Face masks

[Buddy Bradley]

Do you have one? Have you tried to order any? Are there actually any in the country available for the general public? And is there any point?

Amazon's search results seem to suggest that people are buying regular surgical masks, which I wouldn't have thought are effective against viruses, or rip-off/scam bike masks that do nothing either.

 

[High Voltage]

No
No
Maybe
No

 

[BigTom]

Yes. I have a pack of 3 respirator masks I bought about 6 months ago when I had some mould to clean up.

No

I would look in places like B&Q, screwfix, wickes etc. for N95 filtration masks. I wonder if many people will just be looking for the surgical masks and won't think about DIY masks.

There is a point in wearing these - they help stop you touching your face, stop you spreading the illness through coughs/sneezes and if the filters are good enough, reduce your likelyhood of being infected. Obviously not a cure all type thing but seems worth doing at some point, I'm not sure what that point is though. Once we go on lockdown I'll wear a mask if/when I need to go outside. I'm taking them with me to an event this weekend but won't wear them unless govt. starts advising people to do so.

 

[quimcunx]

Our govt downplays their usefulness. Asian countries advise their use generally.

My brother, a microbiologist, said last night they probably help a bit but it's academic as they're like hens teeth.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

I would look in places like B&Q, screwfix, wickes etc. for N95 filtration masks.

Literally everywhere is out of stock, it seems.

 

[8ball]

Our govt downplays their usefulness. Asian countries advice their use generally.

My brother, a microbiologist, said last night they probably help a bit but it's academic as they're like hens teeth.

Good summing up.
I think a big part of the benefit for a lot of people will just be that it will remind you how often you unconsciously touch your face.

 

[JimW]

I've got one (DIY dust mask type) that I wear when i go out more to look the part than expecting it to protect me as it's been re-used since it started here months back. As I understand the advice it's also more to protect others if you turn out to have it without realising due to being non-symptomatic and it would also help there. Hang it out in the sunshine to refresh when not in use.

 

[quimcunx]

Good summing up.
I think a big part of the benefit for a lot of people will just be that it will remind you how often you unconsciously touch your face.

Exactly what he said, that and preventing saliva or mucus droplets. I wore a DIY one I so happened to have on the tube this morning. Not pleasant to wear and I avidly avoided eye contact with anyone.

 

[BigTom]

Good summing up.
I think a big part of the benefit for a lot of people will just be that it will remind you how often you unconsciously touch your face.

I've never been so aware of little itches and stuff on may face, and how often I touch my face until the last couple of days. I'm fairly well trained from having really bad hay fever and needing to not rub my eyes during grass pollenation season but it's still difficult to notice and stop.

 

[rubbershoes]

Saw someone in London wearing one,windows closed whilst driving with no one else in the car and the

 

[Lazy Llama]

Mrs Llama bought some of these a while back.

3M™ Aura™ Disposable Respirator 9312+ SP

www.3m.co.uk

I've not been out much so haven't worn one in public yet.

 

[8ball]

So is it common in London for Westerners to be walking about with masks?
Up here I've only seen SE Asians so far.

 

[Fruitloop]

Yeah, I've got an N95 DIY one with replaceable filters (from sanding) and a respro techno from when I used to cycle commute. Have been wearing both on the train 'cos it's a pit of disease at the best of times.

(eta: not at the same time obvs)

 

[quimcunx]

So is it common in London for Westerners to be walking about with masks?
Up here I've only seen SE Asians so far.

No. A handful are it seems. I saw someone come out of Brixton tube just before I went in this morning. I felt very conspicuous. Luckily the tube seems to be getting a little quieter day on day.

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

I bought some every time I saw them in South Korea, so we still have... some. Not as many as I'd like, but some. I also got some additional filter papers you can put in to refresh old masks. I'm wearing mine if I go into a shop or something. I feel quite awkward about it, but now is the time to mask up.

 

[lizzieloo]

Don't order any, frontline workers need them more than you

 

[Badgers]

No

 

[Marty1]

No but am prepared to wear a green fluorescent Altern-8 mask if required

 

[mr steev]

My local Indian supermarket were giving them out free to customers the other day. Not to everyone I noticed. I do shop in there several times a week though.

I've seen 3 people (westerners) wearing masks in Wolverhampton. 2 school girls (separate occasions) and a woman walking round Asda.

 

[keybored]

I've got something like this knocking around but I would rather risk infection that walk around wearing it in public, unless everyone else does first.

 

[keybored]

Screwfix getting tough on touts.

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

Don't order any, frontline workers need them more than you

Are frontline workers allowed to use masks from B&Q or Screwfix? I just ask because at the outbreak of the virus in China, we were trying to source masks overseas to send to frontline workers, and they couldn't accept the type we could source, being as they weren't medical grade.

 

[lizzieloo]

Are frontline workers allowed to use masks from B&Q or Screwfix? I just ask because at the outbreak of the virus in China, we were trying to source masks overseas to send to frontline workers, and they couldn't accept the type we could source, being as they weren't medical grade.

No but it was in the media about the shortage of ppe for frontline health workers in February.

The stuff sold it screwfix etc is also needed by other folk trying to get on with their jobs. The manufacturers don't just make an endless supply. When I have to go into an old dilapidated building, where pigeons and god knows what else has been living in for years, to do a floorplan, I need a mask.

 

[Boudicca]

I have a couple of pound shop ones in the cupboard somewhere.

I've been looking for tutorials on how to make your own. A good one has a 'filter made out of non-woven faric which you can change daily.

Make Your Own Fabric Face Mask - Xobon

xobonmag.com

There's also an interesting one made out of kitchen paper and tissue which has been tested as 90% effective as a surgcal mask.



I understand that they can't protect from corona, but I do think they could help with this face touching thing.

 

[weepiper]

Haven't seen anyone wearing any mask in Edinburgh so far.

 

[Marty1]

Only saw one person wearing a face mask and that was when I was delivering to a student campus before the coronavirus started.

 

[Reno]

Considering the general health advice, wouldn't gloves be more useful ? I now use disposable gloves at work, I occasionally have to gather coffee cups and glasses clients use when I have a clean up. I was considering wearing them on public transport but felt self-conscious. In Berlin you have a push a button to open train doors and it's noticeable how many people hold out for someone to touch the button first.

 

[lizzieloo]

You'd need a new pair after every doorknob, button press etc. Better to just wash your hands.

 

[wiskey]

My a&e department has been told there's a 4 week delay on getting new masks.

So far I've only seen Chinese people wearing paper masks out shopping/in the uni library etc.

 

[elbows]

You'd need a new pair after every doorknob, button press etc. Better to just wash your hands.

Yes. Although a potential advantage of gloves is if they help you to stop touching your face.