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Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

nih.gov

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Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#21

Post by maxerickson »

scythe wrote: post #18
doliveira wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah Brazil and specifically Manaus in the middle of the Amazon rainforest is doing a great job.

Considering that Brazilian scientists described the government's strategy as an "institutional strategy to spread the coronavirus"[1] and they're reporting a lower death rate than France[2], you have to figure something in Brazil is working in humanity's favor. It can't make up for (probably) the worst policies in the world, of course. [1]: https://english.elpais.com/americas/2021-01-29/study-finds-t... [2]: https://…

A bit more than 20% of the people in France are over 65.

For Brazil, it's a bit more than 9%.

We know very well that age is a significant factor.

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#22

Post by doliveira »

scythe wrote: post #18
doliveira wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah Brazil and specifically Manaus in the middle of the Amazon rainforest is doing a great job.

Considering that Brazilian scientists described the government's strategy as an "institutional strategy to spread the coronavirus"[1] and they're reporting a lower death rate than France[2], you have to figure something in Brazil is working in humanity's favor. It can't make up for (probably) the worst policies in the world, of course. [1]: https://english.elpais.com/americas/2021-01-29/study-finds-t... [2]: https://…

It may be a factor, but it's a pretty big leap to say that's what is behind countries' successes and failures. I mean, I've even seen people claiming it's due to "Asians eating a lot of fish".

The most obvious explanation is (even literally) right in front of our noses: politics, culture and age distribution.

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#23

Post by luxuryballs »

ceejayoz wrote: post #10
luxuryballs wrote: post #5

I propose that when handled by the average citizen they also increase the risk of bacterial pneumonia as you filter your warm moist breath through a bacteria catcher/cultivator.

We'd have an absolutely massive uptick in non-COVID pneumonia if that were the case. (It'd also be a known phenomenon for surgeons, dentists, nurses, painters, drywall installers, nail technicians, etc. who've been using masks for decades.)

How do you know we don’t? They are instructed by CDC to mark them as covid even if unsure.

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#24

Post by luxuryballs »

doliveira wrote: post #14
luxuryballs wrote: post #5

I propose that when handled by the average citizen they also increase the risk of bacterial pneumonia as you filter your warm moist breath through a bacteria catcher/cultivator.

Is that the new "theory"? Have you guys dropped the whole "O2 and CO2 levels" thing already?

Who is “you guys”? You don’t get to be the gatekeeper on biology and medicine. This is a very reasonable concern. The mouth is one of the dirtiest places on the body, which is why human bites are so dangerous. Bacteria transfers from hands which is why we promote washing hands. The logic follows this hypothesis.

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#25

Post by doliveira »

maxerickson wrote: post #21
scythe wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering that Brazilian scientists described the government's strategy as an "institutional strategy to spread the coronavirus"[1] and they're reporting a lower death rate than France[2], you have to figure something in Brazil is working in humanity's favor. It can't make up for (probably) the worst policies in the world, of course. [1]: https://english.elpais.com/americas/2021-01-29/study-finds-t... [2]: https://…

A bit more than 20% of the people in France are over 65. For Brazil, it's a bit more than 9%. We know very well that age is a significant factor.

I've seen some estimates that with the same age distribution as Brazil France would have had half the number of deaths: https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/brasil-55847831 (Portuguese link)

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#26

Post by sjg007 »

scythe wrote: post #18
doliveira wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah Brazil and specifically Manaus in the middle of the Amazon rainforest is doing a great job.

Considering that Brazilian scientists described the government's strategy as an "institutional strategy to spread the coronavirus"[1] and they're reporting a lower death rate than France[2], you have to figure something in Brazil is working in humanity's favor. It can't make up for (probably) the worst policies in the world, of course. [1]: https://english.elpais.com/americas/2021-01-29/study-finds-t... [2]: https://…

Your hypothesis does not square with the unfolding tragedy.

https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-storie...

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#27

Post by ceejayoz »

luxuryballs wrote: post #23
ceejayoz wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We'd have an absolutely massive uptick in non-COVID pneumonia if that were the case. (It'd also be a known phenomenon for surgeons, dentists, nurses, painters, drywall installers, nail technicians, etc. who've been using masks for decades.)

How do you know we don’t? They are instructed by CDC to mark them as covid even if unsure.

We know because, again, various professions have been using masks extensively for decades without all dropping dead of pneumonia.

Your theory also falls down with the spikey nature of hospitalizations/deaths. If it were the masks, you'd see a steadily high count of these, not outbreaks that come and go. The big early spikes in Italy and NYC were before masking at all became a thing, even.

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#28

Post by ceejayoz »

luxuryballs wrote: post #24
doliveira wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that the new "theory"? Have you guys dropped the whole "O2 and CO2 levels" thing already?

Who is “you guys”? You don’t get to be the gatekeeper on biology and medicine. This is a very reasonable concern. The mouth is one of the dirtiest places on the body, which is why human bites are so dangerous. Bacteria transfers from hands which is why we promote washing hands. The logic follows this hypothesis.

> The mouth is one of the dirtiest places on the body, which is why human bites are so dangerous.

To others, with broken skin.

We're inhaling air that passes through our own dirty mouths pretty regularly without getting infected by it already.

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#29

Post by andylei »

MengerSponge wrote: post #19

I don't work in the biological sciences, but my money's on the variolation argument more than the humidity behind your mask. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2026913 Here's why: Humidity affects the dessication of droplets, which in turn shifts what fraction become airborne (as aerosols) or settle out (as droplets). In the tiny enclosed volume between your face and your mask, that difference doesn't matter,…

> Humidity affects the dessication of droplets, which in turn shifts what fraction become airborne (as aerosols) or settle out (as droplets). In the tiny enclosed volume between your face and your mask, that difference doesn't matter, because the whole volume is exchanged multiple times with each breath.

The article doesn't say anything about droplets or the number of viral particles you get exposed to. From the article:

> hydration of the respiratory tract is known to benefit the immune system.

Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19

#30

Post by johnohara »

This story from back in April 2020 made the rounds but didn't receive the attention it may have deserved [0].

I cited this story because it pointed out that the air was heated along with being humidified.

This is the original press release from U of C Medicine [1].

[0] https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/25/21236187/...

[1]https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/coronavirus-disea...

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