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Masks - To Wear or Not To Wear

There is a lot of information circulating about the efficacy of masks - here are some references for educational purposes!

๐€ ๐œ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐ซ๐š๐ง๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ž๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐š๐ฅ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐œ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐š๐ฌ๐ค๐ฌ ๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐š๐ซ๐ž๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ž๐๐ข๐œ๐š๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐š๐ฌ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ก๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐œ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ

"Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration ๐ฆ๐š๐ฒ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐œ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐ž๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ข๐ง๐Ÿ๐ž๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated."

MacIntyre, C Raina et al. โ€œA cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers.โ€ BMJ open vol. 5,4 e006577. 22 Apr. 2015, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006577


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"The widespread use of cloth masks by healthcare workers may actually put them at increased risk of respiratory illness and viral infections and their global use should be discouraged, according to a UNSW study."

"Cloth masks: Dangerous to your health?" Summary: Respiratory infection is much higher among healthcare workers wearing cloth masks compared to medical masks, research shows. Cloth masks should not be used by workers in any healthcare setting, authors of the new study say."


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๐—” ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—œ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—”๐˜€๐˜†๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ฆ๐—”๐—ฅ๐—ฆ-๐—–๐—ผ๐—ฉ-๐Ÿฎ ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€

"Conclusion In summary, all the 455 contacts were excluded from SARS-CoV-2 infection and ๐˜„๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜†๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ฆ๐—”๐—ฅ๐—ฆ-๐—–๐—ผ๐—ฉ-๐Ÿฎ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ธ."

(๐—ฆ๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ๐—–๐—˜: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7219423/ )

In other words, the study concludes it appears unlikely one may "catch" the (alleged) illness from an "asymptomatic carrier" (a media buzz word pharma marketing term for a healthy person with a functioning immune system that handles an illness without any significant perceived symptoms).


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Cloth: โ€œWill not protect the wearer against airborne transmissible infectious agents due to loose fit and lack of seal or inadequate filtration.โ€

Surgical masks: โ€œWill not protect the wearer against airborne transmissible infectious agents due to loose fit and lack of seal or inadequate filtration.โ€

Respirators: โ€œRequire proper training, fit testing, availability of appropriate medical evaluations and monitoring, cleaning, and oversight by a knowledgeable staff member.โ€

I really donโ€™t know what else to say. The fear itself is becoming the real pandemic. Iโ€™ll just keep sharing the facts and praying hard.

*For those trying to find fault in this source, Keep in mind the word โ€œintended.โ€ The masks are โ€œintendedโ€ to work, but they donโ€™t. They cannot use they โ€œwillโ€ because itโ€™s a lie. Wording is very important. Pay attention to that and you wonโ€™t have to attack everything so quickly. Will save you and I a lot of time." (Erin Marie, RN)


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๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—น: ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฎ ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ป'๐˜ ๐—ฏ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ ๐˜‚๐—ฝ ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฝ๐˜‚๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ฑ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ฐ "U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on 'Fox & Friends' Tuesday that โ€œthe data doesn't showโ€ that wearing masks in public will help people during the coronavirus pandemic. 'It's important to understand that we are looking at the data every single day and we make the best recommendations to the American people we can based on what we know,' Adams said on Tuesday. 'What the World Health Organization [WHO] and the CDC [The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] have reaffirmed in the last few days is that they do not recommend the general public wear masks.'"


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Cloth masks compared to medical masks and no mask https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/#__ffn_sectitle


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Cluster randomized controlled trial to examine medical mask use as source control for people with respiratory illness


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Rational use of face masks in the covid19 pandemic lancet respiratory medicine https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30134-X/fulltext


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Effectiveness of surgical and cotton masks in blocking SARS CoV-2 https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-1342


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Mask wearing and more with multiple citations and links directly from CDC website https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article


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Carbon dioxide re-breathing

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University of Minnesota study and advise on use of masks during COVID19 outbreak: with 52CITATIONS (research studies) linked below article https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data


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Dr Blaylock: face masks pose SERIOUS RISKS to the healthy https://www.technocracy.news/blaylock-face-masks-pose-serious-risks-to-the-healthy/


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Should you wear a mask? Expert testimony begins around 7:45-8:00: https://youtu.be/czjAebDKsEw


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Lee KW, Liu BYH. On the minimum efficiency and the most penetrating particle size for fibrous filters. J Air Pollut Control Assoc 1980 Mar 13;30(4):377-81


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Martin SB Jr, Moyer ES. Electrostatic respirator filter media: filter efficiency and most penetrating particle size effects. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2000 Nov 30;15(8):609-17


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Oberg T, Brosseau LM. Surgical mask filter and fit performance. Am J Infect Control 2008 May;36(4):276-82


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Willeke K, Qian Y, Donnelly J, et al. Penetration of airborne microorganisms through a surgical mask and a dust/mist respirator. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1996;57(4):348-55


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Chen CC, Willeke K. Aerosol penetration through surgical masks. Am J Infect Control 1992 Aug;20(4):177-84


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Davies A, Thompson KA, Giri K, et al. Testing the efficacy of homemade masks: would they protect in an influenza pandemic?Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2013 Aug;7(4):413-8


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Cherrie JW, Apsley A, Cowie H, et al. Effectiveness of face masks used to protect Beijing residents against particulate air pollution.Occup Environ Med 2018 Jun;75(6):446-52


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Bowen LE. Does that face mask really protect you?Appl Biosaf 2010 Jun 1;15(2):67-71


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Shakya KM, Noyes A, Kallin R, et al. Evaluating the efficacy of cloth facemasks in reducing particulate matter exposure.J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2017 May;27(3):352-7


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Chughtai AA, Seale H, MacIntyre CR. Use of cloth masks in the practice of infection controlโ€”evidence and policy gaps. Int J Infect Control 2013 Jun;9(3)


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Kellogg WH, MacMillan G. An experimental study of the efficacy of gauze face masks.Am J Public Health 1920;10(1):34-42


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Cowling B J, Zhou Y, Ip DKM, et al. Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: a systematic review. Epidemiol Infect 2010 Jan 22;138(4):449-56


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binโ€Reza F, Chavarrias VL, Nicoll A, et al. The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2011 Dec 11;6(4):257-67


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Meleny FL. Infection in clean operative wounds: a nine year study. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1935;60:264-75


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Orr NWM. Is a mask necessary in the operating theater? Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1981;63:390-2


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Tunevall TG. Postoperative wound infections and surgical face masks: a controlled study. World J Surg 1991 May-Jun;15(3):383-7


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Driessche KV, Hens N, Tilley P, et al. Surgical masks reduce airborne spread of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in colonized patients with cystic fibrosis.Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2015 Oct 1;192(7):897-9


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Milton DK, Fabian MP, Cowling BJ, et al. Influenza virus aerosols in human exhaled breath: particle size, culturability, and effect of surgical masks.PLoS Pathog 2013 Mar;9(3):e1003205


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Stockwell RE, Wood ME, He C, et al. Face masks reduce the release of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cough aerosols when worn for clinically relevant periods.Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2018 Nov 15;198(10):1339-42


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Dharmadhikari AS, Mphahlele M, Stoltz A, et al. Surgical face masks worn by patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: impact on infectivity of air on a hospital ward.Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012 May 15;185(10):1104-9


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Sung AD, Sung JA, Thomas S, et al. Universal mask usage for reduction of respiratory viral infections after stem cell transplant: a prospective trial.Clin Infect Dis 2016 Oct 15;63(8):999-1006


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MacIntyre CR, Seale H, Dung TC, et al. A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers.BMJ Open 2015 Apr 22;5(4):e006577


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MacIntyre CR, Wang Q, Seale H, et al. A randomized clinical trial of three options for N95 respirators and medical masks in health workers. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 2013;187(9):960-6


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Radonovich LJ, Simberkoff MS, Bessesen MT, et al. N95 respirators vs medical masks for preventing influenza among health care personnel: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2019 Sep 3;322(9):824-33


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Gralton J, and McLaws ML. Protecting healthcare workers from pandemic influenza: N95 or surgical masks?. Crit Care Med 2010 Feb;38(2):657-67


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bin Reza 2012 (we have Bin-Reza 2011)


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Bunyan D, Ritchie L, Jenkins D, et al. Respiratory and facial protection: a critical review of recent literature. J Hosp Infect 2013 Nov;85(3):165-9


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MacIntyre CR, Chughtai AA, Rahman B, et al. The efficacy of medical masks and respirators against respiratory infection in healthcare workers.ย Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2017;11(6):511-7


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Loeb M, McGeer A, Henry B, et al. SARS among critical care nurses, Toronto.Emerg Infect Dis 2004 Feb;10(2):251-5

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