Has anybody heard this about the basic medical masks and what they supposedly signal? Was

[niyad]

talking with a friend in TN yesterday about how many in her area are not wearing masks. She told me that a doctor told her that when you see people wearing those paper medical masks with the white side out, it signals that the wearer has been exposed to the virus. Of course, my first comment was, why the hell is that person out in public???

Is this actually for real? Or is her doctor nuts?

[Phoenix61]

1. Her doc is nuts. nt

[Karadeniz]

2. Never heard of it... not much help unless everyone knows the signal!

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Not Buying It

I just think some people don't know the difference and wear it "however".
And, quite frankly, I'm not sure the physical chemistry supports that the difference between white side in or out has much practical significance.

[niyad]

4. I just figured they grabbed it the wrong way, not paying attention. I sometimes get my masks

upside down. Annoying.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Next, We'll Here...

...an "expert opinion" that an upside down mask doesn't work as well.
Some of the experts aren't quite that.

[Orangepeel]

5. dumb facebook nonsense, of course

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-two-color-medical-masks-blu/fact-checktwo-tonemedical-masks-should-be-wornwithcolor-side-facing-out-idUSKBN249290

Social media users have been sharing an image online that explains the difference between the blue and white side of a medical mask. The claim incorrectly advises to have the colored side facing out if you are sick and the white side out if you are healthy.

One post reads: “While at the doctors office today, we were informed by a Nurse the proper way to use a medical mask... When using a medical mask you’re supposed to use as follows: Colored side out if you’re sick and do not want to spread your germs around. White side out (this is the filter part) for when you’re not sick and you want to stop germs from getting in... The Nurse said the entire doctors office never knew either, until the supplier sent them “proper directions” for them this past week! Hope this helps!”

The image does not give any information about the name of the nurse, the doctor’s office or the supplier. It also does not credit any health organization or office for these directions.

[niyad]

11. Why am I not surprised?

[nilram]

6. Nuts. The way it's constructed, blue side out is what's effective.

Blue side is more water-repellant, to protect from the droplets from others. The white side is more absorbent, to protect others from the droplets you may expel. Middle layer has filtration, to keep viruses and bacteria away from you.

He might be confusing it with some hanky-code--blue hanky, left back pocket for safe; white hanky, right back pocket for exposed. Or something like that; dunno, don't get out much.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. Maybe this will help.

Fact check: Disposable masks should always be worn colored-side-out

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/2993699001

Fact check: Two-tone medical masks should be worn with color side facing out

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN249290

[niyad]

10. Thank you for this valuable information.

[bottomofthehill]

8. Her doc is nuts

Some manufacturers made both sides white in a rush to get masks to the market

[Meowmee]

9. Her doctor is wrong

The way you wear a mask has nothing to do with whether you have been exposed or not and is not a signal of that. That is crazy. However wearing it the wrong way ( depending on what the issue is) could cause you to be more likely to be exposed if you are in contact with an infectious person.

[MineralMan]

12. Sounds completely bogus to me.

[niyad]

13. As it did to me. But I wanted to check with knowledgeable people."

[TwilightZone]

14. I often wonder where people come up with this nonsense.

Fox News, Limbaugh before he keeled over, Newsmax, etc., I suppose.

[niyad]

20. I think it is the same process that creates the tabloids. They sit around stoned or drunk. Or,

Putin's people do it to see who can come up with the most absurd nonsense, and then feed it to these crazies. Laughing their asses off the whole time at the gullibility.

[dawg day]

15. I've done that- reversed the mask

When the inside gets too drooly and I don't have another.

[Hekate]

17. ??? Then you are breathing in whatever was filtered from the outside air in the first place...

You know, other people’s coughs and sneezes, pollens, dusts — completely defeating the purpose.

The cost of “paper” masks has gone way down. Just carry a few extras in a baggie.

[LisaL]

24. You shouldn't do that.

Outside of your mask is considered contaminated. You shouldn't be putting it next to your face.

[Hekate]

16. Her doc is nuts

[Shellback Squid]

19. My mother lives in Tennessee near Gatlinburg, she sees most of the tourists and locals maskless

it enrages her and she's a die hard trumper

[lagomorph777]

21. Totally made up crap. It does mean the wearer is stupid, though.

So in a sense, there could be a kernel of truth in it.

[niyad]

22. There is that.

[LisaL]

23. It's unbelievable how much stupidity is out there.

NT

[niyad]

25. And the stupidity seems more widespread every day.