Brady_to_Moss said:

Companies are selling millions of masks abroad daily. They are selling to the highest bidder. The WH is holding back ventilators and the Pentagon hasn't been instructed where to send them

With these leaders? I can see a short supply of every single thing needed for the rest of the year unless private companies like GE, Ford ect only make them for the US and don't sell them abroad.

Plus Trump has the agenda vs certain governers who "don't play nice" so they will get less from the feds

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VENTILATORS
What Trump said yesterday is what should be happening, other than him personally making the decisions, every one as he is proud to point out. Someone at FEMA is in charge of the stockpile, its distribution and its replenishment. Whatever ventilators should be managed by the federal government. Obviously, FL shouldn't be getting 100% of all requests while others beg. If their numbers are anywhere near correct, they can't give more to NY. NY could empty the entire supply. And, as of now NY will be fine. NO, Detroit and Chicago are in real trouble.

BTW, NY is fine because of all the creative ways they have produced ventilators.

Trump just doesn't want to be the leader. He finally had to order GM to produce 10K ventilators by the end of April or was it May, Now he's done.

MASKS
If producers can make masks and sell at an enlarged profit through Amazon, then they don't need to sell their entire supply overseas. Besides, if the profit is there, they can just use more facilities, and more shifts, and make more profits. Maybe the most efficient method for the general public is for Amazon to negotiate for them, and to secure masks from all over the world. Hospitals and states should be able to pay companies what they are able to get overseas. Are the overseas customers really paying the touch of a premium? In any case, the answer is for companies to make more profits. Obviously, these decisions could have been made by FEMA since January had Trump made the Executive order then to allow them to control the supply chain.

I'm not but I should: assume you have it and do your best to not spread it (early advice was don't wear it because it won't protect you -- the point is to protect others).

I found an old N95 in my shed.

The Brandon Five said:

We keep hearing this but cultures that tend to wear them seem to be having more success in preventing the spread, so...

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fake news

PatriotsReign said:

In searching Amazon for surgical masks, I see a lot of shaky sellers. Many are $25+ for 10 masks!

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting decent masks in store or online

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From my quick investigation into things...

N95/P95 or better. NIOSH certified.

The NIOSH thing is important because otherwise you may end up with an N95 mask for woodworking but it doesn’t seal correctly.

Some masks have that hard piece in the middle that helps expel your exhale (moisture n heat) to make it more comfortable when wearing for a long time.

My search on Amazon this morning was unsuccessful to say the least. Either bad sellers with horrible reviews, crap masks, or when you go to checkout, it says those are only for healthcare workers, and you can't buy em.

No way can the CDC issue that recommendation until quality masks are available to the public.

Re: masks
"The government has yet to curtail exports by U.S. companies, however—roughly 280 million masks in warehouses around the U.S. were purchased by foreign buyers on Monday alone, according to Forbes. A FEMA spokesperson said the agency “has not actively encouraged or discouraged U.S. companies from exporting overseas,” noting that various U.S. agencies are coordinating their activities with their overseas counterparts."
Pence task force freezes coronavirus aid amid backlash

Now in our second week of lockdown and seems to be that people are still following the rules. Some lapses of thought when queuing in supermarkets people encroach within the 2mtr rule.......god knows how difficult this must be in a city......really have to keep occupied st home and only risk is going out for groceries and medicine.......cannot see them lifting this in 2 weeks time

Sorry was going to mention very little people wearing masks apart from the very old , more people wearing gloves ala pushing trolleys around supermarkets......only good thing is when out for exercise more people acknowledge each other (albeit from across the road) than if we were living normally

PatriotsReign said:

In searching Amazon for surgical masks, I see a lot of shaky sellers. Many are $25+ for 10 masks!

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting decent masks in store or online

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Many are fake online... be careful who you buy from