“What the eye doesn't see and the mind doesn’t accept, DOES EXIST!”
👇 picture of the hands of Thomas Edison’s assistant. Later died from Cancer due exposure to the same ‘invisible’ X-Ray radiation
Why are we discussing this in 2020, during #Covid_19 ?
1/
Radiation is not visible to the human eye and neither is Coronavirus.
The size of the virus is about 0.1 um, smaller than a red blood cell and even some bacteria
Both can have devastating effects , if we do not protect ourselves
2/
#Covid_19 can be transmitted by droplets >5 µm which can quickly form aerosols ≤5 µm.
Besides the well-known transmission by coughing and sneezing, the virus can be transmitted even during SPEECH….in fact the louder you speak, more are chances of transmission..
3/
Why is this virus much worse than previous respiratory infections like SARS-1?
The virus resides in your throat (not lungs): easily coughed out
Asymptomatic carriage is strong and consistent: You can get the virus even when the other person has NO SYMPTOMS! 😱
4/
Enter 😷- Home-made-masks
Medical masks (protect yourself) are different from Home made masks (protect others)
Home-made-masks are great for 'source control' by blocking large droplets as they are emitted in coughing and talking before they are aerosolised
5/
Wearing masks doesn't protect me, but others around me- So ⁉️
An infection has R0-transmission rate
R0=1 one person infects one other person
R0<1 infection dies out
Modelling suggests: A mask 60% effective and worn by 60% people will reduce R0 to <1.0
#AllInThisTogether
6/
What is the scientific evidence that Universal masking works?- Unfortunately no RCT's- impractical
SEIR and Agent Based Models showing value of Universal masking
Link: arxiv.org/pdf/2004.13553…
7/
Real life experiences shows value of universal masking
Every country where mask-wearing introduced as national policy (+other measures), rates of transmission fell in the subsequent days @nytimes
Story of two European neighbors Austria and Czechia @trishgreenhalgh
8/
Economic value of universal masking:
"The benefits of each additional cloth mask worn by the public are conservatively in the $3,000-$6,000 range due to their impact in slowing the spread of the virus"
@Jabaluck
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…
9/
As a physicians and Interventional specialist, we deal with radiation everyday and now #COVID_19. WE all wear lead shields to protect ourselves and #N95 while saving YOUR lives
Please 🙏 do us a favor:
Wear your masks!-Protect yourselves and Your #HealthcareHeroes
10/
References:
@nature
@NEJM
@Masks4AllProj
11/ End
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