🧵🧵1/ When people ask which mask is “good enough”, I often try to reframe it as better protection is better protection; everything we are doing is to reduce risk.
Is an N95 better than a cloth mask? Yea, it is
Is a cloth mask better than no mask? Yea, it is
#covid19
Is an N95 better than a cloth mask? Yea, it is
Is a cloth mask better than no mask? Yea, it is
#covid19
2/ If there was a good reason to not wear an N95 or equivalent mask during indoor crowded activities, then we wouldn’t be pushing for it.
But frankly, most of the reasons presented have been weak.
But frankly, most of the reasons presented have been weak.
3/ The CDC Director on CNN once said it was bc they are hard to breathe through.
I don’t think so
I have worn them for hours at a time in the hospital
We are calling for people to wear them when in higher risk indoor settings. This likely won’t be for hours most of the time
I don’t think so
I have worn them for hours at a time in the hospital
We are calling for people to wear them when in higher risk indoor settings. This likely won’t be for hours most of the time
4/ The supply issue doesn’t seem to be clearly true either.
In speaking with manufacturers like @larmbrust that make masks, there are high filtration masks gathering dust in warehouses.
More on that coming out this week but NYT actually wrote about it last week as well.
In speaking with manufacturers like @larmbrust that make masks, there are high filtration masks gathering dust in warehouses.
More on that coming out this week but NYT actually wrote about it last week as well.
5/ Others have tried to argue that cloth or surgical masks are “good enough” if everyone is wearing one.
Firstly, not everyone is wearing a mask in many parts of this country.
Secondly, multiple studies have shown that cloth masks provide inferior filtration efficacy ~30-50%
Firstly, not everyone is wearing a mask in many parts of this country.
Secondly, multiple studies have shown that cloth masks provide inferior filtration efficacy ~30-50%
6/ Surgical masks are made from meltblown material but have a generally inferior *fit* compared to N95 masks that have two straps around the back of your head.
This is where mask fitters like @FixTheMask come into play. #covid19
This is where mask fitters like @FixTheMask come into play. #covid19
7/ Some have suggested that hospitals with universal surgical masking are a good proxy for the community setting
They’re not
Hospitals have better ventilation; regular testing of patients/staff; & universal masking w/ medical grade surgical masks- & have still had outbreaks
They’re not
Hospitals have better ventilation; regular testing of patients/staff; & universal masking w/ medical grade surgical masks- & have still had outbreaks
8/ How or why this is a good proxy for the community where people are faced w/ shitty ventilation, cloth masks, not everyone masking, not everyone getting tested, crowding etc is beyond me but alas, people find constant ways to keep the status quo until “proven” otherwise
9/ The problem is that status quo comes at the expense of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities who are working frontline jobs without adequate protection
So if we don’t advocate for #BetterMasks or better ventilation, we sure as hell won’t be getting either
So if we don’t advocate for #BetterMasks or better ventilation, we sure as hell won’t be getting either
10/ The inertia to new ideas/innovations from “experts” this whole year has been astounding yet also not so, given academia is naturally more likely to do nothing without data than to do something via precautionary principle and assess later or simultaneously. #covid19
11/ This was true all the way from masking in general; to ventilation & the push against HEPA filters in workplaces/schools; to the pushback against #BetterMasks - but, I don’t think that academic medicine/public health functions on same principles as emergency response does
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