Andrew_5488 wrote:SantaFeJoe wrote:...........
Of course it's not a hoax but:
1. You do know that there're different masks for different use cases ?
2. You do know that N95 mask will let particles of size of Covid 19 to go through ?
3. You do know that masks we all can see in major cities (that blue garbage) are nowhere near specs of N95 masks ?
4. Point of wearing a mask is to limit spread of the virus if you're infected. It doesn't protect you from anything nor
it eliminates spreading of the virus, it just limits it. Of course nobody knows specs of those blue masks so maybe
we just participate in one big happening
5. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence that some places are skewing numbers because of money.
6. First, there was masks are not needed. THen, you need a mask !
Now you need two masks.
The problem is we're not given straight information and people don't trust anyone anymore. .........
For ease of responding, I numbered your questions and statements.
#1. If a person doesn’t know that yet, they are not paying attention.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449
#2. Covid 19 isn’t usually passed as a solitary particle, so that doesn’t mean a lot on its’ own.
#3. Same answer as #1.
#4. Not true at all. As I told my cousin, why do painters, woodworkers and others wear masks. N95 masks with a valve are good for those
purposes, but not to protect others from you if infected, but a properly fitted N95 mask does protect both you and others. Are they
perfect? Of course not! That’s why they are called N95. Even the fact that they filter out 95% of particles over a certain size is of benefit
to the wearer in many situations. An N95 with a valve only protects the wearer, so it’s best to use a second mask over it if you choose to
wear one of them. Again, the blue masks are of questionable and limited benefit, other than to make the wearer “think” they are being
protected or protecting others, but they are certainly better than nothing at all.
#5. As you say, “anecdotal evidence”, much of it propagated by Fox news and others:
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/hospital-payments-and-the-covid-19-death-count/
A hospital or doctor that is faking the numbers faces charges and can lose the Medicare contracts. Is it worth taking that risk? Certainly,
some are unethical and many have been charged with Medicare fraud in the past, but that is not the rule.
#6. As one of the local TV channels says, “The more you know”. People were discouraged from wearing N95 masks at the beginning so the
healthcare workers would have enough. This was all new and as time went by more was learned about the virus and masks were
determined to be of some use. I can’t believe that anyone would reject the idea that masks work on at least some level. Certainly some
work more effectively than others. There are also plenty of counterfeit N95s out there and other truly junk masks, many labeled KN95.
KN95 masks may or may not be any good. Many are counterfeits. They are not tested or approved by the USA but, rather, by foreign labs
if at all. What I find curious is that considering where the virus is said to have originated, China seems to be making plenty of profit off
of masks and hand sanitizers! Check out the labels on many of these products.
The point is, as more is learned, revised recommendations are made. Isn’t that the way it should be? No reason to not trust, by any
means!
If you don’t care to wear a mask or deny they work, do so at your own peril, but that won’t stop prudent people from seeing the logic!
Joe