Yesterday’s recommendation by the CDC regarding the use of fac
The actual CDC recommendation is carefully qualified. Here’s the main paragraph.
CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
Note the two main caveats.
First: “…the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity….”
Second, face coverings are recommended “in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain….”
This seems to me a very measured recommendation. And it makes clear CDC still believes social distancing is our primary tool for containing the spread, and things like face coverings are an added tool that will complement distancing, or to be used when appropriate distancing isn’t possible.
Even the experts are still learning about this virus. I’m sure this advice will continue to evolve.
Read the full CDC statement: “Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings, Especially in Areas of Significant Community-Based Transmission.”
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American Lung Association:
“A cough can travel as fast as 50 mph and expel almost 3,000 droplets in just one go. Sneezes win though—they can travel up to 100 mph and create upwards of 100,000 droplets. “
For those wanting to make their own cloth masks, here is an article that compares various materials:
https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/
With the information that Tim relays from the Lung Association, my question is how far can that powerful cough or sneeze travel? How was the 6′ rule determined? If the vapor from vaping shows where and how far the vapor travels, it goes much further then 6′. Isn’t it the vapor, which come out of the lungs of the person vaping, what we see are the droplets? Could that vapor carry the virus if it came from an infected person? So many questions, so few answers. Shelter in hope, with the memory that it took years to come up with the polio vaccine, but they did it. Mahalo, Jonas Salk.
I am not a medical expert, but here is what my personal research has found:
A quick review of reputable sources indicate that the six foot rule is seen as a rule of thumb minimum based on studies that show that is the distance that large size droplets can travel before dropping out of the air. The conclusion of those who have studied the spread of the disease is that the major way that the virus is spread is by relatively large droplets either conveyed directly to a person through the air by a cough or sneeze or conveyed to the person’s mouth, nose, or eyes when the person touches their face with hands which picked up the droplets on surfaces contaminated by an infected person’s coughing, sneezing, or spital . (See University of Colorado https://www.uchealth.org/today/what-is-social-distancing-you-can-go-outside/ )
There does seem to be a consensus that generally the virus is not being conveyed by an suspension of fine liquid droplets in air like the vapor emitted during vaping.
Note that these reputable sources report that there are researchers who question whether that six foot distance is adequate, with some stating that it is possible for smaller droplets to travel much farther distances. However, those pushing back against the idea that experts should be recommending more than 6 feet social distance separation note that the pattern and number of infections does not suggest that the virus is being conveyed between people who are significantly farther apart than six feet.
My understanding is that the most recent recommendation for everybody to wear non-medical masks when you go out in public is so that, if you are already infected but don’t have symptoms, the mask will catch any mucus and spital issued when you talk or breath or (god forbid) sneeze/cough. The mask doesn’t protect the wearer; the mask protects those around the wearer from any infection the wearer might have.
Bottom line seems to be stay at least six feet away from others or behind a sneeze guard if out in public, sanitize surfaces and supplies to reduce potential exposure, wash your hands after you come home, and wear a mask when you go out to protect others from the possibility that you are infected but don’t know it because you are not yet showing symptoms.
Hope this is helpful. Stay safe. Stay spiritually connected.