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Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
81–90 of 105 posts
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
And even that benefit isn't enough for many people to wear masks unless absolutely required (e.g. inside shops). It's been unusually cold the past few weeks in the UK and I've seen less and less mask usage on busy streets and even shop queues.
I can't speak for anyone else, but in NYC I've been finding I have to take my mask off outside or I literally can't see, because that's how much my glasses fog up. Like, I walked straight into a pole one night. After that, I decided that the increased risk of getting COVID was lower than the risk of getting hit by a car. I do know it's not this bad for everyone, and I have tried different methods to mitigate it—anti-…
You can almost 100% solve the issue by taping the top edge of the mask to your face with surgical tape. Just a 6 inch strip of tape along your nose and under each eye and glasses fogging was 98% gone for me. It's probably not the most comfortable for some people, but not so different from wearing a band-aid. Very cheap and works with almost any mask.
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#83Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thailand and Vietnam also had 95% compliance with mask wearing. https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28979/what-s-be...
And so does the US: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201022/mask-use-by-america... https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/27/more-americ... Break it down by county or state, and you'll find that many of the the areas with the highest reported compliance have the worst overall metrics: https://delphi.cmu.edu/covidcast/?date=20210209®ion=42003... (and before anyone says it: sure, you can argue that mask-wear…
SNIP
" Our review of the literature offers evidence in favor of widespread mask use as source control to reduce community transmission: Nonmedical masks use materials that obstruct particles of the necessary size; people are most infectious in the initial period postinfection, where it is common to have few or no symptoms (45, 46, 141); nonmedical masks have been effective in reducing transmission of respiratory viruses; and places and time periods where mask usage is required or widespread have shown substantially lower community transmission.
The available evidence suggests that near-universal adoption of nonmedical masks when out in public, in combination with complementary public health measures, could successfully reduce Re
to below 1, thereby reducing community spread if such measures are sustained. Economic analysis suggests that mask wearing mandates could add 1 trillion dollars to the US GDP (32, 34).
Models suggest that public mask wearing is most effective at reducing spread of the virus when compliance is high (39). "
FROM
An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19 by Jeremy Howard, Austin Huang, et al.
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#84What about humidity of the environment? Is that a reason behind the success of countries like Thailand, Vietnam in tackling Covid? Possibly relevant study: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-virology-0...
A recent paper showed that obesity was related to spreading sars-cov-2 more readily, not just the severity of disease of the obese individual. The US and UK are world leaders in both obesity and virus spread. And the countries doing well with the virus are healthy and well within the normal weight range. I don’t honestly believe it will be as simple as this, but it’s amusing to think this _could_ be the big surprise connection.
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/8/e2021830118?fbclid=IwAR3q...
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thailand and Vietnam also had 95% compliance with mask wearing. https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28979/what-s-be...
And so does the US: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201022/mask-use-by-america... https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/27/more-americ... Break it down by county or state, and you'll find that many of the the areas with the highest reported compliance have the worst overall metrics: https://delphi.cmu.edu/covidcast/?date=20210209®ion=42003... (and before anyone says it: sure, you can argue that mask-wear…
Both your links claim less than 95% compliance, and both suggest a recent, marked improvement in mask wearing from earlier dates (but still well after the start of the pandemic).
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#86Measure the humidity in the air where you live, especially where you sleep (and therefore probably spend most of your time). If it's below 30% in the winter, get a humidifier good enough to actually raise it. If you can't get a humidifier good enough to humidify your entire living spaces, try just your bedroom.
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
I can't speak for anyone else, but in NYC I've been finding I have to take my mask off outside or I literally can't see, because that's how much my glasses fog up. Like, I walked straight into a pole one night. After that, I decided that the increased risk of getting COVID was lower than the risk of getting hit by a car. I do know it's not this bad for everyone, and I have tried different methods to mitigate it—anti-…
You can almost 100% solve the issue by taping the top edge of the mask to your face with surgical tape. Just a 6 inch strip of tape along your nose and under each eye and glasses fogging was 98% gone for me. It's probably not the most comfortable for some people, but not so different from wearing a band-aid. Very cheap and works with almost any mask.
Also makes it hard to take off and on. Something I do frequently when I’m out and about as there’s no point in wearing the annoying thing in my car or outdoors away from crowds.
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
And even that benefit isn't enough for many people to wear masks unless absolutely required (e.g. inside shops). It's been unusually cold the past few weeks in the UK and I've seen less and less mask usage on busy streets and even shop queues.
I can't speak for anyone else, but in NYC I've been finding I have to take my mask off outside or I literally can't see, because that's how much my glasses fog up. Like, I walked straight into a pole one night. After that, I decided that the increased risk of getting COVID was lower than the risk of getting hit by a car. I do know it's not this bad for everyone, and I have tried different methods to mitigate it—anti-…
Try tucking the mask slightly under your glasses. And make sure the nose strip has metal and can bend to the shape of your face.
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thailand and Vietnam also had 95% compliance with mask wearing. https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/28979/what-s-be...
And so does the US: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201022/mask-use-by-america... https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/27/more-americ... Break it down by county or state, and you'll find that many of the the areas with the highest reported compliance have the worst overall metrics: https://delphi.cmu.edu/covidcast/?date=20210209®ion=42003... (and before anyone says it: sure, you can argue that mask-wear…
>And so does the US:
This is not my actual experience in the United States. It's practically impossible to find a laundromat in Rhode Island that isn't constantly full of maskless noses, and we're a blue state.
EDIT:
>More than nine in 10 U.S. adults (93%) said they sometimes, often or always wear a mask or face covering when they leave their home and are unable to socially distance, including more than seven in 10 (72%) who said they always do so, the poll revealed.
That's not 93% compliance, it's 72% compliance. In other words, the noncompliance rate is five times higher!
Re: Researchers propose that humidity from masks may lessen severity of Covid-19
#90These days if I feel any sort of respiratory illness coming on I head straight to bed and get my head under the covers. The secret is to create a 'cave' or pocket of air by using a pole or prop to hold the duvet or comforter up like a little tent. Experience does seem to bear out that lungs prefer moist, warm air.
I'm curious though what that would do to CO2 levels. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19411998
It'd increase them, for sure. Never mind, though, the only cognitive effort required is a focus on gentle breathing. Plus an occasional flick of the duvet to refresh the air!