Thread by @AbraarKaran

1/ This is big— Germany now mandating medical grade masks for all citizens in public transport & in supermarkets (last week only done in Bavaria region, which is even stricter- only FFP2 masks)

Germany is calling for FFP2, N95, KN95 or surgical masks

washingtonpost.com/world/europe/e…

2/ “Meanwhile in France, the country’s health advisory council on Monday discouraged the wearing of inefficient cloth and homemade masks, also arguing they may not offer sufficient protection against the more highly transmissible coronavirus variants.”

3/ “The new European recommendations follow increases in supply since the early days of the pandemic, when there were concerns that the use of medical masks by the public would mean there would not be enough for front-line medical workers.”

Read that again. ⬆️ SUPPLY

4/ “If the virus becomes more dangerous, the mask has to get better,” Söder said

While the virus is not more virulent now (as far as we know), a more transmissible variant is spreading - #B117– & that is more dangerous. It can more quickly overwhelm our hospital systems #covid19

5/ @Transition46 @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris we are counting on you— I am very hopeful that this administration will get it done.

Get #BetterMasks to this country.

We will benefit against #covid19; against other respiratory pathogens like seasonal flu; against bioterror threats

6/ Remember— a mask with excellent protection— both source control & personal protection— makes you an essentially dead end for the virus

If you have it, you’ll be much less likely to transmit it; if you’re around it, much less likely you will get it.

#covid19

7/ And as we eventually tweak our vaccines in the future to adapt to new variants & strains, our backstop measures will continue to be masks.

We need to make sure we get the absolute best ones we can.

This is our health. There should be no compromises here! #covid19