What kind of face coverings are you wearing out and about?

[QuarterMillionMan]

I fixed a really old N95 that I had prior to the pandemic using bungie cord (black) and needle-nose pliers & an ice pick to open the staple anchor and re-close. The old yellow rubber band is frayed and about to break.

[~bs]

none. it's recommended by our government, total about face from previous statements. but not required.

[Like2Plan]

I have done the first two patterns so far. I'm going to try the third pattern at some point. I figure I need to make quite a few masks: 10-12 per person since they can only be worn once and then need to be laundered. I also offered to make some for extended family--(for those who don't have a sewing machine). So, I have my hands full. Funny story. My Mom gave me one of her old sewing machines (which is light years better than my basic 40+ year old Kenmore sewing machine). I have had it for a little bit, but never really used it. It came with volumes of "tech data" and I was a little intimidated by it. But, the other day I was determined to use it. It took me some time to figure out how to turn it in "on". LOL

https://freesewing.org/fu-facemask-freesewing.org.a4.pdf

https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QrW4zIjMwY

Do it yourself no sew bandana face mask:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ADNMFRzIM

[greenskeeper]

N95 provided by my employer

[Fishindude77]

None
Haven't been out and about much.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

It took me some time to figure out how to turn it in "on". LOL

Like2Plan, that made me laugh. I have an old Singer that my MIL got as a wedding present around 1950. Knowing how to use it was like riding a bike-- you never forget. The only other machine I'd used was my mother's 1940's Singe,r and so it was muscle memory that told me how to thread MIL's, wind the bobbins, and yeah, turn it on. My sister has the Singer that was our grandmother's. One has to pedal that.

I'm not going out among people. I do have two N-95s in the basement. They are really serious looking heavy grey rubber with cartridges hanging off the sides. They are years old and I have not looked up whether the cartridges expire. I have replacement filters, but maybe those, too, have expired. Anyway, if all goes well, my mate and I can simply stay away from other people for weeks and weeks on end.

[cypher1]

None so far. I'm not against them, but hardly outside. Even when I am in public areas, I see easily over 50% of the people wearing theirs are not on properly. The masks dangling, or basically under their nose, or I can see their mouths revealed. Whats the point of them if they're not gonna properly wear or seat them?

[disneysteve]

None so far. I'm not against them, but hardly outside. Even when I am in public areas, I see easily over 50% of the people wearing theirs are not on properly. The masks dangling, or basically under their nose, or I can see their mouths revealed. Whats the point of them if they're not gonna properly wear or seat them?

Most people don't know how to properly wear a mask, which I totally understand if you don't work in a field that uses them. We require all patients coming into the clinic to put a mask on and we're constantly telling people they need to cover their nose, they need to pinch the metal strip to tighten them, they need to pull them open to expand fully, etc.

Most people also don't know how to properly remove a mask so that they don't touch the outside of it and just spread any particles to their hands.

[Jluke]

Most people don't know how to properly wear a mask, which I totally understand if you don't work in a field that uses them. We require all patients coming into the clinic to put a mask on and we're constantly telling people they need to cover their nose, they need to pinch the metal strip to tighten them, they need to pull them open to expand fully, etc.

Most people also don't know how to properly remove a mask so that they don't touch the outside of it and just spread any particles to their hands.

Would you recommend to wear a mask when grocery shopping etc?

i was out today and there were a lot more people with some sort of mask.

[kork13]

The biggest thing to remember is that wearing a mask likely will not prevent you from becoming sick. The mask, properly worn, is there to reduce the chance of you spreading to others anything that you are already infected with, even if asymptomatic. And it doesn't have to be a proper N95 or surgical mask -- in fact, CDC is recommending against acquiring/wearing those, so as to preserve supplies for medical providers. You're just looking for a basic barrier to reduce the size, velocity, and volume of droplets that you're spewing into the air. The cloth things that some people are making would help, as would a simple scarf or balaclava. Perfect, or optimal, or even desirable? No. I was speaking recently with one of the docs leading the COVID response here in the area, and he mentioned that COVID's transmissibility is significantly reduced in open-air, outdoors environments -- it doesn't survive long under UV light exposure; with a breeze, an infected person's "droplet cloud" is quickly dispersed to a density that significantly reduces infectiousness. It's inside closed-in spaces with relatively stagnant (or recirculated) air that it's really of concern. Going shopping? Wear of a mask is likely helpful. Going for a walk in the neighborhood? Probably not necessary.

That said... In general terms, if you are sick at all you should probably wear a mask, or simply not leave the house. If there's a reasonable chance that you could have been exposed to COVID and may simply be asymptomatic, you likely should wear one as well. If you likely are not infected.... Well, wearing one certainly shouldn't hurt.

I'm not personally wearing anything, though many folks are starting to. I did a quick shopping trip yesterday, and maybe ~25% of people had a mixed bag of various masks -- from construction & painters masks to the homemade cloth ones. But we're not really going anywhere except outside on walks or a ~once-weekly shopping trip. None of us are at all sick, and have had little-to-no interaction with anybody for.... shoot, I don't even know how many days/weeks anymore...

[greenskeeper]

Most people also don't know how to properly remove a mask so that they don't touch the outside of it and just spread any particles to their hands.

And if they do, as long as they wash their hands prior to touching anything else (face mainly) they will have prevented exposing themselves.

[greenskeeper]

Would you recommend to wear a mask when grocery shopping etc?

i was out today and there were a lot more people with some sort of mask.

Yes. If nothing else it will prevent you from touching your face/nose until you wash your hands, or prevent spreading the Chinese virus if you are an asymptomatic carrier.

[disneysteve]

Would you recommend to wear a mask when grocery shopping etc?

i was out today and there were a lot more people with some sort of mask.

I agree with everything kork said. Yes, the CDC is now recommending wearing a mask of some sort so yes, I would follow that guideline.

[disneysteve]

Yes. If nothing else it will prevent you from touching your face/nose until you wash your hands, or prevent spreading the Chinese virus if you are an asymptomatic carrier.

If you do it properly, yes. Most people don't.

[~bs]

The biggest thing to remember is that wearing a mask likely will not prevent you from becoming sick. The mask, properly worn, is there to reduce the chance of you spreading to others anything that you are already infected with, even if asymptomatic. And it doesn't have to be a proper N95 or surgical mask -- in fact, CDC is recommending against acquiring/wearing those, so as to preserve supplies for medical providers. You're just looking for a basic barrier to reduce the size, velocity, and volume of droplets that you're spewing into the air. The cloth things that some people are making would help, as would a simple scarf or balaclava. Perfect, or optimal, or even desirable? No. I was speaking recently with one of the docs leading the COVID response here in the area, and he mentioned that COVID's transmissibility is significantly reduced in open-air, outdoors environments -- it doesn't survive long under UV light exposure; with a breeze, an infected person's "droplet cloud" is quickly dispersed to a density that significantly reduces infectiousness. It's inside closed-in spaces with relatively stagnant (or recirculated) air that it's really of concern. Going shopping? Wear of a mask is likely helpful. Going for a walk in the neighborhood? Probably not necessary.

That said... In general terms, if you are sick at all you should probably wear a mask, or simply not leave the house. If there's a reasonable chance that you could have been exposed to COVID and may simply be asymptomatic, you likely should wear one as well. If you likely are not infected.... Well, wearing one certainly shouldn't hurt.

I'm not personally wearing anything, though many folks are starting to. I did a quick shopping trip yesterday, and maybe ~25% of people had a mixed bag of various masks -- from construction & painters masks to the homemade cloth ones. But we're not really going anywhere except outside on walks or a ~once-weekly shopping trip. None of us are at all sick, and have had little-to-no interaction with anybody for.... shoot, I don't even know how many days/weeks anymore...

At some point, it may not become a choice and the government mandating everyone wear one outside the house.