Masks

Hi Sussexman,

There's a worldwide shortage of face masks and unless you are caring for someone suspected to have Covid-19, or have a cough and believe you may have contracted the disease, it is not recommended to use them.  This extract from the UK's medical journal, The Lancet, explains:

"We compared face mask use recommendations by different health authorities. Despite the consistency in the recommendation that symptomatic individuals and those in healthcare settings should use face masks, discrepancies were observed in the general public and community settings.

"For example, the US Surgeon General advised against buying masks for use by healthy people. One important reason to discourage widespread use of face masks is to preserve limited supplies for professional use in health-care settings. Universal face mask use in the community has also been discouraged with the argument that face masks provide no effective protection against coronavirus infection."

Kind regards,

Kim

All you people wanting masks if you go to this web site you will find instructions to make your own. Quite simple masks out of a hankey and elastic bands. Other ideas as well.ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE0EuDHMfZ4&list=FLgGMuEuwDctKkA73O7lF02A&index=2&t=2s

Thanks but I really wanted to know about medical grade masks. Any ideas. Thank you.

Hi thanks for that information. However, since there is no mass testing in Spain or UK there is a high possibility that people may be carriers without symptoms and thus contagious hence the need for all to wear a mask to stop further spread. 

Hi, Im sorry but I went everywhere to try to find masks without any luck. From what I hear even the medical staff are finding difficulty. Mind you there are worrying reports about just how safe masks are anyway. the advice is to keep your distance if you have to go anywhere and wash your hands frequently. good luck and keep safe.

In the UK, the government tested 6,643 yesterday, Wednesday, and says it's on course to test 10,000 people a day by the end of this week.

I don't know about the situation in Spain, but as I live in Spain, I'm more than happy to comply with the requirements of lockdown, which means I don't need a mask.  If and when they become available, I would prefer them to go to healthcare staff and other emergency services on the frontline of battling this disease, especially as I have the luxury of being able to remain safely in my own home.

Kind regards, Kim

I'd just point out that if medical grade masks were available, then everyone would snaffle them up. 

Leave their availability for the health and emergency services.

Thank you very much Jim.  My subtler posts clearly didn't hit the spot with some people.  

I have said this before, but let me repeat: unless you are caring for someone with Covid-19, or you have a persistent cough (in which case, you should be self-isolating), you do NOT need a mask.  If you don't know this, you probably don't know how to use a mask effectively anyway.  

Around the world, we have healthcare staff putting their lives on the line for us - please, do not reduce their ability to protect themselves by buying masks you do not need.

Many thanks, 

Kim

Concur.

V