Why Shouldn't We Be Wearing Masks?

The official advice regarding masks seems to be don't need it unless you're sick.

I mean the first problem with this statement is that you don't actually know that you're sick. Then if you look at China and Korea and Hong Kong and all these countries that seem to be doing a good job at containing this virus, every single person is wearing a mask. Not just people on the street but politicians, reports, scientists and doctors etc.

Are they wrong? Are they all just overly paranoid? Do we have a right to judge when they've managed to contain this virus?

Are the advice to not wear masks just because there is a shortage of masks and that if there wasn't a shortage we should all wear one? If this is true, is that not absolutely crazy? The Chinese were able to supply masks for every one of their 1 billion+ ppl and we've had 4 months and not been able to find 30 million masks for our population?

Comments

          • @nutella9: I assume everyone has a brain and can think and not brainwashed. Be objective and stand in the middle and face the fact. CCP is evil for sure. But do not blame CCP for this case. You need to read from both sides to see what actually happened.

            As far as I know, not only the 2 Chinese real estates bought masks in Jan/Feb. Chinese people/companies outside of China started to buy masks, medical gowns in almost every country including Africa because the doctors in Wuhan hospitals were screaming for resources and they had to publish their demands on social media. CCP blocked official channels and said there were enough resources. All Chinese in other countries started to bought medical resources and donated to hospitals directly. This is not organized by the Chinese government. There is another more interesting long story afterwards…

            France has ordered 1 billion masks from China. I am wondering why can't we do it? It is a government failure and they try to divert focus to someone else.

            https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-france/fr…

            • @qiaoer: Things were being shipped to China in April.

              Yesterday a group were filmed buying up baby formula in bulk and by bulk I mean trolleys full. They unpacked and came back to get more.

    • Excellent. I hope that saved lives.

      Lives are lives.

  • I don't get why some people wear masks while they are in their own cars.

    • +2

      It’s the coolest trend now.

    • +2

      Possibility that they don't want to risk touching their mask or face until they can derobe safely at home.

    • They are on their way to the shops to get essential supplies like everyone else.

  • +2

    You should wear a mask!

    https://youtu.be/yN3BWaEH3tY

    • -3

      The link on the video to Australian Government Department of Health website doesn't recommend wearing a mask. I can tell people drinking alcohol will save you from COVID19

      90% of YouTube videos are senseless crap dressed up as good advice.

    • Yeah, agree about the comments about "it's not about you, it's about everyone else".

      You wear a mask so those that cannot afford it, or for some dodgy reason refuse to. It's about protecting others, not just ourselves. So everyone who doesn't wear a mask deliberately is really kicking our health system in the guts and leaving it for the dead. One person can infect many hundreds of thousands of people.

      When the racists come out and tell us not to wear masks, it's bat shit crazy. I have no doubt the nurses and doctors in Australia are watching with panic. DIY cloth masks should be bare minimum for everyone. If it means 50% less virus that is viable in the air, that might be enough to allow your immune system to fight it off.

      Even in China they started wearing sanitary pads, pomelos and water coolers; where they didn't have a mask.

  • +2

    According to this article, masks can slow down Covid 19

    https://apple.news/AWdflN_6RQKeNZKEesAu5IA

    • They can stop you from catching a common flu as well.

      A young kid(15yo) backed away today at the shops when I walked past in a mask. Was shooting my little neighbour daggers when she saw her talking to me.

      Masks are expensive $40 for a pack of 10 and they don't last long

  • +5

    This is an excellent interview from a Professor in Korea.

    https://youtu.be/gAk7aX5hksU

    Wash hands well
    Wear a mask
    Social distancing

    • +1

      I watched this today.

  • +1

    COVID-19: WHY WE SHOULD ALL WEAR MASKS — THERE IS NEW SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE

    https://medium.com/@Cancerwarrior/covid-19-why-we-should-all…

  • WHO considers ‘airborne precautions’ for medical staff after study shows coronavirus can survive in air

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/who-considers-airborne-preca…

  • +2
  • +2

    WHO considers changing guidance on wearing face masks
    New evidence suggests wearing masks in public could help contain the pandemic

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/all-uk-hospita…

    • So all those mentioned WHO stated we don’t need a mask, just keep a social distance. I wonder if they would change their mind now?

      Saw more people with mask today. All walks of life and all sorts of background. Hopefully they have compliant mask.

      • Even non-compliant mask is better than no mask.
        Video about Czech:
        https://youtu.be/jZtEX2-n2Hc

        • Trump is now approving of wearing of towels, scarves, bandanas and more.

          What a king! Ironically I know a lot of Trump supporters are already wearing masks and buying guns.

          • @Debuting: Balaclava you mean, and stationed at the Mexico border.

  • +1

    Looks like the advice has changed to wearing masks. But be careful with China sourced masks…after plundering the world's supply of masks they're sending shitty masks to countries in desperate need of PPE

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52092395

    Not that they won't try ripping you off first!
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/ansell-boss-slams-…

    China 1 Humanity 0

  • +2

    Europe, with Slovakia and the Czech Republic making face masks compulsory outside of the home.

    In Austria, which borders Italy and has 158 deaths and more than 10,000 cases, the use of masks will soon be compulsory in supermarkets.

    The UK is now weighing up similar measures.

    In an online discussion with former Australian prime minister and Asia Society Policy Institute president Kevin Rudd, Dr Teo YikYing, the Dean of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, said face masks can play a part in preventing further spread.

    “It is very clear that face masks do have a certain degree of contribution in reducing the transmissibility of the virus,” he explained.

    “Particularly if I’m an infected person and I have my face mask on, the aerosolisation of the virus from my speech and my activity will be signifcantly reduced.”

    He said there was also “a degree of protection” provided wearing masks to prevent infection if someone is coughing or sneezing around them.”

    No one knows if they’re sick so if you go outside without a face mask you’re putting your community at risk.

  • I started wearing a mask in public on the fifth of March. And wiping trolley handles. I also ordered a lot of masks for other people but am not allowed to advertise on facebook marketplace or ebay and if you do mention you have some some people say nasty things. I said to one today, your toilet paper will protect you. I have stuck up some fliers around, some have been pulled down. I got 2 enquiries today from one flier so I guess I will have to keep posting them. I have to sell some, I have too many for me and spent some money

    • I seriously doubt you ordered a lot of masks for other people. What you meant is probability this, I ordered a lot of masks to sell to other people to make a profit. That is call profiteering during crisis and it is frowned upon. That’s is why people say nasty things.

      • I am an Ebay seller so to me it is just another product. In fact I know where to get lots that anybody can buy, about the price I paid/ am selling for so there is no shortage.

        • but I wont be buying any more, thats the only difference from my normal buying and selling. Its the same place I buy all my other stock

  • Good article which cites a Nature journal paper explaining why everyone still working (eg HCW, construction workers, retail), or those heading to the shops, need to wear masks when outside.

    The Guardian

  • 2nd August, are we still debating mask vs no mask?

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