Experts say face masks can help slow COVID-19, despite previous claims

[TLSnell1981]

A barrier won't make a difference. They just give you another false sense of protection. It doesn't matter if the virus gets on your hands as long as you sanitize and wash your hands and don't touch your face between times.

We haven't agreed this much in the entire time I've been on the DIS

 

[robinb]

We haven't agreed this much in the entire time I've been on the DIS

I know! It must really be the Apocalypse!

 

[DLgal]

N95's are available for order online in small quantities, but the prices are high ($10-$20 each). I wouldn't buy them unless you have someone sick or in fragile health.

For just basic use like grocery shopping, surgical masks are available online and provide decent protection.

Maybe more important than masks, tho -- especially for grocery shopping -- are gloves. They provide WAY more protection than wiping a grocery card with a disinfectant wipe.

There are three types of exam gloves -- vinyl, latex, and nitrile. Vinyl gloves are super-cheap, latex are moderately priced, and nitrile gloves are the best and most expensive.

Here's a factual discussion of the differences. [NOTE: I have not purchased from this company, but the article itself is helpful.] https://myglovedepot.com/blogs/news/nitrile-vs-latex-vs-vinyl-gloves-whats-right-for-you

And...worst case scenario, ANY kind of glove (kitchen, yard, bike, winter) gives you some protection that you didn't have before. Anything that provides any barrier is better than nothing.

You are confusing this virus with a bacteria. You don't need gloves for grocery shopping. This virus will not infect you by entering microscopic cuts on your skin surface. It needs contact with a mucous membrane. You can wear 3 layers of gloves, but if you touch your face with the gloves on, or you remove the gloves and don't wash your hands immediately afterwards anyway, and touch your face, your gloves have just lost all efficacy.

 

[JimMIA]

A barrier won't make a difference. They just give you another false sense of protection. It doesn't matter if the virus gets on your hands as long as you sanitize and wash your hands and don't touch your face between times.

Here's how it works:

1. You put on gloves before you get in your car.
2. You drive to the grocery store.
3. You shop -- not having to worry about yucky stuff.
4. You return to your car and put a second pair of gloves over the first...just like paramedics do if a glove gets nasty.
5. Groceries in the car, drive home, unload groceries.
6. Remove gloves properly
7. Dispose of gloves properly

That is the same procedure EMS personnel follow on every call, and they do it because it works.

 

[C&Jx2]

Here's how it works:

1. You put on gloves before you get in your car.
2. You drive to the grocery store.
3. You shop -- not having to worry about yucky stuff.
4. You return to your car and put a second pair of gloves over the first...just like paramedics do if a glove gets nasty.
5. Groceries in the car, drive home, unload groceries.
6. Remove gloves properly
7. Dispose of gloves properly

That is the same procedure EMS personnel follow on every call, and they do it because it works.

But then you’re touching those same “dirty” products with your said clean gloves, defeating the purpose...

 

[DLgal]

Here's how it works:

1. You put on gloves before you get in your car.
2. You drive to the grocery store.
3. You shop -- not having to worry about yucky stuff.
4. You return to your car and put a second pair of gloves over the first...just like paramedics do if a glove gets nasty.
5. Groceries in the car, drive home, unload groceries.
6. Remove gloves properly
7. Dispose of gloves properly

That is the same procedure EMS personnel follow on every call, and they do it because it works.

EMS personnel also have to worry about being up to their elbows in blood and other disgusting body fluids. This is nothing like that situation.

 

[JimMIA]

You can wear 3 layers of gloves, but if you touch your face with the gloves on...

If I touch my face with gloves on, I'm a moron...and you can't fix stupid.

 

[C&Jx2]

Here's how it works:

1. You put on gloves before you get in your car.
2. You drive to the grocery store.
3. You shop -- not having to worry about yucky stuff.
4. You return to your car and put a second pair of gloves over the first...just like paramedics do if a glove gets nasty.
5. Groceries in the car, drive home, unload groceries.
6. Remove gloves properly
7. Dispose of gloves properly

That is the same procedure EMS personnel follow on every call, and they do it because it works.

And it does work for paramedics because that is a different set of circumstances than shopping and bringing all of that ”dirty” stuff home.

 

[DLgal]

It's much easier to:
1. Get in your car and drive to the grocery store.
2. Grab a Clorox wipe (from the canister in your car)
3. Use the wipe on the cart handle
4. Shop (don't touch your face)
5. Load the car (don't touch your face)
6. Drive home, unload groceries (don't touch your face)
7. Wash hands

If you really want to go overboard, clorox wipe your keys, steering wheel, gear shifter, radio/AC buttons, and car door handles after you get home.

 

[JimMIA]

And it does work for paramedics because that is a different set of circumstances than shopping and bringing all of that ”dirty” stuff home.

Thanks, Doc!

This is one of those situations where no matter what either of us says, the other can come up with a scenario where it doesn't apply.

You do you, and I'll follow my training...which has never let me down.

 

[C&Jx2]

It's much easier to:
1. Get in your car and drive to the grocery store.
2. Grab a Clorox wipe (from the canister in your car)
3. Use the wipe on the cart handle
4. Shop (don't touch your face)
5. Load the car (don't touch your face)
6. Drive home, unload groceries (don't touch your face)
7. Wash hands

If you really want to go overboard, clorox wipe your keys, steering wheel, car door handles after you get home.

Exactly. The gloves are just piece of mind.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It's much easier to:
1. Get in your car and drive to the grocery store.
2. Grab a Clorox wipe (from the canister in your car)
3. Use the wipe on the cart handle
4. Shop (don't touch your face)
5. Load the car (don't touch your face)
6. Drive home, unload groceries (don't touch your face)
7. Wash hands

If you really want to go overboard, clorox wipe your keys, steering wheel, car door handles after you get home.

I do sanitize my hands between 5 & 6...just for good measure.

 

[Ben E N]

It's much easier to:
1. Get in your car and drive to the grocery store.
2. Grab a Clorox wipe (from the canister in your car)
3. Use the wipe on the cart handle
4. Shop (don't touch your face)
5. Load the car (don't touch your face)
6. Drive home, unload groceries (don't touch your face)
7. Wash hands

If you really want to go overboard, clorox wipe your keys, steering wheel, gear shifter, radio/AC buttons, and car door handles after you get home.

I go moderately overboard and have a bottle of hand sanitizer in my car. When I get it I lather my hands, keys, and cell phone in sanitizer, and also do the other steps that you list.

 

[C&Jx2]

Thanks, Doc!

This is one of those situations where no matter what either of us says, the other can come up with a scenario where it doesn't apply.

You do you, and I'll follow my training...which has never let me down.

Wow thanks for being so condescending!

 

[DLgal]

I do sanitize my hands between 5 & 6...just for good measure.

I do that now too because I finally scored one squirt bottle of sanitizer at Target on Friday. LOL. It is sitting in my cup holder, next to my clorox wipes.

 

[PlainJane]

Yeah, I always knew they were lying because they knew there weren’t enough masks for medical personnel and we also had gotten cut off from the supply coming in from China (3M).

 

[TLSnell1981]

I do that now too because I finally scored one squirt bottle of sanitizer at Target on Friday. LOL. It is sitting in my cup holder, next to my clorox wipes.

I don't particularly care for hand sanitizers. Although I'm using them when I don't have access to good ol' soap and water.

 

[LilyWDW]

Masks are great... but a LOT of people are dumb and don't use them correctly. In one trip to the store I saw people wearing them down around their necks, wearing them so they covered the mouth but not the nose, wearing them on their heads, constantly touching them and their faces, and wearing them too loose. If you don't use it right, it is a waste of resources.

 

[tennisfan]

Here's how it works:

1. You put on gloves before you get in your car.
2. You drive to the grocery store.
3. You shop -- not having to worry about yucky stuff.
4. You return to your car and put a second pair of gloves over the first...just like paramedics do if a glove gets nasty.
5. Groceries in the car, drive home, unload groceries.
6. Remove gloves properly
7. Dispose of gloves properly

That is the same procedure EMS personnel follow on every call, and they do it because it works.

I'm EMS personnel, albeit in the UK and I can assure you protocol is not to put a clean pair of gloves over dirty ones, we change them, or if for some reason we have double gloved we remove the dirty top pair.

 

[DisneyLover1217]

That was an interesting video, the guy seemed to know his stuff. The only thing I couldn't help notice is that he said you should wear masks, yet he is doing an interview sitting what looks to be less than 6 feet apart from the interviewer in a closed space with both of them not wearing a mask.
I do think covering your face is the right thing to do. I personally don't think it has to be a mask, just something. The doctor in that video also pointed out that it can get in your eyes, so if you are just wearing a masks and no glasses, again you're not fully protected.

Just use common sense. If you have to go to a store, get in and out as soon as possible. Keep your hands off your face and wash them the second you get home. Stay home if you are an non-essential employee. Don't go to the store for frivolous stuff like ice cream. There was a cashier who posted on our town FB page about the amount of people who come into the store for just a thing of cookies or ice cream and they'll come in every day doing this. Go to the store and do a week's worth of shopping . Really limit the amount you go.