NEW: CDC guidance on masks expected to change in next 10 days. (UPDATE: CDC refutes this claim)

[demmiblue]

Last edited Sat Mar 28, 2020, 02:25 PM - Edit history (1)

NEW: CDC guidance on masks expected to change in next 10 days. Americans will be advised to wear masks in everyday life. Current recommendation is for high-risk groups only.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Chiyo-chichi]

1. Where are we supposed to get them?!

[OhNo-Really]

33. I made this Protection gear

Need to line hat with plastic too

Link to tweet

The virus can enter through eyes!

The mask is to prevent spread of virus

In Asia for decades a mask is considered good manners

[Meowmee]

115. Cool😹nt

[TheBlackAdder]

38. And N95 masks suck balls. You'd really need P100 or R100 masks for oil-based corona.

.

N95 allow 5% seepage from gaps in the sides of the masks.

.

[zonkers]

52. What is "oil based" corona?

[TheBlackAdder]

58. This variant of corona has an oil exterior layer, so oil-filters might have more efficacy.

[Hortensis]

60. Well, best to snug them on and avoid hugging fellow shoppers then.

N95 masks were never meant for caregivers to those who are infected.

Link to tweet

Best wishes to their victims.

[DENVERPOPS]

82. If anyone swallows the BS coming out

of Russia about the Virus, they qualify for TrumpHumpers. Putin has ordered that there is no virus, or only a couple of Russians with it
Where do you think Trump and his Republicans are getting their marching orders from??????

Wake up people

[Hortensis]

90. I've read their healthcare is "skeletal" and often very limited

outside big cities. Medication and medical supplies shortages are common.

[C_U_L8R]

41. Trump Masks (tm)

$99.95 each.
Made in China.

[TheBlackAdder]

44. You know he's already filed the Trademark on that! 😂😂😂

[Scarsdale]

62. Go to Jared!

He, or a family member is itching to make a profit from this virus, plus the inaction from the orange ass.

[DENVERPOPS]

112. I'm positive that in the future

There will be hundreds of stories about the corrupt swarmy things that his spawn, and the entire Republican Senate & Party have been preoccupied with to profit off this humanity disaster...... Hell, the inside trading Republican Senators that quickly sold tons of stock before releasing the info to the public, certainly went out, studied who was going to profit from this and bought tons of stock in those corporations........(Instead of immediately going to work on preventing this nightmare as much as they possibly could, along with continuing to back Lardass and all is propaganda & flagrant lies......

[LiberalArkie]

70. From Trump Enterprises, of course.

[ChiTownDenny]

73. WTF!!!111!!!!

I've just gone over the ledge. The rest of the world has been wearing masks. I found it peculiar that Americans have been advised not to wear masks. Now we're told to wear a fucking mask, after we're all contaminated and gonna die! OK, hyperbole, but WTF!!!111!!!

[thesquanderer]

102. Masks have always been a good idea; they discouraged using them so they would be available...

...for those who needed them most (health workers). Once supplies ease up, it is not surprising that they would be recommended for everyone, probably first to those at higher risk (over 60, pre-existing conditions).

[luvs2sing]

2. And we get a mask how??? nt

[madaboutharry]

3. And where are these masks suppose to come from?

Will they fall from the heavens? Grow on the magic mask tree?

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Try eBay for masks.

I'm supposed to be getting some KN95s from them -- just haven't arrived yet.

[TheBlackAdder]

48. No offense, I wouldn't trust jack shit on eBay. They sell bogus refrigerator water filters as legit.

.

You'd be best going to an industrial supplier.

.

[liberalmuse]

20. There are a few good videos on this.

Here’s just one, but these are easy to make:

[bullwinkle428]

4. I have a neck gaiter that I started using this week. Will something like that be considered

acceptable as a substitute for an actual mask?

[hlthe2b]

6. marginally better than nothing, but be very very very careful taking it off & immediately

wash hands & drop it into the washer. They are not easy to take off without contaminating yourself.

[NightWatcher]

11. Sounds like what I've used.

You can breath through it, it's lightweight, but there is resistance blowing into it.

They're made by Columbia and Buff for fisherman and they usually have spf. I actually use it for the sun shielding because I'm on the water for hours at a time some days.

[greenjar_01]

46. Yes, good idea

They're not going to be n-95 effective, but they're much, much better than nothing. Yiou can also just throw them in soapy water or the laundry when you get home. I have an Under Armor running gaiter that works similarly.

[Lars39]

21. Tight fitting and tight weave, I would think.

[greenjar_01]

42. I use my winter running gaiter OVER a mask

when I go to the supermarket.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Will they send us all the masks we need?

If hospital workers can't even get them, what are the rest of us supposed to do?

[dalton99a]

8. Pray tell, where to buy them?

[LisaL]

28. My guess is general population is going to be advised to wear homemade masks.

So get to sawing.

[Butterflylady]

89. You meant to say sewing, didn't you.

[jzola]

64. I have

Seen them at REI and I’ve also bought them on line. I think from Eddie Bauer.

[getagrip_already]

9. silly people - you will be able to buy them from the ivanka company store.......

That's where the gov supplies will be sold from. Oh, and dpa will be invoked to centralize supplies for redistribution through the trump store.com

[Arkansas Granny]

15. Will they come in fashion colors?

[central scrutinizer]

18. If your return address is in a blue state

They will come pre-infected. Following the smallpox infected blanket model.

[MontanaMama]

84. Okay...your post made me laugh.

In a dark, black humor sort of way.

[2naSalit]

96. The smallpox scenario

has been banging around in my brain for about a week now. Guess it's not a novel connection to make!

[central scrutinizer]

105. There have been reports of neo-Nazi groups plotting to spit

On synagogue and police station door knobs

[2naSalit]

106. Yes, I saw that

which is what helped me reach that train of thought.

[The Blue Flower]

10. For those of you who sew

There are patterns online. I made one from linen kitchen towels and elastic headbands from the Dollar Store. JoAnn's fabrics is offering fabric and elastic for free if you want to make them to donate where they're needed.

[evilhime]

68. they can be washed

and sterilized . . . not all Joanns are doing this so call first to see if your local one is participating.

[cynatnite]

12. Hell no...

As much as a shortage there is, I'd rather use my own bandanna rather than deprive masks from medical personnel on the front lines.

[LisaL]

26. You are not going to be able to deprive masks from medical personnel because

you won't be able to buy mask that medical personnel needs.

[honest.abe]

13. Funny we were told a couple of weeks ago masks did no good.

[dweller]

23. we were told 15 cases

would soon be 0
if fatnixon and his minions say A i do Z
😡

✌🏼

[LisaL]

25. I knew we were lied to.

[still_one]

31. +++

[dewsgirl]

27. Indeed, I have watched how other countries have reacted and

knew better. I had several people argue with me.

[Kaleva]

51. Here's a post I made Feb. 8

"Recent studies show that surgical masks are effective in preventing the transmission of viruses

And it's not because they remind one not to touch their face.

I'm on my phone now but tomorrow I'll post links to the studies and excerpts from them along with statements by doctors who specialize in the field."


https://www.democraticunderground.com/122867992#post8

"13. Surgical masks are cheap. Sun Feb 9, 2020, 03:02 PM

"Surgical masks as good as respirators for flu and respiratory virus protection
by UT Southwestern Medical Center"

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-09-surgical-masks-good-respirators-flu.html

"“Yes, a surgical mask can help prevent the flu,” Sherif Mossad, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, tells Health. “Flu is carried in air droplets, so a mask would mechanically prevent the flu virus from reaching other people.” It would work both ways, says Dr. Mossad, preventing transmission of the flu virus to others and for keeping a mask-wearer from picking up an infection.

Surgical masks to prevent the flu can be found in major drugstores and online, and yours doesn't need to be fancy to help. “A simple disposable mask is fine, just be sure the packaging notes that it protects against airborne particles,” Susan Besser, MD, a family medicine doctor with Mercy Personal Physicians at Overlea in Baltimore, Maryland tells Health. And splurge for a value-sized pack. “Disposable is best and you should discard your mask after each use,” says Dr. Besser. “If a mask gets wet—and it will by simply breathing into it—the effectiveness of its protective effect is reduced.”"

https://www.health.com/condition/cold-flu-sinus/surgical-mask-flu-prevention

"One study shows that when there's a sick family member in the house, other family members could cut their risk of getting sick by 60% to 80% by using face masks consistently and correctly -- in combination with frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with the sick person."

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/swine-flu-h1n1-and-face-masks#1

"Donning a face mask — either a surgical mask or a P2/N95 respirator mask (high particulate filter mask) — boosts protection from severe respiratory illnesses such as influenza and SARS, say researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). These masks are not necessarily the same as the dust masks that some people use when cleaning or doing construction work.

In the study, adult mask wearers in the home were four times more likely than non-wearers to be protected against respiratory viruses, including the common cold."

https://www.livescience.com/7661-masks-protect-colds-flu.html

"Not so for the World Health Organization or the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

They collectively recommended regular surgical masks except in high risk circumstances, such as during open suctioning of airway secretions and other procedures that could "aerosolize" the H1N1 virus."

https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/infectioncontrol/16278"

[honest.abe]

94. Yes, I would agree with that.

I think the main argument that being made against face masks was that viruses are so tiny they easily pass through the pores in a face mask. However, I do believe that in most cases the virus would not be flying around in the air entirely on its own. I think typically it would be contained in a particle of saliva or mucus expelled when someone coughs or sneezes and that the particle would be much larger than the virus itself and would probably be caught the fabric of the face mask. Seems like common sense to me.

[ooky]

92. Heard that, but it didn't make sense to me that they would do no good

so I used mine anyway.

[Chainfire]

14. The MAGA branded masks

With Trump's signature will be available by the tens of millions. I also understand the the masks with the "Biden is very bad" will be available through the NRA. (For the cost of a new membership) But wait, if you call now......

[durablend]

17. Mmmhmm

Bright red with the president's signature, no doubt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. Is this just to make the proles think it's safe to go out and mingle

and pack the churches on Easter, as long as you're wearing something that approximates a mask?

[dalton99a]

19. Excellent point.

[onecaliberal]

30. This. Trump is going to make the CDC say it's safe to go out if you have a mask and open business

[LisaL]

32. Then they better to have enough N95 masks for everybody.

[ooky]

93. "Church" is agonizing enough to sit through as it is.

An hour to an hour and a half of that in a freakin' mask would be intolerable for me.

[bronxiteforever]

22. So hospitals are in competition with 327 million

Americans.

[magicarpet]

36. So what,..

His Royal Virus - has placed refrigerated trucks all over the place to collect the dead bodies, just toss them in there.

Lots of space in a tractor trailer, stack thems bodies one on top another, plenty of room.

[bronxiteforever]

49. +1 royal virus. That is what he is.

[Igel]

88. Yes.

Be sure to place your orders wisely so as not to compete with states who complain that competition increases prices, and anything that impedes their efforts hates humanity and wants them dead.

[LisaL]

24. I knew from the start we were given horrible advice to not wear masks.

It made no sense for multiple reasons.
Better late than never, I guess.

[BusyBeingBest]

45. They said we were too stupid to figure out how to put it on our faces

and breathe through it. Only medical professionals understand the intricacies of effective mask-wearing.

[LisaL]

50. We didn't wash our hands correctly either, but hand washing was advised anyway.

[underpants]

29. I found random packs of painters masks at grocery stores

No they aren't N95's but they'll do.

Looked in my survival bag in my car and I have two masks in there.

[magicarpet]

34. His Royal Virus wants the cash registers ringing...

... coast to coast.

He's got a second term election to win here let's get this shit show of an economy on the road !

trDumpie is going to wing it. He wants the economy and stock market up and running full blast. He has no time for this testing for CV 19, this quarantine bullshit, or this unproductive lazy hunkering down at home is total nonsense.

We must change the rules of CDC, get everyone to wear a N 95 mask, then get back to work.

trDumpie intends to get re-elected but that won't happen is the stock market and economy is stuck on crash.

[clutterbox1830]

35. That was expected.

Luckily, I was able order a box of mask in February in preparation. I also got a respirator mask too.

[duforsure]

37. This just exposes how badly trump has screwed up now

He failed to get enough made. They should ask him again where are the masks NOW!,q

[greenjar_01]

39. If you have access to masks and haven't been wearing one already, I'm just confused by you

Fuck's sake.

[OrlandoDem2]

40. Why wait 10 days?

[dalton99a]

43. The virus can wait

[greenjar_01]

47. ROFL

Seriously!

[NYC Liberal]

53. Because 10 days from now is right before Easter, when Trump

wants everything to reopen.

[Ohiogal]

54. We should get our post card

with Chump’s name in big letters

advising us to do this

In about a month.

[c-rational]

55. Smart call. It will help - especially if they are N95's. You can buy then on Amazon.

[LisaL]

56. Have you actually tried to by them off amazon?

[c-rational]

101. Yes. Ordered about 3 weeks ago. Was told that they would arrive April 1-April 22, but they showed

yesterday.. I had 2 given to me by a more than friend who I have know for 50 years. Used minimally we leave them on the windowsill in the sunlight to disinfect. Got 20 but giving at least half away. We live in NYC and my wife had us self isolating two weeks before the calll was made by the Governor.

[dalton99a]

57. What's left on Amazon is overpriced counterfeit garbage

[c-rational]

103. Got two brands. One was 3M. 5 N95 masks for $10.99.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

59. What is the source on this besides this tweet?

[Bayard]

61. Well, crap

I was going to order some online but finally decided not to when I read enough about them not really protecting you, and they were in such short supply for medical personnel.

I'm over 60, with asthma and other respiratory problems.

[ffr]

63. Got mine 6 weeks ago when you could get them for nothing. But you can make your own.

http://xobonmag.com/project/fabric-face-mask/
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017574019 - Sunseeker

[ffr]

65. How-to video

[DallasNE]

66. And Just Where Are We Going To Get These Masks

And at what cost. It's all spiraling out of control.

[OverBurn]

67. I ordered some from Amazon, they say July or August. We're Screwed.

[Takket]

69. this is absurd....

From the VERY BEGINNING we were told NOT to wear masks if healthy because they wouldn't really do anything and healthcare workers needed them more. Now we need to wear masks? and this protocol change is coming right after drumpf said he wants the country open on Easter? Find me ONE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL at the CDC that came up with this idea and wasn't told to "say so" to appease drumpf.

[LisaL]

80. Use your freaking common sense.

We were told not to wear masks if we are healthy. But sick ones were told to wear masks to limit the spread. Now, with covid, many people don't know they are sick because a lot of them are asymptomatic (at least at the beginning of it).
So clearly if everybody is wearing a mask, it will be protective because it will limit the spread.
Is that not freaking obvious?

[Takket]

83. NONE OF THAT is news...........

So why the hell was the CDC telling us NOT to wear masks before??????????? How can we have any idea what to do when the people in charge cannot come up with anything even remotely close to a consistent and coherent strategy?

[LisaL]

87. Presumably because we didn't have enough masks for general population.

And we obviously still don't. So I wonder what they are going to advise us to wear (if they do).

[WheelWalker]

71. Then each relief check should come in a box of 100 masks

[csziggy]

72. Just in time for Easter!

When everything is supposed to open back up.

Gee, funny how that works.

I guess I will have to see if my husband can dig out my sewing machine, a box of my fabric and a box of notions where my elastic is.

And then find a place to set it up. Yeah, like that is going to happen. Right how most of our stuff is in storage, two rooms are emptied as we add to the house, and we are worried the entire process might be shut down if this virus gets any worse. Other than having no front door, we're almost dried in - they are working on the roof today. But there is no air conditioning or electric installed in the new part and they are going to have to chop holes in the ceilings of one of the rooms we're using to run electric to the new section.

[LiberalArkie]

74. Anyone thought of making masks out of Filtrete filter sheets?

[jeffreyi]

75. Is this source legit?

[Generic Brad]

76. No. Just...No

I refuse to scrounge for a mask that should be available exclusively for our brave health care workers.

When I take a walk to get some exercise and fresh air, I will not be donning a mask, thank you very much. And if I don't, who the hell is going to make me?

[LisaL]

78. Nobody, I am assuming.

Cdc will issue an advise. You can take the advise or not. I have no idea who you think is going to make you to wear a mask.

[Generic Brad]

79. It's an unenforceable request

All this "advice" does is screw over health care workers.

[LisaL]

81. It actually might help health care workers if it limits the number of sick patients they have to

treat.

[Sunsky]

77. I have been wearing mask whenever I go out

I have awful allergy and sinus issues. To function in my home, I need face mask for cleaning and sometimes cooking (any scented product or dust triggers a coughing or sneezing attack). I always have a supply of medical grade masks and gloves. Thank goodness for that, because I didn't take this serious early enough to restock before they were sold out.
If this is the new directive, where will the public acquire them?
My stock is running low. Most masks have one-time usage unless they're washable. I don't trust home-made masks during this time. I believe people will get sick from wearing a compromised product, thinking it's safe.

[Chainfire]

85. The change in the CDC guideline on masks will be linked

with the idea that it is time to go back to work. Put on your masks, wash your hands and resume normal activities during the largest health crisis in a hundred years. It is a political and economical message, having nothing to do with the reality of the health crisis.

It is insanity.

[Takket]

91. exactly.....

Can't be a coincidence this will "line up" with the end of the easter holiday. Why 10 days? If we should be wearing masks outside, why isn't this directive being issued RIGHT NOW?

This is going to give people a false sense of security that we can resume our lives if we wear masks but the ONLY way to defeat the virus is social isolation. Masks will NEVER be as effective as isolation.

[NoMoreRepugs]

86. I question the validity of the tweet.

Let’s see if a known reputable source corroborates this.

[carlvsam]

95. There is an article in today's NYT that appears to back up the tweet.

Last edited Sat Mar 28, 2020, 02:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Going by the article, what is being suggested is a "defense in dept" approach against Covid-19:

"But studies of influenza pandemics have shown that when high-grade N95 masks are not available, surgical masks do protect people a bit more than not wearing masks at all. And when masks are combined with hand hygiene, they help reduce the transmission of infections.

"When researchers conducted systematic review of a variety of interventions used during the SARS outbreak in 2003, they found that washing hands more than 10 times daily was 55 percent effective in stopping virus transmission, while wearing a mask was actually more effective — at about 68 percent. Wearing gloves offered about the same amount of protection as frequent hand-washing, and combining all measures — hand-washing, masks, gloves and a protective gown — increased the intervention effectiveness to 91 percent."

The thought behind this appears to be sound. However - as many people have noted - we have a shortage in masks already. And while one can make a mask, it seems that quite a few of the instructional videos on this require a sewing machine - an item most people do not currently own.

[LisaL]

97. That much was always obvious to me.

Where are we going to get disposable surgical masks, that is the question.

[UCmeNdc]

98. I do not know what to believe coming from this administration.

[demmiblue]

99. Kick for CDC response:

Link to tweet

[Hobo]

100. May I ask...

Who the fuck is Matt McCarthy?

[dalton99a]

104. He wants to sell books

https://www.drmattmccarthy.com/bios/matt-mccarthy

[KY_EnviroGuy]

107. This thread proves how susceptible Americans are to fear and spin.

First, this should be considered a rumor and nothing more. Statements like this can endanger front-line medical personnel.

Second, it's probably the worst idea I've heard being tossed about at this stage of the outbreak for a number of reasons (most having to do with American culture). If you think masks are hard to come by now...think toilet paper. Where the hell will our medical personnel get masks if every asshole in America hoards a few hundred in their garage (and they will)?

Third, there's little scientific evidence that wearing masks substantially reduces everyday citizen's risks for this novel virus vs careful sanitation, isolation and safe distancing. The problem is that any measure we take can create a false sense of security and most people then become far more careless with the other components of protection.

Fourth, it is known that the virus can be spread in air both by droplets (of a wide variety of size) and by aerosolization which is extremely dangerous in public places and masks available to the public will not stop it (virus particles are sub-micron). In addition, very few public places have HEPA-rated air filtration in their HVAC systems.

Fifth, few Americans are trained on the proper use and handling of particulate masks and are unaware their design is for short term use, typically being disposed of after one work shift or less. Handling of them reduces effectiveness.

My strong suspicion is that Trump's greed-driven people are about to pump this as a magic solution to enable millions of people to go back to work. The net result is that thousand more will die.

I'm expressing these opinions relative to the American public as a whole, including the rich and the poor and the smart and not-so-smart from all regions.


Just My Humble Opinion........

[LisaL]

108. But yet masks will protect others from someone who has covid, if that person is wearing a mask.

Since a lot of covid patients are asymptomatic, it only stands to reason that if everyone wore a mask in public, there would be at least some protection from covid.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

109. No.

You said "will protect" and that precisely represents that false sense of security. Masks only reduce the probability of transmission and only when used properly. Also, a sick person has reduced likelihood of maintaining protocols.

When an infected person coughs, the mask loses its seal and vapor is expelled from around the mask in many directions. Let's be clear as well that vaporized and aerosolized materials do not behave in ways that common sense dictates.

As a theory, I can't entirely disagree with your last statement. Perhaps I'm being overly cynical but again - considering American culture - wearing masks creates complacency and carelessness with other protective measure such as not going into places we don't need to and the consciousness of frequent hand washing. It reminds me of the people who carry guns thinking it will prevent them from being shot.

There's also the issue of knowing how to handle masks that have been used. Any mask that has been donned in public should be treated like any other known contaminated object.

Would most Americans know how to remove and store or dispose of used masks?

Let me be clear: I'm not relating this to you specifically, but instead thinking of the average working-class citizen along with our very careless class of young people (and many Republicans) that believe they are invincible.

[LisaL]

110. Whatever you say, we in OH have already been told to wear masks by our

Health Director. So I am going to follow her advice.
I believe her to be trustworthy because she is not sugar coating the disease.

[Kaleva]

113. Same with washing hands

Most Americans don't do it properly and thus give themselves a false sense of security by making them think they are protected when they at best have reduced the probability of being infected.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

114. Good point. As a high-risk individual.....

and as a scientific person (retired) that pays extreme attention to detail, it frightens me to think of all the ways simple complacency and a tiny bit of carelessness could cost a person their life.

In my work we faced many extreme dangers but they were well known, thoroughly understood and safety measures always in place. We trained until we got sick of training, but injuries were very rare.

In contrast, this is an extremely dangerous foe that in fact is "novel", not completely understood and the best we can do is literally hide from it......and what a long, grueling road we have ahead of us.

[Takket]

111. CDC has now refuted this....... (Link in OP)