Masks Can Protect The Public Against Viruses But The CDC and US Surgeon General Are Misleading Us
Experts and a number of studies indicate “facemasks play a pivotal role in the prevention and control of infectious respiratory disease transmission”.
Reference see here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4293989/
A study done in 2019 by scientists at the Departments of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, and the FDA’s Division of Applied Mechanics, showed that – if 80% of a population wears masks – it will stop a flu epidemic cold (“essentially eliminated the influenza outbreak”). They found that if half of a population wore masks, it “resulted in a significant … reduction in risk”.
Reference see here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30229968/
But there is a drastic shortage of masks compounded by the fact that most N95 masks are certified to be used only one time. Since experts have long predicted a pandemic would occur at some point it is disturbing that hospitals and the Federal government have not seen fit to keep a stockpile on hand at all times.
In the current pandemic, some medical professionals sidestepping the protocol and using masks more than one time out of necessity. According to an article in the New York Times on March 20 2020, some doctors are sanitizing these masks for multiple uses with ultraviolet light since certain spectrums of ultraviolet light (UVC spectrum light) are known to kill most viruses and other germs.
Reference see here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/health/coronavirus-masks-reuse.html
Also, as reported on March 28 2020, Duke University researchers have developed another method to sanitize and reuse N95 masks using ‘vaporized hydrogen peroxide’.
Reference see here https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/27/health/n95-respirator-rewear-coronavirus-duke-trnd/index.html
Sadly, there is an inadequate supply of N95 masks available in the current situation due to inadequate planning for an emergency such as the current pandemic. Not just for our critically important medical professionals who are putting their lives on the line everyday but also for others in constant harm’s way such as the clerks in grocery stores and pharmacies, police and other first responders. Grocery store clerks come face to face with hundreds of people everyday from just a few feet away. They should get top priority for masks just like first responders. They are at high risk for catching the virus, as are we customers who must go to the store and buy food. It seems logical that one of the biggest risks to the healthy public is going to the grocery store and sharing air space with the checkout clerks who are also sharing airspace at a close distance with hundreds of people everyday some of whom are infected. Grocery store clerks need masks to protect themselves and their customers. This is a dangerous mess!
Evidence shows masks save lives. Yes, we know that the medical professionals need them first. But these statements below from our government (the CDC and the US Surgeon General) are in conflict with the scientific research and common sense. They say masks don’t protect the public against coronavirus. That is nonsense. How can it be that masks protect health care workers but not the general public. What an absurd assertion.
The government should do its’ job and be prepared. They have failed us. Shame on them! And, they need to start being honest with the public instead of posting misleading tweets like those below.
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