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It may be time to upgrade your face mask or start wearing two, as medical authorities believe it will offer more protection against more contagious strains of coronavirus.
According to the Washington Post, there is currently a debate over whether Americans should be encouraged to wear two masks at the same time or whether high-end masks generally reserved for healthcare workers should be made available to the public. public. Some officials fear that encouraging widespread use of KN95 and N95 will deter people from wearing masks due to the discomfort.
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I just have to say that after hearing how my dad struggled with the disease and seeing friends lose parents from it, I think it’s safe to say that catching COVID is probably a little more uncomfortable than wearing a mask N95.
Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Washington Post that he supports the use of better quality masks by the public. “The existence of more transmissible viruses underscores the importance of us improving our game and not doing more of the same but better of the same. Yes, it’s confusing for people, but the key is to share what we know when we know it and be frank about what we don’t know, ”Frieden told the Washington Post.
Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech engineering professor who has studied the effectiveness of masks, told the Post that while people cannot acquire a medical grade mask, wearing a fabric mask over a surgical mask could provide a similar level of protection.
“These standard cloth masks could be about 50% effective in protecting you,” Marr told the Post. “Maybe that was good enough before, combined with the remoteness and trying to avoid being in crowded indoor spaces.
Given that we are almost a year into the pandemic, and only now have an administration that takes it seriously, it is no surprise that other countries are more advanced in the manufacture and distribution of high quality masks. Countries like Singapore and South Korea have already started mass-producing high-quality masks for distribution to the public, and several European countries have issued warrants for medical-grade masks to combat the new strain, believed to be 70 % more contagious. .
Officials told the Washington Post that the Trump administration tried early in the pandemic to get underwear companies to make at least five masks for every U.S. household, but those plans fell apart because, well, it was an effort by the Trump administration. I mean, one of the complaints about the masks made by the underwear companies was that they looked … like underwear.
So yeah, let’s just move on to that quote, because I can’t with the insanity.
From the Washington Post:
The CDC encourages Americans to choose well-fitting masks with “two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric” and to avoid surgical masks and other face coverings intended for health workers.
President Biden has adopted masks as a basic strategy to end the pandemic, imposing face masks on planes, at airports and in all federal buildings. But he did not call for a medical-grade mask mandate or the mass production of high-quality masks.
The CDC and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Some public health experts have said the federal government should have prioritized certifying or manufacturing better masks sooner so Americans don’t have to fend for themselves to avoid fakes or improve theirs.
Officials are concerned that the updated mask policy will be poorly received by the public due to the politicization of mask use last year. The GOP did a great job convincing half the country that protecting themselves against a new potentially deadly virus was somehow a violation of their rights. It also didn’t help matters as medical authorities flip-flopped on the need to wear a mask at the start of the pandemic, experts including Dr Anthony Fauci saying they were not. necessary to control the spread of the disease in the early days of the pandemic.
“When you look at leaders and see mixed messages like the ones you’ve seen in the past, you tend to cling to those who make you comfortable,” David Abrams, professor of social and behavioral health at New York University tells the Washington Post.
“Let’s face it: It changes very quickly and science is advancing and sometimes we even make mistakes and correct them. There is nothing wrong with that or learning to do something better. Double masking is a good example, ”Abrams added.
All I can say is this: In the past year, black people have caught this disease disproportionately and COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death among black people last year. I’m not a scientist, but if wearing two masks can provide even a little more protection against the virus and potentially prevent more black death, then you may surprise your boy with double masks in the future. predictable.
So as always, avoid gatherings, wash your hands and wear your mask (s).
Originally published
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