Why Telling People They Don’t Need Masks Backfired

When news of a mysterious viral pneumonia linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, China, reached the outside world in early January, one of my first reactions was to order a modest supply of masks. Just a few weeks later, there wasn’t a mask to be bought in stores, or online for a reasonable price — just widespread price gouging. Many health experts, no doubt motivated by the sensible and urgent aim of preserving the remaining masks for health care workers, started telling people that they didn’t need masks or that they wouldn’t know how to wear them.

As the pandemic rages on, there will be many difficult messages for the public. Unfortunately, the top-down conversation around masks has become a case study in how not to communicate with the public, especially now that the traditional gatekeepers like media and health authorities have much less control. The message became counterproductive and may have encouraged even more hoarding because it seemed as though authorities were shaping the message around managing the scarcity rather than confronting the reality of the situation.

First, many health experts, including the surgeon general of the United States, told the public simultaneously that masks weren’t necessary for protecting the general public and that health care workers needed the dwindling supply. This contradiction confuses an ordinary listener. How do these masks magically protect the wearers only and only if they work in a particular field?

As a healthcare professional who works in Infectious Diseases, your post is infuriating.

First of all, there are many different types of masks. The mask a surgeon wears in the OR is not to protect the surgeon from what the patient has, it’s to protect the patient from the surgeon. Some masks are designed to contain exhaled droplets, and your “modicum of intelligence and logic” should tell you that something designed to contain exhaled droplets is not going to be a good thing for the person who is wearing it if they have COVID. Just in case your modicum of logic and intelligence don’t go quite that far, basically some masks are basically the equivalent of breathing into and out of a paper bag.

Secondly, dust maks, etc, have a filtration rate designed to catch particles of dust/etc which are likely 100-1000 times bigger than a COVID -19 particle, which is about 0.125 microns. Many OTC masks are about as effective as wearing swiss cheese on your face with respect to COVID-19. Not only not helpful, but can be harmful, especially with the sense of false security you’d have.

Third, let me know when you HAVE to go into work in a HEALTHCARE CENTER or other high-risk area that is screening 100% of people who enter. I’m sure your level of modicum and intelligence have educated you to know that COVID-19 can be shedding several days before symptoms are shown, so even people who do not know they are sick can pass the virus. How many people a day do you screen or come in close contact with?

Fourth, the N95 masks have to be properly fitted to be effective at protecting the wearer from external contamination. We have a class on them, have to be cleared medically to use it, and have to be fit tested every year, or every time your weight changes by more than 20 pounds. They have specific storage and/or reuse requirements. Have you been medically cleared? Trained? Fit-tested? Have proper storage? Have any idea how long you could wear the same mask? Know proper donning and doffing procedures?

Fifth, if you were so concerned about having a protective mask, why did you not address this 6 months ago to have it on hand and be ready for such a possibility? That’s why hospitals have masks....they are READY for the higher possibility problems they may face. If you chose not to prepare yourself for various things that might come, don’t begrudge others who have prepared themselves, personally or professionally. Preppers and other survivalists don’t look quite so silly now, do they?

YOU are the one who thinks highly of yourself and shows no concern for the healthcare workers and others who are on the front lines who DO need N95’s and other high-caliber masks. YOU have the option to practice social distancing and avoiding places where there are higher risks of infection. HEALTH CARE WORKERS DO NOT. If you would like healthcare workers to continue to come to work, kindly quit your selfish whining and begrudging us the tools we need to be safe.

I think you missed the whole point of my comment.

I was snarking at his condescending attitude towards the unwashed are are *confused* and somehow believing in *magic*, as if he’s some great mental giant who has this all figured out and is deigning to educate the rest of us poor rubes.

I am not begrudging anyone what they need to be safe, and I realize that most of the people who are hoarding the masks, don’t know how to use them properly, so they will not be doing a whole lot of good. I know the points you made and have no disagreement with them.

We have a few dust masks at home because of all the do-it-yourself projects we work on and they are from a couple years ago. We have not bought anything in a long time. and I also realize that they will keep out dust, not viruses.

And yes, we are practicing social distancing.

And I have been prepared for a long time.

You are making many assumptions about where I am that are simply not true, but that’s only because you don’t know me.

Know that I am praying right now for ALL healthcare workers and those on the front lines, for your protection, safety, and continued health.

Glad to hear that, because there is nothing in your post that suggests it was a sarcastic commentary. I took it at face value.

I saw red, and reacted accordingly, but I am glad I was wrong and am sorry for my outburst towards you. I think you will find that many healthcare workers who are directly impacted by COVID are feeling a bit prickly. There is a lot of unknown about what it takes to be safe, and even then, it is “the best option” not at all a guarantee, no matter what extent one goes to, and I think it is a bit scary for all of us.

Again, thanks for clarification and please accept my apology.

Sneeze travels @ 6-8 ft 100 miles mph, cough 50 miles mph . Masked medical worker is NOT in a disposable suit, NO surgical hair cover, NO eye protection. The above will land on clothes, hair and in eyes. Only a full Hazmat suit is proper Protection. BIG NO DO NOT TOUCH MAGAZINES IN DOCTORS OFFICES, THEY ARE BIG GERM/BACTERIA CARRIES, AS IS THE SIGN IN PEN AND IPAD.

At least lab person is in full protective gear. Most med workers are have cheap mask and gloves.

Improper, violates 6 ft rule. Are they wiping gun down with 75% or higher Alchol wipes and disposing of them after each person.

All you are doing is spreading virus to workers who are to dumb to know they are violating all safety precautions.

My 2nd son was born with highly contagious Cytomegalic Inclusion Disease, even back in the 1970's all this gear was required..

VETS on Monday for yearly shots, and flea/heartworm meds, all they had on were gloves.

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