Reply to CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 NEW MEGA THREAD

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm getting mixed messages about regular facemasks. The govt has been saying regular masks won't help the general public but now they say it's ok for healthcare workers to treat covid19 patients with regular masks[/quote]

The messaging on face masks has been rather poorly delivered.

Basically:

1) If you are dealing with a positive or suspected coronavirus patient in a close setting (i.e. within 6 feet) you should wear a mask. This is primarily for medical professionals and caregivers.
2) If you are sick, you should wear a mask to prevent infecting others.
3) If you are healthy and just walking down the street or to the store or the school, you do not need a mask.

The problem is compounded by the fact we have a significant mask shortage worldwide.

In Asia, everyone wears a mask but it is a cultural norm. Sick people wear masks all the time and seeing someone in a mask is an everyday event. Masks are a bit more plentiful than they are in the USA as there is a regular supply chain for production and distribution. In an outbreak, people wear masks to prevent themselves from spreading the disease and it also builds "community unity" that helps remind people to keep distance, wash hands, practice good hygiene, etc.

More on Asian countries mask culture here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/opinion/coronavirus-face-mask-effective.html[/quote]

Wearing a mask helps if you are sick.  People can be sick and contagious for a week or two prior to feeling ill.  This, everyone wearing masks is beneficial.  This wouldn’t be the case if people were only contagious when they felt ill.[/quote]

Also, IF South Korea's handling of the crisis turns out to be better than Western countries' handling (hard to say until the list settles, but it is possible), remember they are mask wearers.[/quote]

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