Editorials

FACE MASKS ARE RECOMMENDED


THE C.D.C. RECOMMENDS FACE COVERINGS

As of Friday 3rd April the U.S.A. Center Of Disease Control:

"recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission."

NOT SURGICAL MASKS or N-95 respirators


"The cloth face coverings recommended are NOT SURGICAL MASKS or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance ... "

Read the reasons why HERE 

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr.Jerome Adams, shows how to make a quick cloth mask HERE

AUSTRALIA'S DEPUTY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DISAGREES


In a press conference on Saturday 4th April, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr.Paul Kelly talked about masks, saying that Australia has a national stockpile perspective … to make sure we have enough masks for our health care workers.

"They can be useful to stop the spread of the disease from a person who has the disease, but at this time the advice remains, stay home if you are sick, ring ahead to your GP or clinic.

So for the moment, masks are not recommended for the Australian public. If we had unlimited numbers of masks, we would have a conversation with the Australian people.

First, whilst they are used in Asian countries, … for pollution for example. This is not a way that Australians use masks.

Second, using a mask
incorrectly can make it more dangerous. They have to fit well, they can be quite claustrophobic, and they can be itchy, so touching a surface with the virus, then scratching an itch under the mask can ensure you ingest the virus."

However …



My view is that you need protection if there is a chance someone can infringe your 1.5 metre safety-zone:

  • at a shop,
  • for when someone brings something to your front door, or
  • you're driving and may have to help someone

You need to protect yourself. (Read my previous article
HERE)

In one minute, with a handkerchief and two rubber-bands, you can have
twelve thicknesses of fabric between any inbound droplets and your nose and mouth.

It is a skill worth having. Here's hoping you never have to use it.


Fold the handkerchief in half

Step 1 Fold the handkerchief in half



fold-in the top third

Step 2 Then fold-in the top third,

Place each rubber band like so

Step 3 Place each rubber band like so



Fold the left part into the middle


Step 4 Fold the left part, outboard from
the rubber band, into the middle


Fold the right part into the middle

Step 5 Fold the right part, outboard from
the rubber band, into the middle


Fold the ends into each other


Step 6 Fold the ends into each other
and smooth the edges



Rubber bands loop over your ears


Step 7 Use the rubber bands to
loop over your ears



Smile at the camera

Step 8 Smile at the camera.