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

Facts and Opinions - An Explanation

+ JMJ When a person's assumptions are events outside of their control they form an opinion and, in my experience, assert this opinion to be fact. So ... it is important to define some terms:

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too thin

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

Thirty Days Prayer to Our Lady -

+ JMJ Providence has cast this prayer in my path twice in the last week. I decided to post it here in order to have a copy handy. P^3 Prayer Penance Patience Source Intro Prayer With the condition of affairs in the cultural, political and physical world in a state of disarray we enter Lent - Ash Wednesday - February 25th - 2004 - more compelled then ever to pursue, diligently and faithfully, our personal road to holiness. It is a long, difficult path each of us treads, however, we do know the journey can be sweeter and more blessed if we travel it with others. Jesus has told us: "Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am with you." And there are many other biblical passages, as well, that urge us to love and help one another. A 'Thirty Day Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary ' was said by many Catholics during troubled times in their lives up until Vatican II. While looking through old stored away boxes, I came across a small white prayer b

Kuala Lumpur warns faithful about the SSPX

+ JMJ A couple of humorous perspectives: Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SSPX), a chapel not recognized by the Archdiocese I guess they are no longer able to recognize what is authentically Catholic vs inculturated ... :-) The views of the SSPX also dissent from the teachings of the Second Vatican Council This is a little outdated ... I wish I knew what exactly they are talking about and how to square the circle with pre-conciliar Catholic Teaching. and they have serious questions about the order of mass promulgated by Pope St. Paul VI Darn tooting they are serious questions, I'm glad they have admitted that the questions posed by the SSPX are serious and meriting a serious answer. But we already know the answer to one of them: As for the use of the 1962 Missal as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgy of the Mass, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this Missal was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always p

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