In 1978, Stephen King wrote The Stand,a post-apocalyptic tale which starts off with a 99.4% of animal life being annihilated from the planet caused by a virus. The virus nicknamed things like "Captain Trips" or "Super flu" was basically an enhanced version of influenza weaponized in a lab.
Fast forward a few decades and life starts to imitate art albeit through pure coincidence.
Now all hell is breaking loose. Essential household items are going for a premium, there aren't enough respirators to save everyone, and unemployment is through the roof.
It's nice to know that the majority of society is taking this pandemic seriously by following expert guidelines. That being said, I'll never understand the recommendation for the use of masks.
Masks work great as barriers to physically block airborne pathogens from entering the body. After a short amount of time, say 15 minutes, the mask becomes wet from water vapor that we exhale. Instead of a germ repellent the mask acts as a germ magnet. Due to this occurrence, the mask is more efficient at stopping a sick person from spreading the pathogens rather than keeping a healthy person from getting sick. This is assumes that the masses don't change their coverings every 10-15 minutes. Like trying to douse a fire with gasoline.
Compounding to the problems associated with incorrect mask usage, there's also a ton of misinformation about covid-19. There are two mutually exclusive scenarios:
1. The virus is able to survive outside the body and can be acquired through the air.
2. The virus is unable to survive outside the body without an infection source (water droplets)
If scenario 1 were the case, masks wouldn't really help since we have to breath. HEPA filters would be a different story.
The recommendations set forth by experts is predicated on scenario 2 being the case. Best case is that a mask will provide another layer of temporary protection.
TL : DR glad masks are a choice.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Captain Trips is upon us.
Don't fear the reaper.
Fast forward a few decades and life starts to imitate art albeit through pure coincidence.
Now all hell is breaking loose. Essential household items are going for a premium, there aren't enough respirators to save everyone, and unemployment is through the roof.
It's nice to know that the majority of society is taking this pandemic seriously by following expert guidelines. That being said, I'll never understand the recommendation for the use of masks.
Masks work great as barriers to physically block airborne pathogens from entering the body. After a short amount of time, say 15 minutes, the mask becomes wet from water vapor that we exhale. Instead of a germ repellent the mask acts as a germ magnet. Due to this occurrence, the mask is more efficient at stopping a sick person from spreading the pathogens rather than keeping a healthy person from getting sick. This is assumes that the masses don't change their coverings every 10-15 minutes. Like trying to douse a fire with gasoline.
Compounding to the problems associated with incorrect mask usage, there's also a ton of misinformation about covid-19. There are two mutually exclusive scenarios:
1. The virus is able to survive outside the body and can be acquired through the air.
2. The virus is unable to survive outside the body without an infection source (water droplets)
If scenario 1 were the case, masks wouldn't really help since we have to breath. HEPA filters would be a different story.
The recommendations set forth by experts is predicated on scenario 2 being the case. Best case is that a mask will provide another layer of temporary protection.
TL : DR glad masks are a choice.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Captain Trips is upon us.
Don't fear the reaper.
