Why simple cloth masks without valves are better at fighting the spread of covid-19

[IronLionZion]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/why-simple-cloth-masks-without-valves-are-better-at-fighting-the-spread-of-covid-19/2020/06/26/c445fca6-b574-11ea-aca5-ebb63d27e1ff_story.html



Those face masks you see with coin-sized valves on the front may look intriguing but they are not as good at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus as the seemingly lower-tech, non-valved masks.

Some masks designed for hot, dusty construction work — where the intent is to filter out dust before it hits the wearer’s lungs — have “exhaust” valves that allow the exhaled air to flow out more easily, to keep the mask-wearer cooler.

The 3M company, which makes valve masks for such occupations, illustrates on its website how they work: inhaled air is filtered through the fabric part of the mask, and hot, humid exhaled air goes out through the valve. The system may be what you want when tearing out a kitchen for remodeling, but the valve defeats the purpose when you’re trying to slow the spread of a virus.

Public health experts have been recommending mask-wearing to prevent respiratory droplets from spreading into the air when you exhale, speak, cough or sneeze, and the valves allow those droplets through.

Medical masks, you’ll notice, do not have valves.

In its guidelines for mask-wearing, San Francisco stipulates that masks with valves do not meet its standards.

“Any mask that incorporates a one-way valve (typically a raised plastic cylinder about the size of a quarter on the front or side of the mask) that is designed to facilitate easy exhaling allows droplets to be released from the mask, putting others nearby at risk,” the order says.

[soothsayer]

1. Yeah I avoid people with those for this very reason

[kimbutgar]

2. In my local Traders Joe's they will tape over those valves or give you a cloth mask

[LisaL]

5. You can tape it over yourself.

Or just put another mask (surgical or cloth) over it.

[kimbutgar]

9. I have been making my own masks and the valve one was given to me

I prefer to only wear my homemade ones though.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

3. I wear an N100 mask with exhaust valve AND...

... a cloth mask over it.

This...


And this, one of the BIG masks from Joann Fabrics...

[LisaL]

6. Yep, a great idea.

This way you are fully protected, and those around you are protected the same as if you just wore your cloth mask. And look at that cloth mask-it has huge gaps on both sides. Seriously, how does wearing that mask by itself offer more protection to anybody?

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. I have a big head (24.5" circumference) and those masks...

... were pretty loose on me!

Glad that I found a way to make use of them, though!

[LisaL]

10. Yea, that mask is just hanging off that girls' face. It would offer little protection with

gaps that huge. If one is wearing a cloth mask by itself, it should fit closely to the face.

[IronLionZion]

11. Where? Are you around COVID patients?

Hospitals could benefit from masks like that

[LisaL]

12. Oh for crying out loud.

It's an industrial mask, not a medical mask. And how do you know if you are around covid infected people are not? Isn't the point of wearing a mask is that everybody and anybody could be a carrier? So give me a freaking break.
I don't think mask police is needed around here. And if somebody in a hospital wants to wear it, they can purchase it like anybody freaking else.

[IronLionZion]

15. Calm down, I'm not judging anyone here

[Blue_true]

29. I was looking to buy some with the valve (two).

They are listed as athletic masks.

I had read the the valve puts others at risk, but the new mask seemed to have a better design. I guess I will continue to wear my clothes mask or one of my N95 non-valved masks.

[LisaL]

30. Valves don't filter the air your exhale.

So they don't offer protection to others. Unless you put another mask over the valved mask, or seal the valves off. But of course that would decrease the breath-ability of the mask. Valves make total sense in non-covid situation because the masks still filter the air your breathe, but not so much in covid situation if the goal is offer protection to others.

[Blue_true]

32. If I buy them, I will put disposable cloth patches over the valves. nt

[Buckeye_Democrat]

14. Woodworking stores.

Lots of hospitals aren't even using them! The New York Times was shocked by it, but many hospitals don't want to train how to properly clean them... and so prefer the disposable kinds.

[LisaL]

16. And these masks are available on-line.

If somebody in the hospital wanted to buy one. But they are not medical grade and they do have an exhalation valve. In a hospital, doctors and nurses usually were disposable N95s without valves.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

17. Yep. nt

[LisaL]

4. N95s with valves protect the person who wears them.

It doesn't filter exhaled air. But you can tape the valve over, or were another mask over it.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. I have some of those 3M masks ...

They work well for keeping sawdust out of my lungs while not overheating my face.

Since I've had zero outside contact for months, I wouldn't be putting other people at risk if I wore one in public. They wouldn't know that, though, so I'll use an N95 without a valve if I have to visit "civilization" some time.

[IronLionZion]

13. hermits will survive this pandemic

people are overrated

[LisaL]

18. But even hermits need other people to deliver food and so on.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

21. I'm lucky

My son has taken this seriously from the beginning. He's the designated grocery-getter for 2 households. He sits in the car with the windows rolled up, they put the stuff in the trunk, he hauls it home for disinfecting. He does not break protocol -- even left some bags that didn't fit one time, and made a second trip (1.5 hours round trip) to retrieve them. Everything either gets disinfected, scrubbed (fruits and vegetables that need to be peeled afterward), or quarantined.

I came closest to breaking our bubble 2 weeks ago when I had to haul our dog to the vet. They didn't allow people to escort pets into the clinic, but no one associated with the clinic wore a mask. I wore a mask while outside in their parking lot, talking to the vet afterwards, and used hand sanitizer after handling the paperwork given to me. Only 3 other people were wearing a mask while I was there.

[mn9driver]

19. I double up. N95 mask with a valve protects me, the medical mask I wear over it protects others.

I’m very used to wearing masks much heavier than this combo, so it doesn’t bother me.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

20. Nice!

[helpisontheway]

22. My in-laws sent us several N95's with a valve..They were from my inlaws's

garage stash for home projects. I wear it with a buff or cloth over it. My favorite mask (comfort plus feel relatively safe with the filtration) is the KN95 (the Chinese version on N95) without a valve. I still wear a buff over it. I also have cloths masks that my friend made. I rarely go out but I feel protected when I do.

[LAS14]

26. Why do you wear a buff over it the one w/out valve? (And what is the technical def of "buff?") nt

[helpisontheway]

27. I don't know. I just prefer to pull my buff up over it..

I purchased Mission buffs. I use the buff alone when doing yard work (due to grass and stuff blowing). It has a function where you can wet it and it gets cool. I have noticed many people (that have difficulty breathing in mask) wear the buff alone. It just rests on your neck and you can pull it up as needed.

I just pulled it up and the correct term is neck gaiter. You can wear it 12 different ways. I just put it around my neck and pull up as needed in addition to my masks.

https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Multi-Cool-Multifunctional-Gaiter-Headwear/dp/B00JE5FGK6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=mission%2Bbuffs&qid=1593388997&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

[LisaL]

28. If you want to keep your KN95 or N95 mask longer (those are supposed to be

disposable, but I doubt most people only wear it once), if you put a buff or a gaiter over it, that would protect your mask from outside contamination (at least somewhat).

[kurtcagle]

23. Why not put a second cloth bag (or a gauze pad) over the exhaust valve?

This allows for respiration, making it easier to breathe, and still serves to filter out the virus. When you get back home, stick both into the wash.

[Blue_true]

31. I am looking at buying some athletic ones.

If I do, I will put disposable pieces of cloth over the valves and discard them when I get home (after spraying them with 91% alcohol).

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

24. There's only one foolproof solution:

[LisaL]

25. Yep. Full body condom.