Homemade face masks

[Jughead]

My wife is in the medical profession here in South Africa and yes, sadly working during this crisis. Extensive testing has been done by a lab she has access to which, unfortunately, has found that masks made from everyday materials are actually aiding in spreading the virus.

People wearing masks tend to touch it and their faces far more frequently than those that don't. The warm moist air you breathe out contains the virus. This attaches to the mask and since it is being kept warm and moist, it thrives. Everyday materials allows the virus to penetrate the fabric, thus ending up on the outside of the fabric as well.

The mask wearer now touches the mask, to adjust it or whatever, and now has the virus on their hands. Whatever they now touch, receives a deposit of the virus. Whilst the mask certainly may curb the spittle, it does little if anything to curb the virus itself. It is in fact an excellent means of insuring that you get the virus transferred to your hands and in turn everything you touch.

[bruce.desertrat]

"a lab". More than one study is going on with this. Experience with other respiratory illnesses, particularly the SARS outbreak some years ago is also informing these decisions.

The question isn't whether wearing masks does or doesn't aid in spreading the virus, it's whether the practice reduces transmission compared to asymptomatic spreaders not wearing masks. Based on the (admittedly thin, but growing) evidence we have today on the actual transmission rates, widespread use of masks does seem to lower the rates. If we can train people to properly wash their hands and not touch their faces, we'll be better off.

[Jon]

Interestingly, the same face-touching advice exists on the other end: that mask-wearing discourages face touching. Our best data seems to indicate for now that widespread mask-wearing is beneficial in a pandemic. Jughead's overall point is still valid though: laypeople approach mask-wearing very differently than trained healthcare professionals.

I just saw the Colorado governor give a press conference. He advised all Coloradans to wear homemade fabric masks when leaving their homes. He and a health official did part of the conference wearing masks themselves. It was surreal.

Another facet to society-wide transmission efficacy: the CO government advised people NOT to go out to retrieve any supplies to build masks, because that invites additional opportunities for infection.

Also, a good recommendation I heard from an infectious disease doctor: hold your breath when removing your mask. Definitely resist the urge to breathe in a deep breath the second you remove the mask.