I've already given out homemade cloth masks to our mail carrier, to friends and to relatives despite the CDC saying we don't need them if we aren't sick. And yet I've also heard that 10 to 25% (I’ve even heard 80%) of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic and may not show symptoms. They probably don't even know because we don't have enough tests!
Unfortunately, I’ve used up almost all of my scrap materials (though my daughter says she’ll send me some of her remnants to make sure I don’t go out) and have totally run out of elastic. I ordered more elastic from Amazon but it won’t get here for a month. It’s coming from China! The elastic I got before from Amazon which came in 3 days was actually a little too stiff and thick. I’m hoping the one I’ve now ordered is more appropriate.
I really think we should be wearing masks. I don't feel self conscious wearing a mask in Hawaii but my kids in Illinois and Maryland don't want to because of Trump's Chinese Virus taunts. I imagine lots of Asians are nervous because of the prejudice they're now experiencing. It's crazy!
And now this:
From the Kyodo News Service:
Hmmmm.... What do they know that we don't seem to understand or believe?
POSTSCRIPT 1:
Would you believe our Oahu Mayor Caldwell was just on TV yesterday afternoon asking everyone to wear a cloth mask when they go out of the house?
POSTSCRIPT 2:
A friend just sent this video 1to me.
Unfortunately, I’ve used up almost all of my scrap materials (though my daughter says she’ll send me some of her remnants to make sure I don’t go out) and have totally run out of elastic. I ordered more elastic from Amazon but it won’t get here for a month. It’s coming from China! The elastic I got before from Amazon which came in 3 days was actually a little too stiff and thick. I’m hoping the one I’ve now ordered is more appropriate.
And now this:
From the Kyodo News Service:
"Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday the government will distribute cloth face masks to roughly 50 million households in Japan as stocks of disposable masks have run out at drugstores and other shops amid the coronavirus outbreak."Yup. They're sending out cloth masks in Japan to every household.
Hmmmm.... What do they know that we don't seem to understand or believe?
POSTSCRIPT 1:
Would you believe our Oahu Mayor Caldwell was just on TV yesterday afternoon asking everyone to wear a cloth mask when they go out of the house?
POSTSCRIPT 2:
A friend just sent this video 1to me.
The debate rages, but I expect it will soon be officially endorsed. I hope everyone understands that they should go directly into the washing machine after use and not just into the laundry basket.
ReplyDeleteI don't have face masks so I am just careful not to go out much in public and stay away from other people as much as possible. I do believe we all should wear them but since they are not generally available there is not much else we can do.
ReplyDeleteI was just asking a friend this very thing this morning. Here in Pittsburgh, I'd say around 1 out of 3 people are wearing them when I go out. I'd wear one too IF I HAD ONE, I've no idea where I could even get one. Too bad we're not Japan!
ReplyDeleteI have been making masks using the St. Jude pattern you posted a video about. My thinking is that they have to be at least as effective as coughing into an elbow. After all there is a certain amount of droplet material just from breathing or speaking. I am so sorry that your children don't feel safe because of our thoughtless president who doesn't seemed concerned about anything so much as the economy -- certainly not ALL people.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think everyone should wear masks in public now. It helps to keep those with asymptomatic disease from giving it to others as well. I'm ashamed of us that your kids and others aren't safe in our own country.
ReplyDeleteI watched an excellent video on the real reason we get the virus and it is mostly from touching our face. The doctor who works at a major hospital in NYC said to wear a mask...more to protect yourself from touching your face until you can get home and wash your hands!
ReplyDeleteI think the regular citizen has thought that masks should be worn when we are out. It's not 1005 but much better than nothing. Keep on preaching . I think you're right.
ReplyDeleteI was able to get two washable masks from Ebay. Helping someone who is helping out. I washed them immediately but will wear them when I go out and wash each time. I know I am basically protecting others from me but if we all wore one, we could slow or stop this.
ReplyDeleteI started making masks, thanks to you and Jalna. I go out for essentials and yesterday, at Hawaii Kai Costco, the major majority of people did not have masks on. I asked one Costco worker if Costco provides masks for them and he said they ran out but will soon be getting more for them.
ReplyDeleteOne of the worst pieces of advice came from the Center of Disease Control in the beginning when they stated that masks will not protect us. I believed them and relied on making sure I washed my hands and didn't touch my face. The CDC needs to change their tune and shout it out for us to ALL wear masks if we go out. Are they willing to admit to their mistake in order to stop this disease from spreading anymore?
Seeing a mask makes me think a person is sick on first instinct.
ReplyDeleteI studied the articles on www.medscape.com all week. (You need to register, it's free, and a subset of Web MD.)
ReplyDeleteWith the virus being so small, it is especially vicious. While Iceland and other countries have been quicker to respond than DJT, and kept their pandemic plans and supplies in place, their results aren't as severe. Although cloth masks, even with "filter-made-from-anything" pockets, aren't as good as some surgical or N95 masks, it seems to be keeping the shared spread at a possible minimum.
Even smaller than "airborne" precautions, the virus is so small, it is considered areosol, or aeriolized. (Sorry for incorrect spellings.) Iceland tested folks, and half of those tested positive had NO symptoms! Scary! It is spreading by just talking nearby with someone, just sitting near them and breathing only, AND it floats freely on the air currents within a room or house! We don't even need to sneeze or cough: this is much smaller than droplet or airborne precautions. The cloth masks aren't to protect the wearer, but to protect all others around them!
I've read the stories of nurses being fired for wearing masks, when their hospital didn't have enough. Since I care for a private duty tracheostomy patient, requiring hourly suctioning of nasty plegm, I called my agency's office: if I wear my own N95 mask (had 3 left from previous RN jobs,) would they fire me? It was going to be a decision factor. They said it was fine for me to wear my own mask!
Knowing I'd need to explain my decision to my patient and his spouse, I was pleasantly surprised to walk in today, and the spouse had made several cloth masks for the caregivers, with a little pocket to insert any type of extra barrier material. I opted to keep using my N95 mask in order to protect my patient, and eventually me.
I'm SO glad I no longer work in a hospital, but feel for my colleagues who must balance our nursing standards with poor government planning, and who quit for many reasons. Sooo, who is going to take care of me? (Oh, yea, my son's a veterinarian....better than hospital care these days.) As a former hospice nurse, it was sad to hear than my colleagues must admit folks via telemedicine, and facilities only permit one hospice nurse visit every two weeks--government rule--instead of the twice weekly visits as our standard.
I plan to outlive the virus, but if it gets me, I hope they solve the sedation drug and ventilator shortage. If I can't have family hold my hand, at least I have my favorite tunes on Pandora and Spotify: just give me my headphones and turn the volume up!
PLEASE wear whatever mask you have EVERYWHERE!
Aloha, yes, Hawaii WILL open up again, and I will visit again. I'm glad you have the penalties for those in Hawaii breaking quarantine. Too many Hawaiians lost their lives in past history to diseases brought by white sailors and missionaries; their Queen chose not to shed blood in battle to keep the Islands; what would the Queen do now to protect her people?
Linda in Kansas
It absolutely angers me that hospital workers are NOT getting the personal safety protection they need. It REALLY angers me that nurses and other personnel who voice their concerns are being punished, just like Captain Crozier. Good gosh! They removed him from his command. It's infuriating! It sends a message out to other officers as well to keep quiet. Is this America? Or Russia?
DeleteAnd yes, I'm busily making my masks. I really think it does help prevent others from getting your sickness, but I also believe it helps yourself as well because it keeps you from touching your face and reminds you to be careful. And if there's a stray virus out there.... I still think it's better than nothing.
I don't care what anyone thinks.
ReplyDeleteWe wear the masks I made when we go grocery shopping. I wash them after each use. They are really more for the protection of others, but they are also a good way to remember not to touch your face, which I am learning is the chief way that people are infected.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThe butterfly face mask is so cute!
ReplyDeleteI wear mask when I go to Walmart, the only place I need to go :)
I see that now the government has recommended mask usage. I found back in the closet a stash of those blue paper masks that I bought for some reason long ago. But I think I will end up, when they're gone, using a bandanna, which seems more comfortable to me, and it can be tucked into my shirt to keep those droplets to myself. :-)
ReplyDeleteour church unit is trying to decide what to do...not wanting to scare our members but we are all pretty well freaked at this time....as the corona virus continues to spread around the world. life will never be the same agian...
ReplyDeleteI'm a "homebody" (as the old-old-folks use to say) so I don't go out much anyway. Grandson Jace, is out of school so, I don't have to pick him up anymore. There went my daily "get-away". I WILL be wearing a mask if I do need to go out though. I think we all should, for safety's sake.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this helpful information, Kay.
Wishing you all the best!
Officials probably talked down wearing masks to the general public because of the shortage for medical personnel they didn't want to worsen. Now, too, they've come to realize the virus may spread from just talking, also that instead of staying 6 ft from one another 27 ft distance might be more appropriate. Homemade masks likely can catch the larger viral bits.
ReplyDeleteLate afternoon after the announcement was made in L.A. that we were being advised to wear masks my doorbell rang. When I opened the door an Asian couple stood at the end of my driveway. The man explained to me they were offering me masks the woman, standing 6 ft away from him, withdrew in their packaging from a bag she carried so I could see them. I asked, "How much?" -- this was so unexpected. He said they weren't selling but wanted to give to me if I wanted them. The woman said a word or two but clearly was a limited English speaker. I continued to feel quite surprised but gratefully accepted their gift, asking them to please set them closer to my door so I didn't have to walk out to my garage where they were going to leave the bag. After thanking them again, I closed my door, then in a few minutes re-opened it again to retrieve the bag with the masks they left there. I don't think they were going door-to-door, but I don't know who they were or why I was singled out to receive the new commercially packaged masks. I could only wish I had a way to make more people aware of their generosity besides mentioning it on my blog and now here.