Can a droplet stay suspended in air for 1-3 hours? Surely it would land on something. Can it get blown about in the wind and land somewhere far away if you're out in the park, for example? I suppose the droplets on surfaces would be less concentrated than if you, unmasked, coughed near someone. So a good enough reason to wear a mask and wash your hands.
Yes it can. In a still environment, micro droplets of humid breath can remain suspended for several hours easily. Air movement will disperse them over time, which is why outdoors (wind) is less risky than indoors in terms of infection. It's also why "Good ventilation" has been mentioned repeatedly.
Part of the challenge is taking a scientific principle and turning it into generic advice the lay person can understand.
@B@BenCotto - I explained this in my previous posts. It's not medical masks, its face coverings. Very different, and the advice is generic and unlikely to have more than a negligible impact. You are right to question it.
And incidentally that study linked by @chicky is based on reinterpretation of existing data, and is not experimental driven based on direct observation. Take from that what you will, but there are some clear and obvious errors in it, such as stating that airborne transmission is the only viable route.
Remember, questioning things is good scientific practice, not simply accepting everything.
@amancalledgeorge I think you are massively underestimating the impact of wearing a mask on some people and overestimating the benefits of mask wearing for everyone. Masks are not worn correctly by most people. Fact. The virus is infecting lots of people , but less people are being seriously ill, also fact.
A compassionate and intelligent person finds out the truth of the situation before making judgements. I would welcome the introduction of official exemption certificates but at the moment that’s not a possibility so self certification is my only option. I am sure many people feel the same way.
As of a while ago you are right @debs64, but the number of people requiring Intensive Care has doubled in the last 10 days, and it is predicted it will now double every 7-10 days. If you add seasonal flu to that, there is potential for something very serious indeed.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
My view on this is quite simple. The medical and scientific experts advising govt. have told us to wear face coverings (if we can) in certain circumstances. I know that they have much more knowledge and experience than I have, so I am happy to comply, and try and wear it correctly. I haven't found this to be onerous, but I am lucky enough to be retired so I can choose when I go out and what I do. I do accept that wearing face coverings is probably only making a marginal difference to the spread of the virus, but combined with social distancing, handwashing etc. it has to be of some value. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all key workers .... following official requirements and recommendations is the very least we can do.
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Thank you @Bee witched as a key worker I appreciate that. My concern is the effect compulsory mask wearing is having on the retail and hospitality industries which employ so many young people and are suffering terribly. When masks worn incorrectly have no positive effect can they be justified?
@punkdoc if that is indeed the case doesn’t it also prove that mask wearing is useless?
It could well be that things would be worse if nobody wore a mask. The increase in cases proves nothing either way. But surely logic dictates that any barrier is better than nothing.
The world has changed. Jobs will have to change.Some businesses are not sustainable. There was no way of saving a company like Blockbuster Videos when the technology behind it became outdated. In the same way, the way we shop has changed forever and the same probably applies to the ways we will find entertainment.
If things went back to what was normal, how many people would still find a ridiculously expensive bucket of coffee an essential element of their journey to work? Maybe instead of coffee,these station kiosks will be selling designer masks and expensively perfumed and packaged hand sanitisers. Booths where you could load your goods, or indeed yourself to be sanitised may become the new essentials.
@B3 the world hasn’t changed so very much, people want to go out they want to see their friends and meet a partner and get married. They want to shop and buy coffee to drink on their way to work and go out for meals and go on holiday. People do these things because they enjoy them. We are social animals and online life won’t make anyone happy for very long. I can imagine nothing more vile than going into a booth to be sanitised!
Yes let’s sell lots of non bio degradable masks and horrible chemical hand sanitizer?
Retail and hospitality provide 1000s of jobs, what will all those people do?
Bring back ridiculously expensive buckets of coffee and the right to drink them if you want to!
People had the right to buy video cassettes but they didn't. People can go to restaurants in small groups, but how many would want to sit in a crowded cinema or go on a cruise?
Posts
Part of the challenge is taking a scientific principle and turning it into generic advice the lay person can understand.
@B@BenCotto - I explained this in my previous posts. It's not medical masks, its face coverings. Very different, and the advice is generic and unlikely to have more than a negligible impact. You are right to question it.
Remember, questioning things is good scientific practice, not simply accepting everything.
https://littleragamuffin.com/diy-sew-quick-knit-face-mask-buff/?fbclid=IwAR3483hYl1ekN26kTZAXFNCfMsh71z-tDiInf6va3GrQw5E6jl49mrJygvk
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
The medical and scientific experts advising govt. have told us to wear face coverings (if we can) in certain circumstances.
I know that they have much more knowledge and experience than I have, so I am happy to comply, and try and wear it correctly.
I haven't found this to be onerous, but I am lucky enough to be retired so I can choose when I go out and what I do.
I do accept that wearing face coverings is probably only making a marginal difference to the spread of the virus, but combined with social distancing, handwashing etc. it has to be of some value.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all key workers .... following official requirements and recommendations is the very least we can do.
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
The world has changed. Jobs will have to change.Some businesses are not sustainable. There was no way of saving a company like Blockbuster Videos when the technology behind it became outdated. In the same way, the way we shop has changed forever and the same probably applies to the ways we will find entertainment.
If things went back to what was normal, how many people would still find a ridiculously expensive bucket of coffee an essential element of their journey to work?
Maybe instead of coffee,these station kiosks will be selling designer masks and expensively perfumed and packaged hand sanitisers. Booths where you could load your goods, or indeed yourself to be sanitised may become the new essentials.