1/ "where facemasks are not available, healthcare providers might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients w/ #SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #coronavirus" cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… Yeah, let's send our soldiers off to war without armor. This is appalling.
2/ Scarf or bandana might help prevent a sick person from transmitting coronavirus infection to others by trapping respiratory droplets. Likely would protect you on a quick grocery run.
3/ But it is unsafe and reckless to ask healthcare workers to rely on scarves/bandanas to protect themselves on the job. Their exposures are much much higher than anyone else is facing. This recommendation is unstudied & unproven.
4/ This recommendation is especially alarming given what we are learning about aerosol spread of the virus. (Stay tuned for a BONUS episode of my podcast EPIDEMIC.fm with former Ebola czar @RonaldKlain coming out tomorrow.)
5/ We are at war vs the coronavirus. In prior wars, we asked families to donate wedding rings, jewelry, & other items to the war effort. We should be pleading w/public & corporations who're hoarding respirator masks to donate their N95s to those serving on the frontlines. //
