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[VIC] Free N95 and KN95 Masks to Victorians Who Takes a RAT/PCR Test

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[VIC] Free N95 and KN95 Masks to Victorians Who Takes a RAT/PCR Test
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Pnicholasv on 09/08/2022 - 11:33 premier.vic.gov.au (2008 clicks)
Last edited 09/08/2022 - 16:55 by 1 other user

Hi all,

Saw this update from Dan Andrews stating that free N95 and KN95 Masks will be provided over the next 4 to 6 weeks.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced that more than three million masks will be handed out to the community through our state-run testing sites, community health services across Victoria and across the public transport network.

Over the next four to six weeks every person that presents for either a free rapid antigen or PCR test will receive one box of 10 N95 masks, along with instructions on how best to wear them to reduce transmission.

Can read up more here:
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/free-masks-keep-victorians-sa…

Health & Beauty Mask N95 Mask

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closed Comments

    • t400 on 09/08/2022 - 11:55
      +32

      We just ordered too much, either be in a rubish bin, or at your face, your choice.

      • Daz91 on 09/08/2022 - 12:09
        +37

        Wasteful spending and government procurement teams, name a more iconic duo

        • serpserpserp on 09/08/2022 - 14:24
          -2

          I'll wait

        • starspawn on 09/08/2022 - 14:33
          +26

          Spending money on a health crisis, wasteful spending? Get real. The virus is going to be around for years

          • 1st-Amendment on 09/08/2022 - 14:47
            +7

            @starspawn:

            Spending money on a health crisis, wasteful spending? Get real.

            Doesn't it depend on what you are are spending the money on? Because just spending money doesn't sound like a great plan…

            • Koffee on 09/08/2022 - 20:23
              +7

              @1st-Amendment: It's not actual hospitals, there's still over a thousand ICU beds missing and continual code reds happening.

            • infinite on 09/08/2022 - 20:57
              +3

              @1st-Amendment: It sounds like a great plan if you want to make inflation worse !

          • infinite on 09/08/2022 - 20:56
            +3

            @starspawn: The federal and state health ministers & associated health workers announced over a year ago that the pandemic and health crisis regarding Covid were over. It's simply just an endemic health issue now like any of the 100's of thousands of strains of the cold or flu viruses. Car and bicycle accidents now account for significantly more deaths than Covid does for Australian's who aren't retired.

            By the NSW health minister's own reporting (https://youtu.be/6BQDaefS3Ew?t=76), daily hospital ICU Covid related admissions in NSW right now for the 0-10 ages, 11-20 ages, 21-30 ages, 31-40 ages and 41-50 ages are a total of 1 person per each of those age brackets and it's only 3 people in the 51-60 age bracket. That's just those admitted to ICU's for any reason who also have Covid too, it's not even an admission solely because of Covid.

            You'd need to seriously get out and touch some grass to still be thinking we are in any sort of "health crisis", or need to be spending money on it like it is.

            • [Deactivated] on 10/08/2022 - 13:13
              -4

              @infinite: Go look at the daily case numbers in the last 2 months and get back to me sport.

              ICU is not total hospital admissions. Those have still been high and the associated increased burden on infection control at E.D's is still having massive impact.

              It's publically disclosed that people like the SES are still having to assist in driving ambulances due to staff/isolation shortages. Get your head out your backside.

              • infinite on 10/08/2022 - 23:13
                +1

                @[Deactivated]:

                ICU is not total hospital admissions. Those have still been high and the associated increased burden on infection control at E.D's is still having massive impact.

                70% of all public hospital admissions are for child birth or planned checkup's/appointments for management of ongoing health issues. The last 30% incorporates emergency and ICU admissions, of which more than half are those aged 70 or older with incidents or emergencies relating to their existing heart, cancer or diabetes health conditions.

                94% of all private hospital admissions are for elective surgeries planned out 3 months in advance, or more.

                Why are you trying to fearmonger with pointless nonsense like that ?

            • MountFranklin on 10/08/2022 - 18:28

              @infinite: Yeah, who cares about 60+ right?

              • ozhunter on 10/08/2022 - 18:47
                +4

                @MountFranklin: I think lots of people do. That's why we don't want to support the fear-mongering by wearing masks.

              • vash5 on 10/08/2022 - 19:41
                +1

                @MountFranklin: Oh please, pre cv you likely gave about as much ducks as everyone else for over 60s and health compromised people.. dont try and act all virtues now as if you have some moral high ground by catching up for lost time.

      • mooreshady on 09/08/2022 - 12:52
        -1

        Count yourself lucky, free masks.

        • krazek on 09/08/2022 - 13:00
          +35

          They aren't free…. if you are a taxpayer, you bought them

          • t400 on 09/08/2022 - 13:58
            +14

            @krazek: "Let us never forget this fundamental truth: the State has no source of money other than money people earn themselves. It is no good thinking that someone else will pay. That someone else is you. There is no such thing as public money, there is only taxpayers' money"
            M.Thatcher
            If the state wish to spend more, you need to reduce how much you should keep to spend on your family,

            • [Deactivated] on 10/08/2022 - 13:14

              @t400: Yes, because businesses can't be taxed.

      • AJ73 on 09/08/2022 - 16:31
        +1

        Yeah there's a lot of supply stock from when hotel quarantine ended

      • pj1351 on 09/08/2022 - 17:55
        +4

        We just ordered too much, either be in a rubish bin, or at your face, your choice.

        That makes no sense. Masks are not bread.

        Even in less than ideal conditions, the shelf life of unopened masks are measured in years, and they can simply be kept in storage.

        If anything, masks given out in excess means that people are more likely to dispose of masks that are still okay to reuse, thus more masks in bins (or tossed to the street and washed down stormwater drains).

    • entropysbane on 09/08/2022 - 13:19
      +2

      Prolly because they have a heap and there is an election coming up.

    • VictimEqualsProfit on 10/08/2022 - 10:10
      +3

      Let's not forget the environmental disaster that they are as well.

      • vash5 on 10/08/2022 - 19:44
        +1

        Greta Thunberg enters chat: How dare you!!

    • nicholasv on 09/08/2022 - 11:40
      +33

      If you're positive then the mask would be beneficial? Not here to get political, but just sharing the news

      • jv on 09/08/2022 - 12:21
        +18

        If you're positive then the mask would be beneficial?

        If you're positive then you should be isolating at home.

        • sween64 on 09/08/2022 - 13:12
          +18

          And maybe you don’t want to transmit to other household members.

          • xoom on 09/08/2022 - 13:20
            +1

            @sween64: But but but sharing is caring.

            /s

        • 1st-Amendment on 09/08/2022 - 14:48
          +10

          If you're positive then you should be isolating at home.

          Unless you're in the Australian Women's cricket team and there is a gold medal on the line, then all medical advice can be ignored.
          One rule for thee, another for me!

          • vash5 on 10/08/2022 - 19:51
            +1

            @1st-Amendment:

            Australian Women's cricket team

            Sir are you attacking vulnerable covid positive minorities?? Dont make me get the naughty stick.

        • nicholasv on 09/08/2022 - 16:10

          If you're positive then you should be isolating at home.

          Have to fire up my teleportation device to get home from the testing site then?

          • jv on 09/08/2022 - 16:17
            +5

            @nicholasv:

            Have to fire up my teleportation device to get home from the testing site then?

            No need to teleport, you've always been allowed to go to testing sites and then return home if you thought you had covid.

            • nicholasv on 09/08/2022 - 16:19
              +1

              @jv: So you'd need a mask to be able to get home while you're positive then

              • [Deactivated] on 10/08/2022 - 13:15
                -1

                @nicholasv: Ever heard of a share house, bright spark?

  • Bargainlife on 09/08/2022 - 11:40
    +59

    i feel like the people who want to wear them already are

    doing this probably won't change the minds of the people who have an issue with them

    I'm wearing mine though, had covid a couple of months a go and i really don't want it again, so anything that helps even a tiny bit I'm ok with

    • nicholasv on 09/08/2022 - 11:42
      +31

      I agree. I don't think that the cost of N95 masks are restricting the majority of people who want to wear them, but if it stops the spread even a little then it's OK in my books

      • wintersnow911 on 09/08/2022 - 12:08
        +29

        I know a few people had it worse the 2nd time. Probably different variant.

          • soaringphoenix on 09/08/2022 - 12:45
            +66

            @Bretttick: Anecdote ≠ evidence

            Why is this concept so difficult to understand?

            • [Deactivated] on 09/08/2022 - 13:09
              +1

              @soaringphoenix: I couldn't agree more…..

            • vash5 on 10/08/2022 - 19:59
              +1

              @soaringphoenix:

              Anecdote ≠ evidence

              Why is this concept so difficult to understand?

              Because if you bothered to internet, you'd see the example given (even Anecdotel) represents the wider outcone for the majority who get it a second time.

              • soaringphoenix on 10/08/2022 - 21:05
                +1

                @vash5: Be that as it may, my comment concerned the construction of the argument, not the veracity of it.

                He could have said, 'actually, most of my male friends are taller than my female friends. Therefore, most males are taller than females' and the comment anecdote ≠ evidence would apply equally.

                • vash5 on 10/08/2022 - 23:05
                  +1

                  @soaringphoenix: Ok sure but I would argue both can also be true because Anecdote can be a segment of the truth.

                  My point was relative to the topic since we are also here about masks. But I can acknowledge it works the other way too.

          • [Deactivated] on 10/08/2022 - 13:16

            @Bretttick: The fact you've got "mates", plural, that caught it twice kind of says it all about the company you keep.

      • jv on 09/08/2022 - 12:22
        +81

        Why are you worried, next time you get COVID won't be the same like the first time now that you got natural immunity.

        It could be worse, it's different for everyone.

        Stop making up rubbish…

        • lovebargain87 on 09/08/2022 - 12:39
          +45

          Oh I found myself agreeing with JV for a change

        • [Deactivated] on 09/08/2022 - 12:42
          +12

          Good on you JV.

        • Seismic on 09/08/2022 - 13:14
          +6

          Uncommon JV W

        • HagridNip on 09/08/2022 - 15:12
          +3

          The mythic JV W haha

        • robeh on 09/08/2022 - 16:03
          +3

          "Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point" :P

          • ItsMeAgro on 10/08/2022 - 10:05

            @robeh:

            "Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point" :P

            JV isn't bad, he/she just has high standards.

            That's beneficial to OzBargain.

            • robeh on 10/08/2022 - 10:13
              +1

              @ItsMeAgro: Yeah, just the first thing I thought of because everyone memes on JV's replies :)
              JV definitely is not 'the worst person' or anything like that

        • robeh on 09/08/2022 - 16:03

          W

        • Bretttick on 10/08/2022 - 19:24

          Ok, keep watching the tube 🙄

        • Villainous on 13/08/2022 - 20:04

          Ok, so if you are trying to be constructive here not just virtuous, can you list steps to reduce the risk of covid effects? Anyone?

      • OzzyOzbourne on 09/08/2022 - 12:44
        +2

        Great sample size Doctor….errr…who?

      • Creamsoda on 09/08/2022 - 13:17
        +5

        We are already living with the disease by not Locking down or Restrictions. why is simple mask wearing not living with COVID?

      • Steakz on 09/08/2022 - 14:57
        +5

        it's time we live with the disease

        LOL wait what?!? This is OzB buddy, not Victoria tradies Facebook page 🤣🤣🤣

    • eraser215 on 09/08/2022 - 14:01
      +6

      The regular cloth and surgical masks people are wearing are not very effective, from my understanding. So anything that encourages people to jump across to N95 is a good thing IMHO

      • twig on 09/08/2022 - 20:42
        +2

        Mainly because people just put the surgical masks on their face without tightening it up to form a seal.

        https://youtu.be/2TTg53aAP8Q is the most succinct guide I've found to get the point across

    • Stopback on 09/08/2022 - 14:33
      +1

      Disagree. We are sheep. The more people we see wearing them. The more people will wear them etc.

      • vash5 on 10/08/2022 - 20:12

        Disagree. We are sheep.

        Good times make for weak men.

        Yup, you nailed it.

    • 1st-Amendment on 09/08/2022 - 14:55
      +2

      had covid a couple of months a go and i really don't want it again, so anything that helps even a tiny bit I'm ok with

      Do you wear glasses?

    • soulblade64 on 09/08/2022 - 11:55
      +46

      During bushfire season, when fire is everywhere, should we just move on? Or do we send fire fighters to try to reduce/minimise the spread? Just because COVID is everywhere doesn't mean we should get 100% complacent, there are benefits to not willfully spreading sickness (of any sort)

      • vodamerc on 09/08/2022 - 12:04

        Fire has never been everywhere, what a stupid comment.

      • Daz91 on 09/08/2022 - 12:10

        If you can’t make a point without an analogy you don’t have a point

        • S2 on 09/08/2022 - 13:42
          +4

          Is this a rule you just made up?
          I think points can still be made with just an analogy. Like when explaining complex topics to kids, it can be helpful to use an analogy they can relate to.

        • smartazz104 on 09/08/2022 - 15:08
          +3

          The analogy is to help people understand, unfortunately some people are so special that you could draw them a picture and they'd still sit there and drool.

      • 1st-Amendment on 09/08/2022 - 15:01

        there are benefits to not willfully spreading sickness

        There are also benefits to surviving an infection, ie stronger immunity etc. So how do you decided which case Covid falls into?

        • smartazz104 on 09/08/2022 - 15:08
          +3

          The same people whinging about the long term effects of the vaccine seem to have no problem ignoring the long term effects of the damn disease itself…

          • 1st-Amendment on 09/08/2022 - 15:20
            +3

            @smartazz104:

            The same people whinging about…

            That didn't answer my question, it was just some vague whataboutism…

            Pretty much everyone I know has had Covid, some of them multiple times and not one problem. Even the really old ones with existing conditions. I'm sure it is negatively affecting SOME people, but how many people need to be affected by something before you ruin an entire economy and destroy half a generation of people over it?
            The effects of the Anti-Covid measures will be felt long after Covid is a distant memory. How do you decide which is worse?

            • S2 on 09/08/2022 - 18:21

              @1st-Amendment:

              ie stronger immunity?

              I will likely get flamed for this, but here goes. That's what the vaccine is for. Rarely can we achieve the best of both worlds. Masks to not willfully spread sickness and vaccine for stronger immunity.

              • infinite on 09/08/2022 - 21:17
                +1

                @S2: The vaccine didn't do that then & it doesn't do that now, though.

                Higher vaccine & booster uptake has only led to higher transmission & breakthrough rates among those individuals and the data shows this to be the case in every country in the world with a high vaccine & booster uptake.

                A team of 19 scientists from the United Kingdom have published research that helps explain why countries with the highest vaccination and booster rates are experiencing the highest numbers of what they call “breakthrough infections,” as well as reinfection with other variants of COVID-19.

                This research article, published on June 14, 2022 in the peer-reviewed journal "Science", shows in detail never seen before, what many clinicians and research scientists have expressed concerns about since the start of Covid. That COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as well as the booster shots are making our immune response less and less effective against every variant of the virus.

                It means that the vaccine itself is leading to widespread infection. Instead of stopping the virus, it appears that the mRNA vaccination programs around the world have inadvertently made the virus more ubiquitous.

                In contrast, in places where vaccine campaigns have not been widely implemented - including most countries in the continent of Africa, Scandinavian countries, the Middle East and sections of Asia like Japan - people are not becoming infected, hospitalized or dying in anywhere near close to the same numbers.

                The study for a direct read: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq1841

                • mixsta on 10/08/2022 - 12:39

                  @infinite: I think your comment is misleading in several ways. Bolding is mine.

                  INTRODUCTION
                  B.1.1.529 (Omicron) and its subvariants pose new challenges for control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although vaccinated populations are relatively protected from severe disease and death, countries with high vaccine uptake are experiencing substantial caseloads with breakthrough infection and frequent reinfection.
                  …
                  CONCLUSION
                  Vaccine boosting results in distinct, imprinted patterns of hybrid immunity with different combinations of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. Immune protection is boosted by B.1.1.529 (Omicron) infection in the triple-vaccinated, previously infection-naïve individuals, but this boosting is lost with prior Wuhan Hu-1 imprinting. This “hybrid immune damping” indicates substantial subversion of immune recognition and differential modulation through immune imprinting and may be the reason why the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) wave has been characterized by breakthrough infection and frequent reinfection with relatively preserved protection against severe disease in triple-vaccinated individuals.

                  Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq1841

                  Also, Japan did have a widely implemented vaccine campaign:

                  Japan’s Covid-19 death rate is the lowest among the world’s wealthiest nations, with health experts pointing to continued mask wearing, extensive vaccination and an already healthy population as the core factors behind its success.

                  The population has continued to adhere to basic infection control measures, including avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated venues, as other parts of the world grapple with pandemic fatigue. And Japan’s measures have been bolstered by a robust vaccination program and free medical care.

                  Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-17/how-japan…

            • [Deactivated] on 10/08/2022 - 13:18
              -2

              @1st-Amendment: Nobody knows the true extent of the long term health impacts of covid infection. Not you, not science, nobody. Though there are plenty of indications that "long covid" is real and it may be doing lasting damage to all kinds of organs.

              If you don't wish to opt on the side of caution, I can only encourage natural selection to do it's thing on your entire family. Problem is, I don't want to take that risk on mine, and your behaviour has an effect on that.

              So. Much like you can't go around punching people no matter how upset, angry, or entitled you feel, you also shouldn't be able to have health impacts on me and mine because of how upset, angry, or entitled you feel with regards to covid.

              Cope.

              • Lv80 on 11/08/2022 - 02:22

                @[Deactivated]: Actually, there's emerging evidence that vaccinations only limit severe covid outcomes and long covid exists equally in the vaccinated as the unvaccinated. So unless you're planning on locking yourself away till …oh hang on…this aint going away any time soon.

                How incredibly moralistic of you. Do you drive a car? Use a car? Walk on or near roads? So you are ignoring the dangers and risks of car use and being around roads aren't you? I can only encourage dumb luck not play it's part on your entire family!

                What a genuinely F###ed up thing to say to someone…not just to them..but to their entire family. Wishing natural selection kills them off. The world DOES NOT need more of your sort.

                You want to wear a mask, get vaccinated every single time the government tells you, hide in your house, bubble wrap your entire family, sterilise your hands every time you touch anything…be my guest. But just because you are have a damn right freak out about a virus that for the most part, most people's natural immunity will sort out, doesn't mean everyone else has to.

                No-one is saying you can't engage in all the health protection of you and your family. Just don't be so bloody entitled to think you have a right to impose them on others.

                Unbelievably that you are the sort of person that thought governments had a right to fine people for being outside their houses for more than an hour (once a day), more than 5km from home, or not wearing a mask…even if they are in a deserted park.

                Back in your bubble (wrapping)!

                • [Deactivated] on 11/08/2022 - 09:07
                  -3

                  @Lv80:

                  long covid exists equally in the vaccinated as the unvaccinated

                  Even if this were true (which, going by your attempts to justify your other nonsense with studies that bluntly contradict you) vaccines still reduce both your chance of getting the virus, the overall viral load if you do, and the window in which you transmit. So again, jog on with your nonsense.

                  Over 95% of the population is vaccinated several times. You're not the shining beacon of truth in the dark, the overwhelming, vast majority of the entire population thinks you're a deluded flog.

                  We know it makes you feel better to pretend you're smart, you're in the know, you're part of the "in group", but have you considered getting a job?

                  • Lv80 on 25/08/2022 - 12:26
                    -1

                    @[Deactivated]: Delayed response sorry 'champ'.

                    It's not about being in the 'in group', it's about being aware and understanding the science and what is actually occurring, not what you are told to think but 'flogs' on main stream media that have as much grasp on something as complex as a virus as they do about what actually matters to people as news day to day…ie little to none.

                    MSM generally spew out what they are told without actually researching.

                    Please show me these studies you seem to be referring to…because it HAS been proven that though vaccines might assist the severity of covid for those at risk…the reduction is negligible.

                    So if you want to keep jabbing yourself every time a new booster comes out then go for it. But you are absolutely deluded to think my opinion is overwhelmingly in the minority.

                    The fact now that vaccines have not been mandated is an indication of how many people believe in what they have been feed. The fact so many that are vaccinated continually are made up by those in industries that are mandating it, is also very telling.

                    If the vast majority of people believed what you do then there wouldn't have had to have been a need for mandates!! Ie…FORCING people to do what you want them to do. That ain't belief in a product. Only an idiot would assume a high vaccine rate that has been built on mandated vaccination = high support.

                    • [Deactivated] on 25/08/2022 - 16:55

                      @Lv80: Over 95 percent of the population has been jabbed you complete flog. Please sit down, and shut up.

        • Vamp256 on 10/08/2022 - 08:27
          +8

          Stop listing to MSM, eat well, stay fit, breath fresh air and you'll be fine. Build your immune system. Don't be a vaccine junky, instead trust yourself. Long term effects of listening to BS is far worse.

          • Bullion78 on 10/08/2022 - 08:48
            +7

            @Vamp256: Spot on mate. More often than not, the strictest adherents to gov prescribed medical authority on masks, vaccines etc are those that do not take personal responsibility for their health and wellness happy eating sh1t, never going to the gym, never allowing their skin to see the sun etc…

            Funny how gov health ministers never speak about the importance of a healthy lifestyle… Nope.. Just the cliched lines of.. wear a mask, get your booster, stay at home..

            • vash5 on 10/08/2022 - 20:30
              +2

              @Bullion78: Exactly.. same as saying wear a seat belt to keep you safe but zero attention to the importance of driving skills that prevent / reduce a crash to begin with.

  • Stopback on 09/08/2022 - 11:44
    +1

    This is gonna hurt those business selling masks

    • t400 on 09/08/2022 - 11:54
      +3

      You are talking about "stranger" business. Thinking it in a positive way, it also good for some "familiar" business.

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