Day 6 of Lockdown - Masks and Productivity

Dr. Chen Xiaoting of Taiwan shared his design for a homemade face mask in February confirming what should have been obvious: While homemade face masks are clearly not medical grade, a barrier of any sort is better than no barrier at all, debunking the Surgeon General’s tweet that having people wear masks is not effective against the COVID-19.

Turns out the issue is 2-fold -

• If healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!

• Social stigma in western countries. If you are wearing a mask, you must be sick, whereas in Asian countries it’s seen as doing your civic duty to stop the spread.

What is true?

• Fact - Active medical professionals are a higher risk than the average Joe Schmo.

• Fact - Hoarding of medical grade supplies puts our healthcare system at risk by removing products off the market increasing the likelihood that those with high need don’t have access to them. This will can both increase the spread of the virus in by medical professionals AND reduce the number of medical professionals that are able to treat patients if they are infected.

• Fact - Medical grade masks DO work on consumers.

Want to make your own? Here’s a breakdown of materials by effectiveness.

Interested in seeing both sides of the argument. Time has a good article here.

Update - CDC reconsiders.