[BostonCard]

I always think it is funny when I see someone in a car, by themselves, wearing a mask.  I mean, good for them, but it's probably unnecessary.

Wouldn't you be one of the first to say that adjusting a mask is when you'll be more likely to contaminate yourself?  Whether you touch the front of the mask with your hand (and then later, hand to face) as you take it off or put it back on or set it aside for the time you're in the car.



Personally, I see less risk at putting a clean mask on at home before going out to run errands and not taking it off until home again when one can easily clean up.

That's a good point.  I suppose it depends on whether someone feels the risk is higher donning and doffing the mask or scratching the inevitable itch that will occur when the mask has been on for more than 15 minutes.

I remember in March, this one guy put a youtube video on how to decontaminate groceries where he basically used aseptic technique, with a "dirty zone" and a "clean zone" and really thorough cleaning with dilute bleach, and proper disposal and cleaning of anything that had been in the "dirty zone".  At the time it seemed like an overkill, but I remember wondering whether maybe it wasn't, if fomite transmission was common and easy.

Your Overkill May Vary.  Just as everyone engages in some risky behavior all the time (seriously, did you always wash your hands as frequently as you did in March & April?), we will all wind up choosing what activities we do or don't do that impact our risk.   As I am at high (~ 20%) risk of death from symptomatic COVID-19, I choose to reduce my risk of becoming infected.  In my household, every frozen food exterior box that comes from the grocery store goes into our recycle bin while the inside container goes into the freezer.  Every item that goes into the refrigerator is thoroughly cleaned.  Everything else is set aside long enough for any SARS-CoV-2 to inactivate by 6 orders of magnitude.

This was overkill even back then, and makes your routine seem downright pedestrian.  I mean, even I will wipe down most surfaces of stuff that comes in the house with a disinfectant wipe just in case, but this guy treated the groceries like they had anthrax spores on them.

BC

[BostonCard]

I always think it is funny when I see someone in a car, by themselves, wearing a mask.  I mean, good for them, but it's probably unnecessary.

Wouldn't you be one of the first to say that adjusting a mask is when you'll be more likely to contaminate yourself?  Whether you touch the front of the mask with your hand (and then later, hand to face) as you take it off or put it back on or set it aside for the time you're in the car.



Personally, I see less risk at putting a clean mask on at home before going out to run errands and not taking it off until home again when one can easily clean up.

That's a good point.  I suppose it depends on whether someone feels the risk is higher donning and doffing the mask or scratching the inevitable itch that will occur when the mask has been on for more than 15 minutes.

I remember in March, this one guy put a youtube video on how to decontaminate groceries where he basically used aseptic technique, with a "dirty zone" and a "clean zone" and really thorough cleaning with dilute bleach, and proper disposal and cleaning of anything that had been in the "dirty zone".  At the time it seemed like an overkill, but I remember wondering whether maybe it wasn't, if fomite transmission was common and easy.

Your Overkill May Vary.  Just as everyone engages in some risky behavior all the time (seriously, did you always wash your hands as frequently as you did in March & April?), we will all wind up choosing what activities we do or don't do that impact our risk.   As I am at high (~ 20%) risk of death from symptomatic COVID-19, I choose to reduce my risk of becoming infected.  In my household, every frozen food exterior box that comes from the grocery store goes into our recycle bin while the inside container goes into the freezer.  Every item that goes into the refrigerator is thoroughly cleaned.  Everything else is set aside long enough for any SARS-CoV-2 to inactivate by 6 orders of magnitude.

This was overkill even back then, and makes your routine seem downright pedestrian.  I mean, even I will wipe down most surfaces of stuff that comes in the house with a disinfectant wipe just in case, but this guy treated the groceries like they had anthrax spores on them.

BC

[Snorlax94]

In An article in the NYTimes today, an infectious disease doctor at the U of Iowa speculates face shields may end up being more effective than *cloth* masks because “they’re almost impossible to wear incorrectly” and they would stop you from touching your face, though their efficacy blocking outgoing transmission is yet untested.  I’ve ordered some cheap non-medical face shields to wear only when we cannot wear face masks (like when we dine at an outdoors restaurant), and to try during outdoor playdates (when they are permitted).

““I’m a brobdingnagian fan of face shields,” said Saskia Popescu, a senior infection-prevention specialist at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. “But I don’t think we can swap them out for face masks just yet.”
Dr. Perencevich and his colleagues expect that more research will show shields to be superior to cloth masks, not only because shields provide full face protection but as they are nearly impossible to wear incorrectly.
“Remember, effectiveness depends not only on the inherent properties of the facial covering but also how well the facial covering is worn,” he said.
And he and his co-authors like to imagine that people who are reluctant to wear masks will find face shields more comfortable: Once a person tries one on, they say, the wearer realizes its many benefits.”

[Snorlax94]

In An article in the NYTimes today, an infectious disease doctor at the U of Iowa speculates face shields may end up being more effective than *cloth* masks because “they’re almost impossible to wear incorrectly” and they would stop you from touching your face, though their efficacy blocking outgoing transmission is yet untested.  I’ve ordered some cheap non-medical face shields to wear only when we cannot wear face masks (like when we dine at an outdoors restaurant), and to try during outdoor playdates (when they are permitted).

““I’m a brobdingnagian fan of face shields,” said Saskia Popescu, a senior infection-prevention specialist at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. “But I don’t think we can swap them out for face masks just yet.”
Dr. Perencevich and his colleagues expect that more research will show shields to be superior to cloth masks, not only because shields provide full face protection but as they are nearly impossible to wear incorrectly.
“Remember, effectiveness depends not only on the inherent properties of the facial covering but also how well the facial covering is worn,” he said.
And he and his co-authors like to imagine that people who are reluctant to wear masks will find face shields more comfortable: Once a person tries one on, they say, the wearer realizes its many benefits.”

[oldalum]

Just a few times, people in cars have slowed down to yell at me for not wearing a mask. 

To be clear, in SCC they are not required while walking outside.

[oldalum]

Just a few times, people in cars have slowed down to yell at me for not wearing a mask. 

To be clear, in SCC they are not required while walking outside.

[M T]

Just a few times, people in cars have slowed down to yell at me for not wearing a mask. 

To be clear, in SCC they are not required while walking outside.

That's not quite true.  "You are required to wear a face covering whenever you are at a business (even if it’s an outdoor business) as an employee or a customer, and whenever you are on public transit.   ... You do not need to wear a face covering while you are exercising outdoors."

If you are walking around a farmer's market, you would need a face covering.

I saw an online article of a local paper state some wrong info about the SCC orders on Friday. (They stated the county orders only apply in unincorporated areas.)  I have written the writer & editor to correct their incorrect info.

[M T]

Just a few times, people in cars have slowed down to yell at me for not wearing a mask. 

To be clear, in SCC they are not required while walking outside.

That's not quite true.  "You are required to wear a face covering whenever you are at a business (even if it’s an outdoor business) as an employee or a customer, and whenever you are on public transit.   ... You do not need to wear a face covering while you are exercising outdoors."

If you are walking around a farmer's market, you would need a face covering.

I saw an online article of a local paper state some wrong info about the SCC orders on Friday. (They stated the county orders only apply in unincorporated areas.)  I have written the writer & editor to correct their incorrect info.

[Mick]

Just a few times, people in cars have slowed down to yell at me for not wearing a mask. 

To be clear, in SCC they are not required while walking outside.

Yes, I'm aware of that.  They weren't complaining that I was breaking the law.  They didn't like the fact that I wasn't covering my ugly mug.

[Mick]

Just a few times, people in cars have slowed down to yell at me for not wearing a mask. 

To be clear, in SCC they are not required while walking outside.

Yes, I'm aware of that.  They weren't complaining that I was breaking the law.  They didn't like the fact that I wasn't covering my ugly mug.