Read on Twitter
Spending part of my day learning about made-from-home masks & I’m putting what I learn in this thread. (1)
(2) first up, a CDC podcast on emerging infectious diseases - “Making a Simple Respiratory Mask” w/ @DocGinnyD https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emerging-infectious-diseases/id212828612?i=1000470300224
(3) No homemade mask is going to protect against 100% of the the tiniest droplets coming in, but they can protect others from what medium and large droplets you send out.
Although, the virus usually travels in larger droplets.
- @DocGinnyD
Although, the virus usually travels in larger droplets.
- @DocGinnyD
(4) “I do not know what percentage of infections are from airborne tiny droplets, larger droplets, and touching. I do not know if anybody knows.”
- @DocGinnyD
- @DocGinnyD
(5) “Even if we just limit the amount of the virus we take in, we’re giving our body more chance to build a response.
If we’re asymptomatic carriers, this limits how much we spread.
It’s about harm reduction.”
- @DocGinnyD
If we’re asymptomatic carriers, this limits how much we spread.
It’s about harm reduction.”
- @DocGinnyD
(6) @DocGinnyD also went into detail about mask hygiene.
-after removing the mask, she places it alone on a counter and considers that area infected until cleaned
-depending on material, boiling the mask before reuse (I’m sure I’ll read different suggestions on this today)
-after removing the mask, she places it alone on a counter and considers that area infected until cleaned
-depending on material, boiling the mask before reuse (I’m sure I’ll read different suggestions on this today)
(7) @DocGinnyD’s original suggestion was simple cotton shirt material because of it’s accessibility. She noted other at home materials are stronger filters against smaller droplets.
(8) @DocGinnyD’s Tips for checking how well the mask is fit:
-does the mask move as you breathe? she indicated this is good
-does breathing fog up glasses? bad sign
-can you feel air coming out the side? bad sign
-does the mask move as you breathe? she indicated this is good
-does breathing fog up glasses? bad sign
-can you feel air coming out the side? bad sign
(9) The basics - CDC
Masks should...
+be snug against side of the face
+have multiple layers of fabric
+be secured with ties or ear loops
+allow for breathing without restriction
+be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
Masks should...
+be snug against side of the face
+have multiple layers of fabric
+be secured with ties or ear loops
+allow for breathing without restriction
+be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
(10) The psychological effect of masks.
"Does it make us look like we're a nation that is sick?"
Dr. Fauci stated that may be an immediate response for some, but gradually, we could integrate mask wearing into this new normal. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coronavirus-fact-vs-fiction/id1501029683?i=1000470167757
"Does it make us look like we're a nation that is sick?"
Dr. Fauci stated that may be an immediate response for some, but gradually, we could integrate mask wearing into this new normal. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coronavirus-fact-vs-fiction/id1501029683?i=1000470167757
(11) Dr. Fauci, speaking on some Asian countries: "It’s become part of their culture. Is it good? Is it bad? I think it’s neither. They’ve just integrated that into their culture. I can’t imagine it’s doing harm and I can imagine it’s doing some good.” Dr. Fauci
(12) How to wear masks - @WHO
Before
+Wash your hands well
Putting it on
+Make sure there are no gaps at the top, sides, and bottom
Before
+Wash your hands well
Putting it on
+Make sure there are no gaps at the top, sides, and bottom
(13) How to wear masks - @WHO
While wearing
+Do NOT touch the mask
+If you do forget and touch the mask, wash your hands immediately
+If your mask gets damp, it’s compromised
While wearing
+Do NOT touch the mask
+If you do forget and touch the mask, wash your hands immediately
+If your mask gets damp, it’s compromised
(14) How to wear masks - @WHO
Taking the mask off
+Remove by touching the elastic straps, not the mask
+Wash your hands well
I saw this over and over: If your mask works well, touching your mask could be touching a concentrated dose of Covid-19
Taking the mask off
+Remove by touching the elastic straps, not the mask
+Wash your hands well
I saw this over and over: If your mask works well, touching your mask could be touching a concentrated dose of Covid-19
(15) How to make the masks
@CDC gives how-to's on
1) sewn cloth
2) t shirt quick cut
3) bandana
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
with a video how-to for the t shirt method https://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/1246243351503962113?s=20
@CDC gives how-to's on
1) sewn cloth
2) t shirt quick cut
3) bandana
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
with a video how-to for the t shirt method https://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/1246243351503962113?s=20
(16) What's the best kind of mask to make?
I had a really hard time trusting anything I read as credible.
I had a really hard time trusting anything I read as credible.
(17) Best kind
@DanielGriffinMD (Columbia Univ., Division of Infectious Diseases) told NPR that tight-weave cotton is the best material to use. "Don't use a synthetic or a polyester because they've looked at the virus's ability to survive on surfaces, and spandex is the worst."
@DanielGriffinMD (Columbia Univ., Division of Infectious Diseases) told NPR that tight-weave cotton is the best material to use. "Don't use a synthetic or a polyester because they've looked at the virus's ability to survive on surfaces, and spandex is the worst."
(18) 
Link to Dr. Griffin's comment https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/03/826996154/coronavirus-faqs-is-a-homemade-mask-effective-and-whats-the-best-way-to-wear-one
Link to Dr. Griffin's comment https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/03/826996154/coronavirus-faqs-is-a-homemade-mask-effective-and-whats-the-best-way-to-wear-one
(19) What's the best kind of home-made mask?
One article was cited by Time, Wash Post, Nat Geo, The Atlantic, etc this week
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/testing-the-efficacy-of-homemade-masks-would-they-protect-in-an-influenza-pandemic/0921A05A69A9419C862FA2F35F819D55
One article was cited by Time, Wash Post, Nat Geo, The Atlantic, etc this week
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/testing-the-efficacy-of-homemade-masks-would-they-protect-in-an-influenza-pandemic/0921A05A69A9419C862FA2F35F819D55
(20) Filtration Efficiency (in a lab test) from best to worst:
-Surgical mask
-Vacuum cleaner bag
-Tea towel (dish towel)
-Cotton mix
-Antimicrobial pillowcase
-100% cotton t shirt
-Linen
-Silk
-Scarf
-Surgical mask
-Vacuum cleaner bag
-Tea towel (dish towel)
-Cotton mix
-Antimicrobial pillowcase
-100% cotton t shirt
-Linen
-Silk
-Scarf
(21) They recommended pillowcases or cotton t-shirts. Vacuum cleaners and tea towels were harder to breathe through (aka "pressure drop").
A material may be a great filter, but if it’s so hard to breathe through that it’s making air (or coughs) go around it, it’s no good.
A material may be a great filter, but if it’s so hard to breathe through that it’s making air (or coughs) go around it, it’s no good.
(22) Also, fit matters. “The slightly stretchy quality of the t-shirt made it the more preferable choice for a face mask as it was considered likely to provide a better fit”
(23) Dr. Davies (researcher) said that we’d have a better grasp on this “If somebody could do slightly better quality research that said ‘this is a good pattern, this is the right sort of fabric to use, this is how long you should wear one for, how you should decontaminate it.’”
(25) How well does a homemade t-shirt mask work?
In Davies' study (w/ a coughing test), homemade t-shirt masks were about a third as effective as surgical masks with small infectious particles.
So better than nothing, but far from safe.
In Davies' study (w/ a coughing test), homemade t-shirt masks were about a third as effective as surgical masks with small infectious particles.
So better than nothing, but far from safe.
(26) Possible improvements
Peter Tsai, who invented the electrostatic charging tech that N95 masks rely on, suggested nonwoven fabric.
Tsai recommended shop towels, since they're more breathable than vacuum filters. They could be an additional filter put into cloth masks.
Peter Tsai, who invented the electrostatic charging tech that N95 masks rely on, suggested nonwoven fabric.
Tsai recommended shop towels, since they're more breathable than vacuum filters. They could be an additional filter put into cloth masks.
(27) Link to Tsai's quote https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/masks-diy-coronavirus/2020/04/01/20830f5e-7420-11ea-85cb-8670579b863d_story.html
Link to demo vid on shop towel's for masks
Link to demo vid on shop towel's for masks
(28) Danger of homemade masks
They're dangerous if we don't handle them with care and wash them EVERY single time we use them.
A study published April 2nd found that Covid-19 could survive on cloth for at least a day https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30003-3/fulltext
They're dangerous if we don't handle them with care and wash them EVERY single time we use them.
A study published April 2nd found that Covid-19 could survive on cloth for at least a day https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30003-3/fulltext
(29) Should go w/o saying, but if we ease up on physical distancing, hand washing, etc bc of homemade masks it's super dangerous.
(30) Everything I found was posted a few days ago so this may be old news to y'all lol.
Part of why I wanted this thread is to see how much the advice changes over time.
Part of why I wanted this thread is to see how much the advice changes over time.
