Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

Posting masks. Can have a wander over to the medical supplies warehouse in Enfield.

Please! But if you got lucky, don't buy anything yet and please check in with me as there are loads of scams and assholes selling masks like gold at the moment.

So whilst it is serious, unless you are in an 'at risk' category or living in an area where the panic buying and such affects your day to day, I would continue as normal with some common sense personal infection control techniques.

Exactly this.

continue as normal with some common sense personal infection control techniques.

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If it had the mortality rate of Ebola, then it would be time for out and out panic.

Cool but: the infection rate is what, 2.5 to Ebola's 1.5-1.9? It's really easy to tell when someone has Ebola 😅

The use of face masks in Asia is more cultural practice than anything grounded in evidence.

As with many cultural practices, it might seem odd to someone from a different culture but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be respected*.

*Not saying you're not respecting it, just that some people are. I've just had to draft an email to ~30,000 people telling them to respect it and it's disappointing that we need to do that.

Personally if I was going to buy a face mask I'd buy something like this instead of the shitty disposable paper ones:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/3M-Maintenance-FFA1P2-Filters-certified/dp/B000VDPNCQ/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=3m+face+mask&qid=1581508221&sr=8-4

What does respect it, in this context mean?

Yes, I wasn't actually comparing it to Ebola, but rather commentating that the public panic to mortality rate response is somewhat disproportionate.

Let them get on with it and don't take the piss.

Unless the behaviour is obviously dangerous I guess.

These tend to refer to the medical blue face masks from hospitals, but what about N95 or N99 masks?

(I hear all about the touching face thing)

What @Howard said really. We have had Chinese students spat at in public, comments aimed at people wearing facemasks etc.

Not from people within our community (as far as I know) but still.

I don't think you need to worry about not respecting it as a non-dick.

as a no-dick

Bit harsh really

We have had Chinese students spat at in public, comments aimed at people wearing facemasks etc.

People are monsters. My comments were just about efficacy. Cultural norms and psychological benefits are all gravy 👍

what about N95 or N99 masks?

okay so: to the other points about disposable masks etc. disposable in this instance is probably better. Because you're going to get cross contamination otherwise. These things are your barrier, but you bring that barrier into your home and then what happens? Do you sterilise it? The rest of this response writes itself...

IMO be sensible: wash your hands properly and frequently, avoid touching your face when out and about.

The rest is luck.

Alcohol spray your mask when you get home?

And your hazmat suit

I guess I'm just of the opinion that an email wont stop such behaviour.

Just feels like now is an important time to challenge such beliefs if they have negative consequences, in a constructive evidence based way of course.

Would a wild-west style bandana over mouth and nose provide any protection.. ?

Semi serious question.. if the ‘medical’ masks provide only droplet restriction.. would a regularly-laundered bandana or cotton mask do anything at all?

Seems like the rush to buy and manufacture masks outweighs the value they bring.

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I’ve been told that medical manufacturers in China are being mandated to produce only masks - so other medical fluid-control such as drapes could be impacted .. think about the long-term impact of surgical drapes and gowns being unavailable.

Apparently Foxconn have started making masks so they can supply their workforce and keep making iDevices. I'm a bit surprised they can switch like that. Wouldn't they need a totally different set of machines and supply chain? Perhaps they are a lot more diverse than their Wikipedia article makes out.

I had the same questions.

They already would have been a big user of masks as workers where them on the assembly lines...I'm wondering if they already produced their own and are just expanding....

I wouldn’t be surprised if Terry Gou or a close associate has the ability to make masks. Lots of business figures in China and Taiwan have interests across loads of sectors.

Both me and the other half got sent home to WFH today. Both asymptomatic but other half got sent home as a precaution, told my work this so they packed me off too.

Or perhaps they already had a supplier /made their own non-medical grade mask and are changing them to be medical grade (or whatever they deem appropriate)

L. O. N. D. O. N.