I'm trying to learn as much as possible, concerning masks, social distancing, so forth, while also learning more about cognitive dissonance. 🤦♀️
Shaking my head after reading one article after another, from NIH, Mayo Clinic, commentary from various 'experts', best practices I've found so far are social distancing and basic hygiene. Stand the heck away from others, and/or stay home. Wash your hands. Don't touch your face. (I don't know how many times I've caught myself touching my face, when I would have promised I don't have a problem touching my face.) 🙄
Masks present numerous issues, not the least of which is fit. Many people in town, at the grocery store, and UPS Store are faithfully wearing masks of all sorts, and they're dangling, dancing around the faces of those who feel they are protecting the world, or themselves from COVID-19. I admire their conviction, however, false or pseudo security to me, is worse than no security. Not infrequently, those wearing masks are the very ones who break social distancing guidelines, a personal observation.
As frustrating as ill-fitting masks are to see, filtration of homemade masks, anything short of N95, is woefully inadequate. This is a common thread among scientist. Odd findings with COVID-19 on one side of various masks, while clear on the other, are also confusing, with limited research available. Even N95 respirators, not fitted properly, will not filter COVID-19. (Does N95 filter viruses, considering particle size and all? There are lots of discrepancies.)
Scientist are at odds, one with another, concerning efficacy of masks, the majority of opinions I've read being no, masks short of N95 do not protect against the virus, even then, fit, fit, fit. The consistent recommendations are to maintain social distancing and wash your hands. And for heaven sake, if you're touching your mask with hands that haven't been sanitized or washed, you've done messed up. If you wear masks, keep 'em tight and keep your hands off.
The more I read, the more my head spins. A common thread throughout all articles is sound data, it's just not there. If it makes you feel good, wear it.
Still confused. What do we know? We really don't know. I need to reach out to a much trusted professor/researcher.
In the mean time, I'll practice social distancing, staying home until I can't, I'll wash my hands, and I'll live my life. You live yours, how you see fit.
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