COVID-19: The Coronavirus and Masks

Honeywell HPA100C True HEPA Allergen Remover with True HEPA Filter ...

JMJ

There's been a lot of talk and confusion about masks and their affect on COVID-19.

My first thought is that it was a stupid mistake to recommend against masks in the early months of the pandemic. They basically undermined their credibility with a populace that already has misgivings about its governments and politicians.

So what's the scoop on wearing masks during a disease outbreak? Well the Asian's do it automatically (read: Taiwan, Japan, etc) and automatically wear masks when there's an outbreak. Compare Japan's cases per million people - less than 500 compared with the USA's 17k+. Is it the magic bullet? Nope, it's a way to reduce both infection and transmission. Here's a link to an interesting article from the BBC.

Heck, there was evidence that masking helped during the Spanish Flu Epidemic.

Fundamentally, having a mask on - even if it isn't an N95 mask reduces the spreading of the droplets containing the virus particles. This goes both ways, an infected person isn't spreading as many droplets and the uninfected aren't breathing as many into their bodies. That's the key, the masks are filtering the droplets that contain the virus, not the virus by itself.

This link from the World Health Organization (WHO) has some good information on use of masks etc.

Do I wear a mask? It depends on whether it is obligatory and the location / situation.

Interior high density of people, yep I'll be more inclined to wear a mask. At the onset of the outbreak I was wearing a respirator which exceeded N95 masks.

Exterior in a rural area with low density of people, I will be usually be maskless.

Now, I have also taken the precaution of purchasing two honeywell hepa filters for my house. They run all the time and serve a secondary purpose - alleviation of allergy symptoms.

Am I paranoid, nope, I am approaching this from a reasoned perspective based on the knowledge of viral transmission.

So, be safe and don't panic.

P^3

Comments

The myth of the Hermeneutic of Continuity - Rorate Caeli

+ JMJ Interestingly the complete acceptance of the Second Vatican Council (without reservations) is required of the SSPX. Just when people are starting to wonder how it came to this! Courtesy of Rorate Caeli P^3

A Look Back: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976

+ JMJ Looking back is important to understand why we are where we are in this crisis. Courtesy of RemnantNewsPaper P^3 FOR THE FIRST TIME ONLINE: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976 Written by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre Introduction by Michael J. Matt More than forty years ago—during the disastrous reign of Pope Paul VI, the latest candidate for a Vatican-issued Halo Award, by the way—my father, Walter L. Matt, organized the first large scale public reception in the U.S. for the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. It was held at the Radisson South Hotel, Minneapolis, on Tuesday, May 12, 1976, and its stated purpose was to assist the Archbishop in gaining a stronger foothold for the Society of St. Pius X in the States during the unprecedented crisis Blessed Pope Paul had helped unleash on the Church. On that occasion Archbishop Lefebvre delivered ...

Of the Church and the Pope - Fr. Calmel O.P.

+ JMJ Once again, looking back to see if the 'Traditional Catholics' in the early days of this crisis of the Church had a sufficient view to realize the roots of the crisis. The root: The Pope Hence when the Pope is 'righted' the Church will be 'righted'. P^3 Courtesy of SSPXasia Fr. Roger Calmel, O.P. This essay by Fr. Roger Calmel, O.P. (1914-75) helps us in these difficult times to preserve our love of the Church. More than 30 years after its first publication, this article retains all its relevance, so much so that it even seems to have been written for our time, in which the crisis in the Church deepens at an unprecedented pace. This essay will help the reader to think clearly, keep the Faith, and maintain serenity in the troubled times we are navigating. “My country has hurt m e,”wrote a young poet in 1944 during the purge 1 when the head of state [Charles De Gaulle] implacably pursued the sinister job that had been in the wo...

Canonical Mission and State of Emergency - A Response to Mr. John Salza - Part B

+ JMJ I was trying to think of a way to map out the time course I discussed in Part A of this article. Early this morning it came to me that this is more about obedience and duty than canon law. As is my wont, I mapped out my thoughts (see image) to draw linkages between the core concepts. My conclusion is that, at least subjectively, Archbishop Lefebvre had sufficient information to make good decisions concerning whether or not he was obliged to obey. I know that the Jesuits, some Sedevacantists and the priests that left over the years will not agree with my thoughts. So be it. The core pieces of information include: Attacks against the SSPX were launched because they kept the Tridentine Mass and the pre-conciliar understanding of the Truths of the Faith. The authorities in the Church were willing to go against the laws of the Church. The same authorities encouraged the various dangers to the Faith embedded in popular interpretations of ambiguo...

Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations - Courtesy of SSPX.org

+ JMJ In the blogosphere there are number of responses to this crisis in the Catholic Church that lead to conclusions that run counter to Catholic Doctrine and Dogmas - if taken to their logical conclusion. The validity of the New Rite of Episcopal consecrations is one such hotspot within more extreme sections of the 'traditionalist' culture. Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations Courtesy of SSPX.org Why the new rite of episcopal consecration is valid Introduction This comprehensive study was compiled to settle a debate that has been circulating in traditional Catholic circles. Some writers have examined the new rite of episcopal consecration and concluded that it must be invalid. Since this would cause manifest problems if it were true and due to the heightened awareness of such a theory, we present a study of this question concluding that it is valid. Following the Council, in 1968 a new rite for the ordination of bishops was promulg...

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