Masks work

I always wear one when I am inside somewhere other than my house.

1/ I'm tired of hearing the contrarians talking about how masks don't work as protective devices against respiratory diseases as our nation's pediatric hospitals are full of children sick with RSV/Flu and COVID continues to be the 3rd leading cause of death. A thread.🧵
— Leo Lam, Ph.D.💉⚕️🌎🇺🇸🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇭🇰 (@SeattleiteLeo) November 17, 2022

Last fall 5% of kids in 🇨🇦 had been infected w CoVID.

We stopped wearing masks.

Now 80% of kids have been infected.

Flu & RSV are now so severe that kids are missing school, kid's medicines are sold out & kids ICUs are overun.

Mass infection did that.

To our kids.

😠
— Barry Hunt #WearARespirator 🌬 😷🪟 (@BarryHunt008) November 16, 2022

1/ I'm tired of hearing the contrarians talking about how masks don't work as protective devices against respiratory diseases as our nation's pediatric hospitals are full of children sick with RSV/Flu and COVID continues to be the 3rd leading cause of death. A thread.🧵
— Leo Lam, Ph.D.💉⚕️🌎🇺🇸🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇭🇰 (@SeattleiteLeo) November 17, 2022

Polls on wearing masks

Most likely to support continued mask wearing: Black people, and people making <$40K / year. Black ppl also more likely to know someone who died of Covid, and to have had finances adversely impacted by it. pic.twitter.com/ODQ2BrpMfA
— Katie Bach (@kathrynsbach) October 14, 2022

That is a gigantic gap pic.twitter.com/A1PhBSNYkQ
— Justin Feldman (@jfeldman_epi) October 14, 2022

Mask mandates work

Mask mandates won’t be back because the public is tired of them. I still wear a mask.

In yesterday's @nytimes @DLeonhardt explores an apparent contradiction, saying masks work against #COVID19 but mask mandates do not. The premise of this article is wrong. The evidence is clear that mask mandates work. Let's take a look (1/14)https://t.co/t7QXGEqLSw
— Justin Lessler (@JustinLessler) June 1, 2022

Yep! There is a preponderance of evidence that universal indoor mask mandates in schools reduce the transmission of COVID-19, help to keep kids and school staff safe, and keep schools open (something we all want for our children).

cc: @NYCMayor @NYCHealthCommr @MarkLevineNYC https://t.co/E9Fs97TOWu
— Sonali Rajan (@sonalirajan) April 11, 2022

After dropping mask mandates, hundreds of flights are being cancelled due to Covid spikes leading to staff shortages.

Masking is a simple, easy tool that can help us get back to activities we miss without the cascading effects on society. https://t.co/HIgBtZ2S0S
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) April 8, 2022

A great visual showing the end of most statewide mask mandates in America. https://t.co/EQvOZVaOHe pic.twitter.com/gM3eu8E5lP
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 15, 2022

Trump-appointed judge strikes down CDC travel mask mandate

The ABA rated her not qualified when she was nominated.

The judge is a Trump appointee who was rated unqualified when nominated & had never tried a case. She clerked for Justice Thomas. Elections matter in more ways than one. This injunction will have nationwide effect-at least until the 11th Cir (hopefully) reverses. https://t.co/hKuuc44isg
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 18, 2022

JUST IN: Federal judge strikes down the CDC's mask mandate for travel on planes and other forms of public transportation https://t.co/ae0x2wu9EE
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 18, 2022

The judge who made this ruling, age 33 when (lifetime) appointed by Trump, was rammed through by GOP *after* the 2020 election, and was deemed “not qualified” by the ABA

For your “Oh, yes, integrity of the federal judiciary really matters” file. https://t.co/OAofx7XoQ9 https://t.co/hlBOO9owzz
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) April 18, 2022

the judge is 35 with a lifetime appointment. seems bad. https://t.co/CKv4XHUt3F
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) April 18, 2022

Polls show support for masks

Yet again, the basic thing driving changes in US society that are so often lamented in the op-ed pages – everything from "public masking" to "social disruption" – is clearly fear of pandemic disease, not fear of oppressive government mandates. https://t.co/Huxgi4J0st
— Will Stancil (@whstancil) February 21, 2022

Just how popular are indoor mask mandates? A recent poll from the COVID States Project (conducted end of December-end of January with 22,000+ respondents) found that 69% of Americans approve of indoor mask mandates, with majorities in all 50 states.https://t.co/CfMV6J5uKq pic.twitter.com/whGGnkNUdl
— Benjy Renton (@bhrenton) February 16, 2022

CBS News poll: By 56-44 margin, Americans want statewide mask mandates, while 57 percent of parents want masks required in schools, compared to 36 percent who want them optional https://t.co/a0aR2JhOyD
— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 14, 2022

.@mehdirhasan: "The numbers don't lie, the majority of Americans wear masks and want mandates." https://t.co/DAQPxRDwnE
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 15, 2022

The move by several states to lift restrictions comes as a new CBS poll found that a majority of Americans still support mask mandates, including in schools, but that many are exhausted and frustrated by a pandemic that is grinding into its third year. https://t.co/kmKGeiukVT
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 13, 2022

This is another "Twitter is not real life" moment, where 56% of the country supports mask mandates.

It's also quite jarring to see the people most vulnerable to COVID not want them while those who have been taking the responsible precautions (getting vaccinated) want masks. pic.twitter.com/4Qg9iWX3Mv
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 13, 2022

Policymakers frequently cite lack of public support for public health measures as a reason for inaction. New polling data from @MorningConsult shows that 72% of Americans support mask policies to combat Omicron. https://t.co/CPR5KVCQOb pic.twitter.com/Y9ZdCBvx35
— Anne Sosin (@asosin) December 5, 2021

TEXAS
In general, do you consider the issue of wearing masks to be primarily about personal freedom or primarily about public health?

Personal freedom 33%
Public health 60%

(Quinnipiac U. Poll, 9/24-27/21)
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) September 29, 2021

Axios-Ipsos poll:

57% of Republicans support state bans against local mask mandates, like those in Florida and Texas. Just 16% of Democrats support those bans.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 17, 2021

More on masks

This is the best article on masks I have seen:

A good resource on spotting fakes” KN95s/KF94s.

If you read this you won’t have to watch any of my YouTube videos 😅

via @NYTimes https://t.co/99XajBdfYH
— Lloyd Armbrust (@larmbrust) January 15, 2022

I’m concerned this messaging isn’t clear or strong enough. Yes, cloth masks provide the least amount of protection, but, based on the science, the CDC should be strongly recommending higher quality masks, instead of telling the public to choose the mask that is best for them. https://t.co/lD31htrfYx
— uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) January 15, 2022

While the CDC stopped short of advising people to wear N95 masks, others within the White House are pushing for the administration to go further — including mass distribution of N95 masks or sending an N95 to all Americans https://t.co/tPEGeUWI85 via @nbcnews
— Shannon Pettypiece (@spettypi) January 15, 2022

To find reliable N95, KN95 and medical-style masks, @wirecutter tried 38 types and confirmed the filtration claims of select models with government agencies or its own lab tests. https://t.co/ZNuUONU5Gf
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 14, 2022

Breaking News: For the first time, the CDC said cloth masks weren’t as effective as other options. “Wear the most protective mask you can,” the agency urged. https://t.co/zOIRim0WQZ
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 14, 2022

BREAKING: CDC finally updates mask guidance to highest quality mask that can be worn consistently.

We've known for >1 year that #covid19 is airborne. By now, N95/KN95s should be widely distributed & required in crowded indoor public settings.https://t.co/kuUJ5gAhbv
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) January 14, 2022

Reusing N95 and KN95 masks

How often can you safely reuse your KN95 or N95 mask? https://t.co/CpglQ1sLoX
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 13, 2022

How reuse your N95 mask from the person that created them https://t.co/e747olIxqH
— Grumpy aka Agent Tired Tortoise⚽️⚽️⚽️ (@GrumpyYetAmusin) January 6, 2022

How to manage the cost of KN/N95 masks? Reuse.

Don’t discard your mask daily

Buy 2-KN95 masks. Keep alternating them for weeks (until they aren’t broken/damaged)

It’s not ideal. But 100-times better than not wearing a good quality mask due to affordability issues
— Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 8, 2022

Newest mask-related story from me: https://t.co/HYtXVekHz8
— Gabriela Miranda Quiñones (@itsgabbymiranda) January 12, 2022

Time to get better masks – tweets and articles

The CDC & White House have often used the rhetoric that N95 masks are uncomfortable & hard to breath through. Many who are now trying certain models are finding that to be false. We tackle this issue in @washingtonpost ⬇️

Cc @sri_srikrishna @RanuDhillon https://t.co/UUnFAdShW0 pic.twitter.com/xNaEAClQiK
— Abraar Karan (@AbraarKaran) January 11, 2022

CDC weighs recommending N95 or KN95 masks against omicron https://t.co/iMDifJP5An
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 11, 2022

What’s the Difference Between KN95 and KF94 Masks?

12 Good N95, KN95, and Surgical Face Masks to Buy Right Now

Why Cloth Masks Just Won’t Cut It Against the Omicron Variant, and 4 Masks That Do

COVID mask guide for omicron surge: Why N95, KN95 masks are so much more effective than cloth

Axios PM

“Unmodified medical masks blocked ≥56% of cough aerosols and ≥42% of exhaled aerosols.”

H/t @KatherinePasem1 @FixTheMask https://t.co/7gxnqcwy3q
— Abraar Karan (@AbraarKaran) January 13, 2022

Time to get better masks – sources

There are three types of masks that are considered to be better than the disposable 3 and 4 ply masks:

N95

KN95

KF94
The 3 and 4 ply masks are supposed to be better than cloth masks. I have seen articles recommending not to wear cloth masks before.
N95 is considered to be the best. I only tried one once. It was not easy to breathe and I didn’t like the straps that went around my head. KN95s look similar but have ear straps. I wore a KF94 yesterday and it was comfortable.

This is a good source of all kinds of PPE. I haven’t ordered from them but they get praise in the articles.

Project N95 – The National Clearinghouse for personal protective equipment and COVID-19 tests.

Two US companies I have ordered from with high quality and higher prices are:

Art-Inspired Clothes, Accessories, Face Masks & Decor | VIDA (shopvida.com)

Private Stock Labs – Privatestocklabs

Private Stock has faster shipping. Amazon has fast shipping and lower prices but I have read they have fakes as well as real stuff.