If 80% of Americans Wore Masks, COVID-19 Infections Would Plummet, New Study Says

[tinrobot]

It sounds too good to be true. But a compelling new study and computer model provide fresh evidence for a simple solution to help us emerge from this nightmarish lockdown. The formula? Always social distance in public and, most importantly, wear a mask.

If you’re wondering whether to wear or not to wear, consider this. The day before yesterday, 21 people died of COVID-19 in Japan. In the United States, 2,129 died. Comparing overall death rates for the two countries offers an even starker point of comparison with total U.S. deaths now at a staggering 76,032 and Japan’s fatalities at 577. Japan’s population is about 38% of the U.S., but even adjusting for population, the Japanese death rate is a mere 2% of America’s.

This comes despite Japan having no lockdown, still-active subways, and many businesses that have remained open—reportedly including karaoke bars, although Japanese citizens and industries are practicing social distancing where they can. Nor have the Japanese broadly embraced contact tracing, a practice by which health authorities identify someone who has been infected and then attempt to identify everyone that person might have interacted with—and potentially infected. So how does Japan do it?

“One reason is that nearly everyone there is wearing a mask,” said De Kai, an American computer scientist with joint appointments at UC Berkeley’s International Computer Science Institute and at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/masks-covid-19-infections-would-plummet-new-study-says

Wearing a mask should not be a political issue... but yet, here we are.

The stupidity of some is almost unbearable at times.

[SheltieLover]

1. Wondering if they are using N-95s or cloth masks?

[Newest Reality]

2. Good question.

In the past I recall reading about the permeability of fabrics and filters and it came down to "micron" size, i.e., how small the "holes" were in the materials. The idea being that the filtering has to be fine enough that the virus can't pass through it, or otherwise it is only minimal protection.

[SheltieLover]

5. Right!

I recall reading that as well. If memory serves correctly, the covid virus is 3 microns. I have been wondering whether the N-95 shortage is world-wide, or just in States.

[Newest Reality]

11. Thanks.

I was wondering what that size was again.

Right, so various kinds of cloth and other kinds of filters will catch droplets, but the virus would linger on the surface and could potentially permeate those coverings, especially if they are not washed/disinfected frequently.

While we are on the subject, I see many people touching the front of their masks often to adjust them, etc. That's counterproductive. If the mask has captured droplets with the virus in it you are then getting it all over your hands and if you are not wearing gloves, or if you don't wash and disinfect your hands, then you are very likely to spread the viral load onto your face or body or clothes and it is viable on some surfaces for seventy-two hours. Hmmm.

That's also why even reusing the correct masks is problematic. They should be disposed of after use.

I don't know, the whole shortage thing is SNAFU in my mind. I can't keep up with the bungling and advantage taking and fed seizures, etc.

[Caliman73]

6. Agreed. Good question. Probably some of each.

N95's are typically protective equipment, for people who don't want to infect or become infected. I wore one today for the first time in a while. I had it on for a few hours while checking on people in the community. They are difficult to breath in after awhile. Ideally, they are single use. Cloth masks are just barriers to minimize spray and aerosol. Not protective of the wearer, but a way to decrease chance of spread.

They give out (or used to before everything got closed up) those simple paper and waxed paper masks at doctor's offices and asked that people who were coughing or who had fever, put them on. I think mainly to prevent the spray from going all over the place and to keep you from touching your mouth and nose, then touching surfaces.

[SheltieLover]

9. Thank you

That was my basic understanding. So this business of cloth masks cuts down on 0spray from breathing, coughing, & sneezing, but does nog protect from infection.

The N-95s are difficult to breathe in. I purchased a small supply before this all blew up here & wear them when I have to go to grocery.

I don't know how med folks do their work that way. 😳🤯

[essme]

23. That is not quite true. They do protect from infection just at different levels.

Just because a COVID particle can in a lab pass through a surgical mask does not mean in a non medical setting that 100% of COVID exposure would reach the wearers lungs.

All masks protect against spread out as well as act as some protection to the wearer; although there isn't a lot of robust data on mask material protection for the non-medical wearer.

Only people that are working in jobs that may expose them for a long period to a COVID carrier should have or use N-95's or higher.

[SheltieLover]

30. Thank you

[tinrobot]

8. The study indicates any type of mask would help

“One reason is that nearly everyone there is wearing a mask,” said De Kai, an American computer scientist with joint appointments at UC Berkeley’s International Computer Science Institute and at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He is also the chief architect of an in-depth study, set to be released in the coming days, that suggests that every one of us should be wearing a mask—whether surgical or homemade, scarf or bandana—like they do in Japan and other countries, mostly in East Asia.

It's pretty basic - the virus spreads through droplets. Even a simple mask prevents people who have the virus from expelling those droplets towards you, and wearing one yourself offers another layer of protection.

Generally, you don't really need an n95 mask unless you're in a medical setting and patients are coughing on you.

[SheltieLover]

10. Thank you

But one person infected in a store could infect many others.

[tinrobot]

14. Possibly, but masks will mitigate that risk significantly.

[SheltieLover]

20. Thank you. 😊

[essme]

21. In the big picture it does not matter.

If you are leaning over a COVID stricken patient 12 hours a day then yes an N-95 or higher is a necessity. But for just about any other human activity the differences are severely minimal.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/07/answers-your-diy-face-mask-questions-including-what-material-you-should-use/?arc404=true

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

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-materials-that-filter-particles-best-in-homemade-masks-testing-2020-4

Literally anything will be a benefit over nothing. So if 80% of people had a face covering and practiced some distancing COVID spread would drop like a rock.

[gristy]

24. Yes - the idea is to get R0 below 1

Given that we are at about R0=1 today, if everyone started wearing masks tomorrow, R0 would drop well below 1.

[TheFarseer]

3. That's pretty compelling

I resisted wearing a mask when pretty much no one was wearing one. I didn’t want to feel like weirdo. Now, I would say at least half of the people are wearing one when I go to the store so now it’s not a big deal for me.

[Ms. Toad]

4. I went out today for the 2nd time since lockdown started -

I was pleasantly surprised to find abou 60% of people making some attempt to mask (unfortunately about 10% of those had their masks around their neck, or with their nose peeking out). Folks generally went out of their way to keep a reasonable distance (not necessarily 6', but more than 3'. Store employees enforced social distancing - when an unmasked man at the grocer store crowded the person ahead of him (despite a sign that clearly said, "Wait until the cashier greets you," the cashier told him to step back and stop loading his groceries on the belt. When two people went into Starbucks, the employee asked one to step back out.

That said, this is the first time I went to Target (which my spouse had reported to me as really bad a couple of weeks ago). I'm sad to say she was correct.

No more than 10% of Target shoppers were wearing masks - AND - despite mandatory masking for employees, some of their employees were not wearing masks. Shoppers were crowding each other & the employees were not assisting in maintaining social distancing.

At least - even in Target - no one not wearing a mask was being rude about it (except for the fact that they weren't wearing a mask.)

[Liberal In Texas]

7. I'm doing my bit.

Always go out with a mask. Found 2 N95s, one in the attic and one in the shed, that I've had for years. Still in good shape and also bought some surgical masks on-line. Keep one in the car just for extra.

It's amazing to me to see the 20 somethings on our block with small kids congregating in their front yards not maintaining physical separation or wearing masks or bandannas. They socialize with each other like it is May of 2019 instead of 2020. I guess they think they're invulnerable.

[SheltieLover]

13. Poor kids!

I cannot comprehend that behavior either & I see it daily here from home. Just observing neighbors when I am out in my yard.

[Thekaspervote]

12. Read about what the Czechs did. Pretty much social distancing and simple masks

Just think... we could have been right there with them and so so much further ahead.. fewer illnesses, lots fewer deaths

[SheltieLover]

17. Thanks, I will google it!

Yup. We didn't need to live through this at all if dump was a REAL president! 🤬

[Thekaspervote]

25. +1000

[gristy]

15. It's unfortunate that the official line - I believe from the CDC, no less - was to wear a mask only

if you were sick. They finally changed that, but shoot, if they had been saying from the start to wear a mask, and if we had had some leadership to encourage/enforce it rather than just telling folks it's the flu, we would have much better mask compliance now. They just didn't have the courage to tell Americans en masse what to do.

[SheltieLover]

18. I think I read

That CD admitted their initial recommendation regarding masks was because of mask shortage. Perhaps there would not have been a shortage if shitstain hadn't been STEALING them from states! Grrrrr.

[c-rational]

16. K&R! This should be repeated on all news programs hourly. Simple solutions are the best.

[SheltieLover]

19. Indeed!

Is MSM even talking about wearing masks? No tee veee service here.

[roamer65]

22. It should be the law.

No mask or face covering? $1000 fine.

[Grokenstein]

27. "WHUT R WEE? NAZZY GERMANNY??2?"

Sarcasm, of course.

...But I've seen a tweet today from rightwank snowflake Todd Starnes bellowing that the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave is stone cold dead because he saw one-way aisle designations and mask requirements in a department store. FREEDUM!!

They won't stop until one side is dead.

[roamer65]

36. THIS.

[underpants]

37. rightwank snowflake

That fits Starnes and others perfectly

[Doodley]

26. And yet Trump's vanity prevents him from wearing a mask and setting an example, and

the UK government is still debating whether or not to recommend mask-wearing.

[Doodley]

28. Compare Japan with the UK. Total Japan deaths equals UK deaths just for yesterday. Japan population

is twice UK population. Japan wearing masks. UK undecided about whether to recommend wearing masks.

[rocktivity]

29. If 100% of the people who mass tested as positive were properly quarantined

the number of infections would plummet even faster because they couldn't infect everybody else.


rocktivity

[SinisterPants]

31. Understand that virus is a numbers game...

I'm not a virologist, but I remember basic science. Covid-19 is aprox 3.5 microns.

Only a proper N-95 mask or better (3 microns or less) is really proof against airborne infection.

With any type of ordinary paper or cloth mask (usually about 6 microns) you might block 80%.

Nor is washing your hands for 20 sec in hot water and soap proof that there is no virus on your hands. (prob 80% again).

Here's the thing, though it IS a numbers game!

If you get 100, even 1000 virons (virus packets) on/in you... you are probably good if you're immune system isn't compromised. It's when you get to 100,000 and up that things get tricky.

So wear whatever mask you can, wash your hands like no tomorrow, and try to stand upwind.

Most of us will survive, and yeah, that's cold comfort, I've already lost one dear friend to it.

[SunSeeker]

32. Masks are how the Czech Republic (Czechia) controlled their outbreak.

The science is clear, simple homemade masks work.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

33. From March 30, South Korean expert ...

Interview with Leading COVID-19 Expert From South Korea

[CountAllVotes]

34. I have no masks still

I had some that I bought on ebay.com that were supposed to be from the USA but were really from China. I became worried they were contaminated so I threw them away!

Now I have none.

I asked the health clinic if they knew where I could get some and they told me to buy them online. Uh huh -- been there and done that one already!

So, back online I went and I found a place selling N95 masks!

I ordered a few of them as it said they are on back-order for a few weeks which to me means I may or may not get a thing.

It should not be a political issue. It is an economical one though. Some will pay $50+ for a solitary 3M 95 mask. I would never do this. The ones I just ordered cost $25.00 for a box of 20.

I wonder if I'll actually get them?

I agree, this is unbearable too much of the time for others as well, but in different ways I suspect but damn, what a hell!