‘It is well-established that #N95s offer more protection than surgical masks against breath-emitted #airborne #pathogens and #wildfire smoke, which are micron-size fine particles.’ Recommended reading and references @TheWHN #CovidIsAirborne

https://whn.global/prevent-airborne-transmission-in-healthcare/

The hose stayed attached to the filter and the fan but walking created bouncing and pulling and the filter pulled out of the mask frame.

Will have to work on this. I've used it on the #Aura #N95s and it's great having fresh cooler air blowing into your mask.

If course I had extra filters so I swapped it out for the rest of the event.

I'll be reporting back at some point on my progress.

#MaskUp #CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsNotOver

Calling all those still being careful with covid. Because abledness is only temporary, it can be taken from you at any time.
I have masks. If you need any please lmk and I'll send you some!
#covid #CovidIsNotOver #pandemic2023 #masks #N95s #longcovid #staysafe #freemasks

@cmclase

Meta-analysis:

➡ Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full

The pooled results of RCTs did not show a clear reduction in respiratory viral infection with the use of medical/surgical masks. There were no clear differences between the use of medical/surgical masks compared with N95/P2 respirators in healthcare workers when used in routine care to reduce respiratory viral infection.

Research study:

➡ Respiratory Performance Offered by N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks: Human Subject Evaluation with NaCl Aerosol Representing Bacterial and Viral Particle Size Range

https://academic.oup.com/annweh/article/52/3/177/312528?login=false

Most of the tested N95 respirators and surgical masks in this study were observed to perform at their worst against particles approximately between 0.04 and 0.2 μm, which includes the sizes of coronavirus and influenza virus.

➡ The Foegen effect
A mechanism by which facemasks contribute to the COVID-19 case fatality rate

https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/Fulltext/2022/02180/The_Foegen_effect__A_mechanism_by_which_facemasks.60.aspx

This study revealed that wearing facemasks might impose a great risk on individuals, which would not be mitigated by a reduction in the infection rate. The use of facemasks, therefore, might be unfit, if not contraindicated, as an epidemiologic intervention against COVID-19.

Opinion articles:

➡ The Mask Mandates Did Nothing. Will Any Lessons Be Learned?

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/21/opinion/do-mask-mandates-work.html
https://www.removepaywall.com/

➡ Does this finally put the mask debate to bed? ‘Gold standard’ analysis of 78 studies and 1million people finds face coverings made ‘little to no difference’ to Covid infection or death rates

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11702865/Masks-make-little-no-difference-Covid-infections-massive-cross-country-meta-analysis-finds.html

➡ Do We Need Mask Mandates?
The science suggests that more states should consider rescinding them.
https://www.city-journal.org/do-we-need-mask-mandates

➡ The Real Science on Masks: They Make No Difference
https://www.thefp.com/p/the-real-science-on-masks-they-make?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Fmasks&utm_medium=reader2

#MaskMandate #CovidLong #LongCovid #N95s #n95 #FFP2 #ffp3 #n99 #COVID #COVID19

➡️ Please consider boosting; remember on Mastodon there's no algorithm and 'liking' is only seen by the author

➡️ The best mask is an N95, but all masks work

➡️ Double masking or overmasking

➡️ FAQs are:

❓ Does it make a difference?

❓ Which mask should go on top, the cloth mask or the medical mask?

❓ What about two cloth masks?

❓ Or two medical masks?

➡️ Answers at updated page:

https://maskevidence.org/double-masking

#WeNotMe

#BetterMasks #MasksWork

#SystemsApproaches #CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsNotOver.#DoAllTheThings #ventilation #filtration #PaidSickDays #BringBackMasks #WearAMask #MasksSaveLives #MaskeAuf #MaskUp #MaskMandate #MaskMandateNow #CovidLong #LongCovid #N95s #n95 #FFP2 #ffp3 #n99

@Pat We don't promote those over N95s because in the community people are wearing #bettermasks and #n95s without fit testing, where we have data to show results in >90% fitted filtration efficiency in most.

AFAIK, not known if we get additional gains from N99 or elastomerics without fit testing - let me know if you have a reference on this.

For others reading this, the numbers @Pat is quoting are for the masks tested on a machine, glued to a plate around the edges. Fit testing N95s on people in occupational health and safety protocols require >99% protection as fitted filtration efficiency (ie, fit factor >=100). A large proportion of people will achieve this, particularly with novel designs of #BetterMasks like Vitacore's CaN99 and the 3M Aura. Average filtration not-fit-tested is usually reported >90% in lab studies. Studies summarized at https://maskevidence.org/mask-types

@OldeHippi My partner was infected by doctors' offices.

Twice.

There are a tiny number of medical offices with #HEPA filters and #N95s. The rest are committing manslaughter by gross negligence, and hopefully someone will start prosecuting or suing.

New eligibility for PCR testing in Ontario.
#Covid symptoms plus
➡️Everyone >60y
➡️>18y with a high-risk condition
➡️>18y with <2 vaccine doses
➡️>18y with >6m since last vaccine or last Covid infection
➡️ all the previously eligible groups (frontline workers, pregnant people, people who are immunocompromised etc)

https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-testing-and-treatment

#Paxlovid eligibility expanded too (same page, scroll down):
➡️Everyone >60y
➡️>18y with a high-risk condition or immunocompromised
➡️>18y with <2 vaccine doses
➡️>18y with >6m since last vaccine or last Covid infection

Where to get tested:
https://www.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations

Self-certify 'I'm eligible' if you are in one of those groups.

In #HamOnt|Hamilton

https://www.stjoes.ca/coronavirus/covid-19-test-home

Don't rely on test-and-treat or vaccination. Prevent community transmission to a vulnerable person and prevent #LongCovid with #Masks and #Ventilation

#BetterMasks #MasksWork

#SystemsApproaches #CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsNotOver.#DoAllTheThings #ventilation #filtration #PaidSickDays #BringBackMasks #WearAMask #MasksSaveLives #MaskeAuf #MaskUp #MaskMandate #MaskMandateNow #CovidLong #LongCovid #N95s #n95 #FFP2 #ffp3 #n99 #CovidTesting #BringBackTesting

https://maskevidence.org/why-masks-matter

Please boost

➡️*New resource* for advocates for Masks in Schools

➡️We have created a FAQ page and a downloadable, customizable template summarizing arguments for mask requirements in schools:

https://maskevidence.org/masks-in-schools

➡️Mask mandates in schools reduce student and teacher absences

https://tinyurl.com/ps3jpk6a

➡️4% of children with COVID will get long covid

https://tinyurl.com/mryp6zvh

@MyraBatchelder @nilikm #WeNotMe

#BetterMasks #MasksWork

#SystemsApproaches #CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsNotOver.#DoAllTheThings #ventilation #filtration #PaidSickDays #BringBackMasks #WearAMask #MasksSaveLives #MaskeAuf #MaskUp #MaskMandate #MaskMandateNow #CovidLong #LongCovid #N95s #n95 #FFP2 #ffp3 #n99

@ralf @swhunter7 @rchusid @masknerd

Cloth masks are better than nothing if you can't afford a respirator.

MEDICAL OFFICES can afford to buy respirators for their DOCTORS and NURSES in ALL cases. They are not doing so because ??? (malpractice, gross negligence)

#P100s are more comfortable than #N95s, reusable, and cheaper in the long run.

@holmesr @Pat

Hi again. Thanks for the feedback and for engaging, much appreciated.

We think overhead elastic is critical to getting good fitted-filtration (ie, net filtration of a mask on a face). We summarize this here ⬇️

https://maskevidence.org/head-attachments

In North America, #N95s must have overhead elastic simplifying our advice in favour of these over #KN95 or #KF94

There are data on beards, too!

For a 10mm beard, an N95 is still more effective than all other masks.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-021-00337-1

If the stifling feeling is specifically associated with headstraps for you, they could be too tight. Aura 3M has simple band elastic straps that lengthen with a good hard tug. This is a pro in this situation for you.

For straps that don't lengthen so easily, consider an #N95 with braided elastic such as Vitacore's #Can99.

Vitacore's Can99 also has superb breathability so if the problem isn't the attachments, this might help.

Apologies for a N American reply to a European question.

Anyone curating info on #FFP2 or #FFP3 and suppliers please let me know: we would love to put this on our website.

#WearTheBestMaskAvailable

#COVID #BetterMasks #MaskUp #MaskMandates #Masks
#WearAMask #CovidIsNotOver #CovidIsntOver #BetterMasks #MaskUp #DoAllTheThings #ventilation #filtration #PaidSickDays #BringBackMasks #WearAMask #MasksSaveLives #MaskeAuf #MaskUp #MaskMandate #MaskMandateNow #CovidLong #LongCovid #Beards

@rchusid

And info on finding #N95s here:

https://maskevidence.org/findingn95s

Anyone with resources to add to this page from outside North America including #ffp3 please let me know. (Looking for credible curated lists not single manufacturers.)

@underthestars We're also never going to get 100% compliance with masks.

But with #HEPA, that's OK!

My #N95 mask + enough #HEPA is approximately as effective as Everyone Wears #N95s, for far-field exposure (as opposed to people up in my face).

Given that a portable HEPA filter for a small room costs <$200 it seems very practical.

@Nickittynic There are a bunch of other options if those don't fit, including a bunch of #elastomeric #N95s (a well-fitting #N95 is better than a badly-fitting #P100).

And then there are the significantly more expensive full-face masks which protect the eyes too -- I haven't found one which fits for my family yet, though.

But I think this is enough to start with.

8/x

@joeyfox

FWIW, everyone in my family thinks that #elastomeric #P100s are more comfy and "easier to breathe in" than "disposable-style" #N95s

#covidstudies #longcovid #longhaulers #longhaulcovid #covidtransmission #oculartransmission #N95s

Avoiding all those holiday parties?

Me too.

The plague is still happening.

My health is more important than awkward gatherings with people whose only commonality with me is... office space.

#COVIDisAirborne #CovidIsNotOver #PanDeny #COVID19 #N95s #WearAMask #BringBackMasks

RT @RevivalCare
@breakfasttv 1. Provide free universal #N95s to all Canadians, via a purchasing agreement with domestic manufacturers.

2. Mandate all Canada Health Transfers are subject to audit, at the cost of the provinces.

3. Have the provinces sign on to a national accreditation standard for HCWs.

The "living in fear" narrative is gaslighting speak.

It is an attempt to shame and shun folx who are protecting themselves and others from a deadly and debilitating virus.

I'm not having it!

#CovidIsNotOver #BringBackMasks #WearAMask #COVID19 #WearARespiraror #N95s

We love clean air and masks. #Aoteaora #nzpol #disability #pathogens #infectiousdiseaseNZ #NZTwit #N95s
Follow us if you want to help others get good masks and air purifiers.
And if you just want to share our existence to the people of #AotearoaNZ so that we can both collect donations and so that we can redistribute said donations.
Follow us if you need masks and purifiers
Follow us if you want to give masks and purifiers

Let's keep each other safe. 💪
Let us be masketeers together 💪💪