Why most people(kids & adults) here wear cloth masks, but not disposable masks like other countries?

[Anonymous]

Some countries have all people (kids & adults) wear disposable masks that prove to be more effective since they have meltdown filter something like that to prevent covid transmission , and their schools has been opened without covid cases.

Right now, disposable masks are available & sold everywhere at department stores & online for a good price (like $15-$20 for 50 packs), but I don't understand why most people still wear cloth masks that prove to be less effective to prevent covid transmission.

If we have kids & teachers wear disposable masks at school, will that make it more safer & more likely for school to be opened? They live normal life except wearing disposable masks going everywhere. I am so jealous of them.

[Anonymous]

Because 95% of the time that I’m wearing a mask, I’m also outside and social distancing. I’m already at a low risk and I can’t see the waste of a disposable mask. Or for my kid to wear for 1 minute as they walk down to field and take it off to play.

[Anonymous]

Is it necessary though? That's a lot of waste, if there isn't a large, proven, needed safety differentiation. A lot of people (including myself) are rewearing the "disposable" masks many times.

[Anonymous]

Because the government doesn't give us masks for free like some of those other countries. If you could walk into CVS or Walmart and walk out with a free pack of masks for your entire family every time you bought groceries, I'm sure you'd see a lot more of them.

I like the cloth better better because it seems wasteful to throw the mask away every time you need to take a new one.

[Anonymous]

Because those disposable masks ruin the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because the government doesn't give us masks for free like some of those other countries. If you could walk into CVS or Walmart and walk out with a free pack of masks for your entire family every time you bought groceries, I'm sure you'd see a lot more of them.

I like the cloth better better because it seems wasteful to throw the mask away every time you need to take a new one.

+1 I wash mine in hot water

Think about the pollution.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/08/more-masks-than-jellyfish-coronavirus-waste-ends-up-in-ocean

Divers had found what Joffrey Peltier of the organisation described as “Covid waste” – dozens of gloves, masks and bottles of hand sanitiser beneath the waves of the Mediterranean, mixed in with the usual litter of disposable cups and aluminium cans.

The quantities of masks and gloves found were far from enormous, said Peltier. But he worried that the discovery hinted at a new kind of pollution, one set to become ubiquitous after millions around the world turned to single-use plastics to combat the coronavirus. “It’s the promise of pollution to come if nothing is done,” said Peltier.

[Anonymous]

“The best homemade cloth masks actually achieved better filtration (79 percent) than surgical masks (62 percent to 65 percent) in a peer-reviewed study at the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine published in April. In the study, the best cloth masks were made of heavyweight quilter’s cotton with a thread count of 180 or more. Masks with even thicker thread, tightly woven like a batik, and double-layer masks with a basic cotton outer and flannel inner also proved effective...
Single- and double-layer masks of lightweight, low-thread cotton were the least effective. The researchers also found that gaps at the edges of an ill-fitting mask can decrease filtration efficiency by 60 https://healthnewshub.org/health-news-hub/top-news/cloth-mask-vs-surgical-mask-vs-n95-how-effective-is-each/
My MIL is a quilter. Our masks are made with quilters fabric, which is better than the disposable mask.

[Anonymous]

Because a properly fitting cloth mask is about as effective, and more environmentally friendly. Because our government does not provide disposable masks for free. Because if everyone wore a cloth mask, we would still see drastically reduced transmission -- the problem isn't cloth masks, it's no masks, or masks worn under the nose.

[Anonymous]

For about 3-4 months you could not buy disposable masks here. They are on the shelves now, but, pretty much everyone had already made or bought cloth masks by the time they reappeared. I have a box of disposable masks in my car in case someone forgets to bring a cloth one, but, we haven't had to use many of them. I feel safe enough in my homemade masks and am irritated AF with the disposable masks littering parking lots and streets where inconsiderate people toss them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For about 3-4 months you could not buy disposable masks here. They are on the shelves now, but, pretty much everyone had already made or bought cloth masks by the time they reappeared. I have a box of disposable masks in my car in case someone forgets to bring a cloth one, but, we haven't had to use many of them. I feel safe enough in my homemade masks and am irritated AF with the disposable masks littering parking lots and streets where inconsiderate people toss them.

+1 It was easier to find and buy reusable ones. And now that masks are here to stay people like having masks that reflect their personality and likes. I don't see spending all that money buy disposable masks only to toss them at the end of the day. I'd much rather have reusable ones that are cute and well made then disposable ones.

[Anonymous]

Because this administration abandoned any pandemic preparation plan. So masks had to go to medical professionals. Rightfully so, but leaving the rest of us exposed to fend for ourselves.
Why doesn’t everyone know this?

[Anonymous]

Because I only wear a mask because I"m legally required to/because it's polite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I only wear a mask because I"m legally required to/because it's polite.

+1

[Anonymous]

Because the disposable ones gave me acne and a sore on my nose.

[Anonymous]

The same reason I don’t use disposable cups and forks at every meal- it’s horrible for the environment.

Cloth masks are reusable and can be just as, if not more effective.