When (and when not) to wear a face mask

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing okay amidst the pandemic.

I wanted to share this myTake because I feel there is no real guidance out for there for the general public about face masks and when to wear them or not. I work in the NHS in a hospital and in GP surgeries in the UK and I'm seeing a lot of confusion about face masks by the general public.

I think a lot of healthcare workers take for granted their general PPE knowledge seeing as we're trained in how to use it and/or have some general knowledge about infection control. The public who work in all kinds of jobs, might not have this knowledge or training, so this is for you guys! I feel that relieving some uncertainties about this could help people feel more in control and less anxious.

I have had patients complain about staff not wearing masks in some instances, so this myTake may help people understand the reasons behind it. I will also include a section about disposable gloves and why you shouldn't wear them.

Disclaimer: This information is from one UK NHS worker (not a doctor/nurse). It may not apply to everyone/to all countries. This is based on my own personal opinion, with some facts thrown in, and isn't an order. Do what makes you feel comfortable, but some information won't hurt. :)

When to wear a mask:

• When you cannot keep a two metre distance from others or there is a likelihood that you will come into close contact with others, for around 15 minutes. Wearing a mask to go to the supermarket is a good example of a time to wear one because not everyone follows the guidelines of the two metre rule and you are standing around/near people for a long period of time. This is why it's becoming mandatory to wear face masks when on public transport and it's advisable to wear one when going to a GP surgery or hospital where you'll be close to a staff member for an appointment.
• When coming into contact with someone with COVID symptoms or confirmed COVID, but this should always include further PPE like overalls, gloves, visor/goggles etc. Of course, you should avoid someone with COVID or those who have symptoms.
• If you have COVID symptoms, to protect others (though you should isolate completely from others if you have any COVID symptoms, which now includes loss of taste/smell).

When you don't need to wear a mask (unless you want to):

• In your car when driving alone. You aren't in contact with anyone, you're alone so there is no need to wear one in the car, unless you had someone in your car that isn't from your household, but this goes against current guidelines. Driving alone is a good opportunity to get a break from wearing a mask and reduces the chance of it getting musky inside your mask. There is now guidance from CDC suggesting it can be unsafe to wear masks in the car after a person passed out at the wheel from wearing a mask for several hours. Not only were they wearing it for an unnecessary amount of time, they wore an N95 mask which are clinical masks used by medical staff treating COVID patients, an unnecessary piece of equipment for a member of the public to wear. N95 masks can make breathing very difficult and are considerably harder to keep on for long periods compared to the common blue and white paper masks.
• When going for a walk on your own or with your own household. Unless of course, you know you will be coming into close contact with others outside of your household, who you will remain in contact with for a longer period of time. All you need to do is keep your distance from others as you walk past each other. Be mindful of coughing, sneezing or even talking when walking past people as these can release particles into the air. Do all of those things when you're far enough away from others. There is generally a low level risk when walking past people briefly without a mask and this is why you might see staff walking through corridors without a mask. Some staff have been told not to wear masks outside of clinical areas for fear that it would panic the public, though this may have changed recently, so be mindful that most staff aren't being negligent.

  

General mask information:

• The common blue and white paper masks that staff wear are designed to be worn for short periods. They are after disposed of after a couple of hours. Wearing them for longer than this or continuing to use them over a number of days/weeks/months means the mask is practically useless and could possibly be riddled with germs. Only higher grade masks used for COVID wards can be worn for longer, but that is usually up to 8 hours and they cannot be taken off for those 8 hours, otherwise it'll have to be replaced.
• Masks are designed to protect others around you, from you. They are less about protecting you from others, as particles can still go into your eyes. This is why I support people wearing masks as much as possible when in busier areas or when coming into the hospital/doctor surgery. It will protect staff and those around you.
• Ideally, you should be washing your fabric face masks every day/when you've finished using it that day. Hopefully people are already doing this and understand why this is important, but you never know.
• If you're at a time where you need to wear your mask, briefly taking it down to talk to someone defeats the point, unless they are 2-metres away from you. I am seeing a lot of people in riots wearing masks but pulling them down under their chin and leaving them there. There is no point having the mask at that point.
• If you are wearing a mask and it's becoming uncomfortable/moist inside (this would normally suggest it needs to be disposed of), usually because people are wearing them continuously unnecessarily, it is okay to unhook it from one ear and let it hang whilst you get a breath, only when away from others. You should imagine that the virus is sitting on the front of your mask, so using your finger to pull it down to sit under you chin means your finger and your chin could then be contaminated. Unhooking it from one ear without touching the front minimises this risk.
• If you don't have a mask, wrapping a scarf around your face is better than nothing. It is mainly about preventing small particles from your mouth and nose from getting into the atmosphere, which can happen just from talking.
• Please don't ask staff for a mask; we need that protection for ourselves and in most cases, you won't be given one.

  

Disposable gloves

• The general public do not need to wear disposable gloves. If anything, these can spread the virus even more because people are washing their hands less.
• There are hand sanitisers everywhere that people are encouraged to use, but some people wearing gloves won't use them because they don't want to remove their gloves and put them back on again. The people without gloves on are much more likely to use hand sanitiser. If you're adamant on wearing your gloves, at least sanitise them when you're asked to do so.
• They are disposable gloves for a reason; they should be used for one task and then disposed of, not worn all day for many tasks. Unless you have a box of them in your handbag and you are regularly changing them after each task, that's fine, but I imagine most people aren't doing this.
• If you take your gloves off for whatever reason, you shouldn't put them back on, they should be disposed of.
• Depending on how busy my shift is, I can change my gloves anywhere from 15-40 times in 4 hours. I'm sure you wouldn't want a staff member to treat you with the same gloves they wore with many other patients before you. Why? Because of germs!

  

I want to end by saying, please don't be scared about going into hospital or surgeries if you need to go. Patients are telling me that they're too scared about going to the hospital but personally, the level of risk in the hospital and a GP surgery is about the same. A&E is quieter than its ever been and you're greeted with nurses in full PPE (which protects you from them) who check each patient before they can even enter the building.

I actually feel that supermarkets are a higher risk because customers don't have their temperatures or symptoms checked and anyone can walk in. The amount of times a family member has told me that they've come into contact with people coughing whilst shopping is worrying! I'm actually more nervous about going shopping than going to work as there are better precautions put in place. Patients are sat apart or kept outside and appointments are staggered.

Hospitals are generally quieter at the moment and all staff who come into contact with you will have masks to protect you from them. And you won't look weird if you wear a mask into the hospital or surgery either because I know some people worry about looking overcautious sometimes. Some places actually prefer patients to wear them.

Of course, the best way to protect yourself is to stay home if you don't have to go out and minimise human contact.

So there you have it! I hope this has been somewhat informative/helpful to people. Apologies if something doesn't make sense or I've missed something, but feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions. Again, this isn't gospel, do whatever makes you feel comfortable/safe, but whatever you do, don't be like this woman:

Stay safe!

[dantetheexplorer]

If the people who have commented here about how masks are completely useless all come from the US, I can see why the US had staggering amounts of death compared to other countries, especially in Asian countries where mask-wearing is an everyday phenomenon and people who do not wear masks are looked upon as rude barbarians who endanger the lives of everybody they come into contact with.

My mother was a nurse, a profession I hold in great, great, great respect, and deeply admire, and I learned the basics of medicine very early on, and it has been hugely beneficial to my life ever since, even when I did not end up doing medicine in college.

This post was very well-written.
But the sheer ignorance in many of these comments is... to be honest, staggering.
I feel like these people need to have been introduced to Epidemiology 101 in high school, at the very least.

But then, as my professor is won't to tell me, "Evolution of the human species will be the main benefactor of such ignorance".

[myTake Owner]

I'm also getting the sense the clueless, uneducated, yet completely obnoxious comments are from Americans. Half of them don't seem to think it's real and they think lockdown takes away their freedom which is so stupid. They're the only country that thinks this way. Americans are too much in their own bubble, thinking they know it all and that they live in the best country in the world, whilst everyone sees them as a laughing stock.

[dantetheexplorer]

Wait till you hear the conspiracy theorists: "COVID-19 is just a lie, a piece of fiction, cooked up to keep us all bound to the government and to prevent us from exercising our freedoms!" Not to mention the placards going up during the protests that read "We demand haircuts". *facepalm*

[myTake Owner]

Oh well, Corona will get them sooner or later. They won't be demanding haircuts when their relatives are dying.

[dantetheexplorer]

Thanks for MHO, OP.

[JDavid25]

The U. S deathrate per capital is smaller than or comparable to many other countries, and New York is a little less than half our deathrate and a lot of that is due to the whole nursing home thing.. So yeah..

[MissDawn7961]

dantetheexplorer - you and you nurse mom probably started spreading this disease all over America ! do you two practice voodoo and are trying to cast spells on everyone in America? the Lord's vengeance be upon you and your mom for trying to kill everyone with your vile voo-doo-ism ! I hope you are made to get your ugly mug and your moms ugliness to go to another country so we Christians can get rid of this disease and people like you who are unsanitary enough to spread it everywhere ! you are so ugly too ! get lost

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

They are taking our rights away you idiot. Maybe you live in a third world country with no constitution so you don't care. Fuck how you feel they killed our economy and healthcare system because of morons like you.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

You people do no critical thinking at all they turned the US into a communist country in 3 months! Maybe your countries were horrible to begin with but don't speak on what is going on in mine this is a total scam. The virus might be real but no reason to treat us like cattle because of it.

[Daniel3035]

Do not rely on this information we haven't confirmed this in the labs you don't even know if this "NHS worker" is real and her making her account anonymous is very suspicious.
But I can tell you she doesn't know what she's talking about she's recommending to wash face masks? NO NEVER but below she says to dispose of gloves correct so I don't know what's going on here but fact is even in my laboratory we using something like gloves and masks for organic solvents we throw them away never reuse. We've not confirmed any of this research takes time to do pieces of this advice could be harming you not helping bottom line do not listen and use your common sense and anything you would have done before this pandemic nothing more till we get report rolling who gets it through to the NHS after confirmation.

[eschneider]

@myTake Owner; America is the best country in the world. Freedom is more important than life, something most of the world doesn't understand.

[Jessie91331]

I agree

[Teyfet]

Good, informative post. Too bad more people won't read it. I especially appreciate how you say masks are worn more to protect others, than yourself. They are most beneficial when worn by someone with a coronavirus (or similar disease) to help contain the contagion. However, since people can be asymptomatic (& not know they have the disease), it is always wisest to wear a mask when in close proximity to others, & especially important to wear a mask anytime you will be near to anyone who may be at higher risk for developing severe symptoms. Thanks again for the information. (If only politicians would read & disseminate this info.)

[HomerSexual]

If only conservatives would listen...

[Teyfet]

Yes, but listening & understanding are, unfortunately, 2 different things.

[Daniel3035]

Do not rely on this information we haven't confirmed this in the labs you don't even know if this "NHS worker" is real and her making her account anonymous is very suspicious.
But I can tell you she doesn't know what she's talking about she's recommending to wash face masks? NO NEVER but below she says to dispose of gloves correct so I don't know what's going on here but fact is even in my laboratory we using something like gloves and masks for organic solvents we throw them away never reuse. We've not confirmed any of this research takes time to do pieces of this advice could be harming you not helping bottom line do not listen and use your common sense and anything you would have done before this pandemic nothing more till we get report rolling who gets it through to the NHS after confirmation.

[Teyfet]

It doesn't matter if she is or not. What matters is her information & that is valid. As I have the virus, I speak with some authority on the subject.

[Daniel3035]

The information to rely on cotton-based masks or to wash and reuse masks is wrong and puts you in danger as your suffering and hopefully will get out of it you know most of all it's not pleasant we've never validated this for NHS use nor any other lab working round the clock we said these are maybes but I can tell you re using masks is a big no no.

[sejla]

95% of the people in my area don't wear masks. i do but I figure that is relatively fruitless at this point.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

They don't prevent the virus from spreading bottom line. There is a mask that they use in a lab to prevent a virus and this is not that. They also do not protect someone else from getting the virus it is a piece of cloth it does nothing. Dr. Fauci recently stated that the masks do nothing they are a symbol of showing support to healthcare workers. Put the mask on and test your oxygen with a pulse oximeter. Your oxygen is going to drop now imagine someone with COPD or asthma being forced to wear a mask they are going to pass out from the mask. Imagine someone working 40 hours a week with the mask on more than likely eventually they are going to pass out too. You people sit here and believe anything you hear and you ignore the red flags. The media says the virus cannot spread at a BLM riot but can spread at a Trump rally? I am no Trump supporter but how is this possible? There are so many inconsistencies with info we have been given because we have been given mostly disinfo. I watched my country that was about freedom turn into a communist country with contact tracing where they can remove your children from the home. If you think any of this is about a virus it's not it is about pushing agendas. It is about taking freedom away from those of us who still have it.

[myTake Owner]

I am asthmatic and I wear mine fine. Also met patients who have COPD who are fine wearing one.

"You people sit here and believe anything you hear"
Pretty sure that applies to you, not to me, someone who's working on the frontline and has managed to avoid getting the virus throughout, whilst people who are sat at home during lockdown with too much free time believe a load of bull online and like to again believe conspiracy theories. Use your time more wisely.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

Conspiracy theory? The economy and the healthcare system are ruined! As far as people dropping this is from a mutual friend's FB page and what happened at her work place and there are many more people saying this the mainstream media is not going to tell you though,
A co-worker and friend blacked out and almost died the other day working at the farmstand because the weather was extremely hot and humid. The stupid face mask restricted her oxygen intake and affected her breathing. The ambulance was also called in.

My friend, who is the owner of the family farm where I work tried to get the face mask ordinance lifted at the farmstand for our convenience and safety but was coerced by the State to no avail.

This is why we need a free market and say, 'FUCK THE STATE!' 👩🏻‍🌾✌️

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

A co-worker and friend blacked out and almost died the other day working at the farmstand because the weather was extremely hot and humid. The stupid face mask restricted her oxygen intake and affected her breathing. The ambulance was also called in.

My friend, who is the owner of the family farm where I work tried to get the face mask ordinance lifted at the farmstand for our convenience and safety but was coerced by the State to no avail.

This is why we need a free market and say, 'FUCK THE STATE!' 👩🏻‍🌾✌️

[NatashaJ]

I also have asthma and I struggle to breath when I wear the mask for long. Don't speak for all people who have asthma (not to BurnHollywood Burn)

[myTake Owner]

@NatashaJ I'm not speaking for everyone with asthma, I said "I'm" asthmatic and "I" wear mine fine". Not saying everyone with asthma is fine with one, but I'm seeing a lot of people using anything they can to excuse wearing one.

[Daniel3035]

STOP ! STOP ! STOP! Wrong or Right you don't know so don't spread this information.
"If you don't have a mask, wrapping a scarf around your face is better than nothing" NO!
It is the same as nothing as studies have found COVID - 19 is between 70-120nm now you take a needle for a scarf does that fir through the scarf? Yes yes it does how bigs that needle? 1mm less than that maybe do you think something that's a million times smaller is going to be prevented by something that can hold a million virus "particles" no.
"Masks are designed to protect others around you, from you" NO! masks were designed to prevent the contaminated atmosphere from contaminating your lungs. It just so happens that something that stops the outside from going inside works the opposite way but in no way were they designed for that purpose.

Bottom Line: I could go on and on but the point is we DO NOT know enough you have to let us research and communicate over to you the results which takes time there is no evidence to back that any of this is factual or reliable. So nobody not even you if you work in medical industry should rely on this take it with a pinch of salt and use logic applied with your standard knowledge of pathogens to keep you and others safe.
Chemists never designed/engineered masks for these situations even then they have to be airtight which they're not viruses can get in from the sides easily at the right trajectory. Even if this was true it is pointless as recently confirmed by scientists you can transmit COVID 19 through your eyes so your lungs may be protected but if your eyes are not it's a gamble.
MChem, LLB (Hons)

[Daniel3035]

I MUST STRESS DO NOT re wash throw away re washing riskes spreading. Spain has already found COVID 19 in water from beaches etc throw away (safely) DO NOT re use if your masks catches the virus it will multiply on your mask hence throw away washing will not remove the germs 100% and it only takes one to reproduce and then infect you.

[myTake Owner]

Please stop sharing your conspiracy theories and misinformation.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

Mytakeowner you are a fucking moron there have been no studies done on these masks and if they prevent the spread. Where are the studies? There are none! They just know stupid idiots like yourself will suffocate yourself because the news tells you to.

[Daniel3035]

You reported my reply to you and got it removed? Amazing GAG support someone calling themselves a NHS worker and spreading misinformation puts it up as a guide on their main page me trying to save lives oh no let's cover up our mistake including any guys who are speaking the truth.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

She is a disgrace and she is virtue signaling like all stupid liberals do and ignores the facts. These people are so stupid they let the media turn masks into a political issue so of course they are going to try to spite anybody who thinks with their own brain.

[Daniel3035]

@BurnHollywoodBurn It's very dangerous we've been testing the masks for our safety in our labs and if anything although not finished results show partially effective if the virus is heading towards the mask and not the sides it has to be airtight for maximum effectiveness pore size of surgical masks are small enough to be effective. But they don't protect infection from eyes so...
We haven't confirmed anything about what she's said above and we haven't given the green light to say yes and to make things worse the government isn't listening about the 2m rule.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

The government isn't gonna listen because they are gonna push this until the economy is completely ruined. That is what this is all about. They want to devalue the dollar and bring in a cashless system and one world government full of worldwide communinism and when it happens and idiots like this girl who posted this calling it a conspiracy theory will have to understand she pushed this agenda for them. It is her fault.

[Daniel3035]

@BurnHollywoodBurn Could be it's her who will guarantee kill either people or herself potentially her family.
With the world as it is who knows I feel like china could have done it trying to prepare a vaccine beforehand so they could sell it to the world and become economically dominant.
According to the report, china tried to patent ie copyright the drug remedisvir.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

Yea well I believe much of this whole thing is a hoax. I cannot say if the virus is real or not. I mean if it is real it is not as bad as everyone thinks I know people who have not taken precautions during these last 4 months and no virus. This is mostly about the NWO agenda.

[Daniel3035]

@BurnHollywoodBurn I can guarantee it's real we have samples in the lab. But you may be right since it does look very man-made we do believe china released this virus whilst secretly developing a treatment they wanted a head start so they could be the first and if they suceed I imagine they will sell it at a high prices to become economically dominant.

[GraveDoll]

i wear a mask when i go shopping and being a social worker when Im force to visit my clients homes.

my sisters a Nurse and the other is a Radiographer. so i high respect for the medical crew

i appreciate this take.

my mother is a dialyses patient so it really nice when see and meet people who are that consideration of her. it horrible because my dad keeps her in the house so much these days and they fight. he just want to keep his wife alive as long as she got.

so i have no problem being considerate and respectful of others. even though i know it a dying jester these days, for others. which is just sad.

[0679954066]

Well I guess you have every reason to wear a mask, you should understand the concept of health since you got a sister as nurse.

[DizzyDesii]

I see this (that i posted below) waaaay too much (and way before the riots began) and im just like why you even wearing a mask. Before corona got superbad, people on planes and in airports kept doing this and it annoyed me. Like they’d get all in your face

“If you're at a time where you need to wear your mask, briefly taking it down to talk to someone defeats the point, unless they are 2-metres away from you. I am seeing a lot of people in riots wearing masks but pulling them down under their chin and leaving them there. There is no point having the mask at that point.”

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I don't wear a face mask at home.
I don't wear a mask inside our motorhome.
I don't wear a mask when I'm on board our boat.
I don't wear a face mask in my own cars.
I wear a mask when I walk or jog with my husband and our dogs.
I wear a mask when I enter any establishment.
I wear a mask in public places when I see there are other people besides me.
I always have 2 masks, 2 pairs of gloves & a small spray bottle of alcohol handy.
If I have a guest at home who has tested negative of COVID-19, I won't wear a face mask in my own home.

[MountAverage]

If anybody wants to know why the pandemic is so bad in the US while in Europe it's already getting better, just read some of the replies here. This right here, is what's wrong with America. A country full of illiterate science-deniers who all deserve a Dunning-Kruger award for their confidence.

[gotc147]

What do you mean "so bad"? Our numbers are better or roughly equal to Europe's.

[myTake Owner]

@gotc147 www.gzeromedia.com/the-graphic-truth-two-different-pandemics-eu-vs-us

[myTake Owner]

Only Americans would fight against wearing a mask because it's against their "FreEd0m" and that God breathed air into them and this is preventing God's breath and killing people. This is why science and critical thinking should come wayyy before religion.

[gotc147]

For one, I've yet to hear anybody oppose wearing masks on religious grounds.

For two, we are doing, by far, the most testing of any other country. Your chart only tracks infections, not deaths, everybody knew this virus was far more widespread than the official numbers claim. Our deaths are trending down and the CDC just said a couple days ago that they believe twenty million Americans have been infected.

It doesn't matter how many people get it, based on new data I'd honestly be surprised if a majority of the world's population has been infected.

[MountAverage]

@gotc147 No, they're not. Numbers in the US are drastically increasing every day and that's thanks to science-denying, hyper-selfish, right-wing Libertarians like you. Yeah, I know who you are. You're probably the single most delusional user on the forum. And this forum is full of incels and literally insane people, so that's something.
Why would anyone listen to what someone like you has to say? You only care about yourself. YOu could just fucking listen to what virologists and epidemologists have to say about how things are, how they're developing, and what should be done about it. But you don't. You prefer to rage-search for and cherry-pick data and think if you write it down in a calm and superfically "rational" manner, that it makes you sound scientific. It doesn't. You're hyper-biased because the reality of things doesn't fit your hyper-selfish narrative.

The two regions in the world where the pandemic is currently getting worse and worse and worse, are two of the biggest countries (the US and Brazil) who both happen to have leaders who are far right, hyper-bigoted, anti-science, proto-Fascists (Trump and Bolsonaro). Surely a coincidence! Or maybe it's because thanks to their ideologies, theyVe been denying and downplaying the pandemic from the beginning. They've both been consistently ignoring all the experts, peddling the most disgusting conspriacy theories, promoting dangerous fake cures, and continue to do so. That's why the pandemic is getting worse in both Americas. Because of anti-science right-wing assholes like them and you. Their and your ideology can be summarized with three little words: me, me, and me.

[MountAverage]

Why would anyone listen to you? I’ve seen your posts. You live in a world where you desperately want to sound like the truth matters, but it really doesn’t to you. You live in a world where compassion is weakness, where solidarity isn’t profitable. Where your right to shoot people with your micro-dick substituting gun ist he single most important thing in thing in the world, while millions of people not being able to afford medical treatment is totally fine with you privileged fuck. Where the „freedoms“ of huge companies matter more than the rights of individual people who already have little to nothing.
I live in a world where science matters. Where community, compassion, and solidarity matter. I live in a civilized society. A democracy. Not in a „survival of whoever ist the most privileged and most selfish asshole“ type of anarchy like you do. I live in a society that values the sanctity of life and that creates a system that protects ist weakest members. You care about „me, me, me“.
So go jerk off with your gun and don’t comment on societal issues. Go ahead and cherry-pick data that makes you feel less like the utter psychopath that you are, for all I care. I’ll save my focus and energy for people and things that matter.

[MountAverage]

myTake Owner, forget him. Not worth your energy and time, trust me.

[BurnHollywoodBurn]

We don't deny science we stand by it we just deny fake science that is not backed up by anything. Our media is controlled by 6 major companies and they lie on a regular basis.

[MountAverage]

@BurnHollywoodBurn You're a science-denying, conspiracy nutjob. If you cared about science, you'd go by what the scientific experts of to say. But instead you create conspriacy theories to make sure everything fits your ideological narrative.

Go die in a hole, Trumptard.

[IlyaTheImpaler]

It's sad some people still don't understand that the point of wearing mask is not to "filter out coronavirus" lol

The key concepts are aerosol and droplet, imagine them like the vehicles that the virus got on, then they are launched openly into the air and potentially your face if people don't wear mask.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BA2BOT3A70w

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202004.0203/v1

https://twitter.com/physicsvideo_/status/1248134471481577473?lang=en

[sensible27]

What did you expect?

[sensible27]

Why is your name "the impaller"

[IlyaTheImpaler]

@sensible27 I was randomly thinking about Vlad the Impaler lol

[Darcia]

Here in America, it is supposed to be mandatory to wear a mask but wearing gloves is optional seeing that gloves don’t prevent the spread of the virus. I still wear my mask when others don’t and try to steer clear of others when they don’t social distance.

[rose004b]

Thank you for sharing. Is there an official recommendation regarding how masks should be washed? In France, the official recommendation is to wash cloth masks at a temperature of 60° for at least 30 minutes.

[myTake Owner]

That sounds about right. Chucking them into your washing machine and even tumble drying at high heat should be plenty.

[pleasestopthis]

Excellent! I wish more people were aware of this, but there always the same dumbtards who think know better. I too work in healthcare and feel like rolling my eyes when I see people wearing gloves instead of washing their hands... gloves are USELESS if you don't use them properly.

[Jessie91331]

When we go out, masks are on if I'm near people, like the store. Mainly just staying home, avoiding as many people as I can. Sad how many people think this is not real. Maybe it will be a way for the Darwin effect to happen, let these idiots who deny how serious it is, catch the virus or one of the mutations , die, then we all move on.

[Jamie05rhs]

This is a GREAT MyTake!! Thank you so much. I think the site should give you some kind of official recognition for posting this.

by the way, are we to assume that the last photo is a joke?

[myTake Owner]

Thank-you, I appreciate your feedback! :)

That last photo is a screenshot from a video of a woman actually walking into a shop like that saying she cut it because she couldn't breathe properly in her mask: www.dailymail.co.uk/.../...kes-easier-breathe.html

[myTake Owner]

I'm already an Editor by the way, so my myTakes automatically get promoted, so I guess that's kind of recognition? :P

[Jamie05rhs]

Omg.

[Jamie05rhs]

And that's cool. :)

[D4nielv]

And for the love of God, don't put it over your mouth with your nose sticking out. You're still breathing unfiltered air through your nose and you're pretty much wearing a mask for no reason, except to make a fool out of yourself.

[shygirl789]

how would you go about wearing a mask when you work in an environment where its hot and you do physical work? I'm sweaty and the mask gets moist and wet

[myTake Owner]

It's very hot and sweaty in hospitals. Staff have been passing out because of it. You just have to let yourself sweat and change the mask when it's getting too moist/wet.

[SweetDisaster]

When you leave your home wear a mask the right way the only thing people get to see is your eyes only, wear gloves and keep a hand sanitizer with you at all times, don't touch your face, and always wash your hands. Keep your distance and don't touch anything unless is necessary. It's exactly what I always tell my family. That's what I always do. Called me a freak if you most, I don't care. Better safe then sorry.

[paronomasia]

Very good points. It was brave of you to post this with all the quacks on here who seem to know everything, like Radio4Men who blocked me because I wasn’t taking his insults!

[DocT1977]

Hi there. I'm going to be honest. I won't wear them period. I have seen so many flip flops, walk backs, inconsistencies and fudged numbers that this scare tactic no longer holds any credibility with me. For that reason, I soundly rejected it.

[NatashaJ]

Thank you! people keep spreading you need masks on 24/7 but if you are starting to struggle to breath with a mask on take it on asap. My friend told me people apparently have been dying with keeping the mask on for too long.

[SenseiSeptred]

Everyone wears a mask of some sort anyways for purposes of the concept of face, the only difference now is that the reason people are being honest about it is due to covid 19 which makes people that much better pawns due to them consenting to the universal sin called Fear and violating the tenet of the Code of Bushido called Yu aka Courage.