Anonymous wrote:

Howard,
Just remember that some of the best dust masks has a valve on it, so it only filters the air you breath in. This is good for dust masks, but in case the mask wearer is the one who is infected, then the virus will be spread unhindered through that valve.

Arne

 Arne:

      You will if you look at the link I posted, see that many do not use a valve.   These are ALL rated N95, which essentially has to do with micron size and nothing else.  The most important part of that link is the statement below.  I suspect that your masks are probably at least as effective as a standard N95 for this purpose, and that if you included the felt piece I suggested that is supersaturated with salt and dried, they would be MORE effective than anything you could readily buy.     To use valves of masks would not make sense unless it was a reverse valve..... allowing you to breath air in unobstructed... if you are already infected and protecting others.  There is NO circumstance where a valve allowing you to breath out unobstructed would make sense here, as being asymptomatic does NOT mean that you are virus free.

                                                           H.W.

Are N95 Masks Really Effective against the flu?

A little online research will reveal that the flu virus is .17 microns in size. Clearly smaller than even N100 masks can filter out. However, it is critical to understand that the flu virus does not float in the air by itself. The flu virus is transported from patient to patient on droplets of excretions from sneezing and coughing. These particles are typically 5 microns or larger. When a sick patient wears a respirator, the respirator can be very effective at preventing infectious material from leaving the patients body, and when worn by healthy individuals, it prevents inhalation of said material. More importantly, wearing a mask is a excellent way of preventing the user from rubbing or touching their mouth or nose, which is a very high risk factor. At the end of the day will an N95 mask guarantee to protect you from the Flu? No. But it can substantially reduce your risk or receiving or transmitting the disease.

The N95 mask is not rocket science, actually a pretty crude mask meets that criteria. 

https://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/resources/dust-masks-whats-the-difference.html

The fit to your face so that ALL the air passes through, is probably the most critical factor.  I've worn a beard most of my life, and in order to make a  mask have any real protection at all, I would  need to shave I suspect.   

I live in a remote area, and have very little close proximity contact with others.   With the schools shut down, and many people here no longer going to job due to the  lockdown / shelter in place order, the risk of any of us being exposed is considerably less than in an urban environment. 

      Being at sea on a yacht would be even better.........

                                                       H.W.

Sadly the closest I'll get to my favourite scotch whisky is in the hand sanitiser. I've been off the booze for many years now. But I'd be inclined to force-feed it to my guests rather than use it as sanitiser or "snorter"!! There's nothing like a dram to lift the spirits and I'm sure good humour is as important a prevention for all illness as anything else :)

Mark I'm glad to hear the salt "solution" does it for your summer pollen trouble. As you say, a wash can do no harm! 

Pol.

Slightly off topic but to put this into perspective:

These are classic exponential growth curves.

This is pretty horrendous.

For the source data and the league tables: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

Anonymous wrote:

Be careful of the home remedies.

Hand sanitiser based on alcohol should contain at least 70% alcohol.

(Referring here to ethanol. I don't know about iso propanol which is also a base for some sanitisers.)