Firstly, air dry your mask in the sun after use in order to disinfect it, says Bennett, who advises buying multiple masks so they can be rotated while each is being cleaned, and then throwing each out after it has been worn “a few times”. She recommends leaving a couple of days between wearing the same mask again.
There’s “no magic [amount of] time” the mask needs to stay in the sun. “Just give it a good dose of sunlight when you take it off… They work better when they’re absolutely dry. Don’t spray it with anything, don’t moisten it, don’t use disinfectant.”Don’t re-use a mask, adds Sim, if it is exposed to the rain, and don’t put it in your pocket between wears. Ideally, you would put the mask in a plastic, zip lock bag or a box with a lid , and do so only once the mask is completely dry.
“I’ve seen people wearing them out in the community, they pull them on and off, have stretched the ear loops, they’re hanging loose on the face,” she says. “They’ve probably got a false sense of security. They’re probably not a lot different from a surgical mask.”It’s crucial to handle the mask as little as possible, wash your hands after touching it and ideally take it on and off using the ear loops.
“Ideally, these are the masks that people pull out on special occasions,” she adds of respirators, like those who are visiting people who are vulnerable to infection, going to a neighbourhood with a high-infection rate, or travelling on public transport when it’s packed with people. This is why Bennett, who is rarely in these situations, usually opts for a disposal surgical mask – used once – under a close-fitting three-ply cloth mask. “That’s probably the next best thing to do after an N95.
Professor Bruce Thompson, dean of health sciences at Swinburne University, agrees, and is firmly against re-using an N95. “Ultimately, you’ve got to assume that the thing’s got infected once you’ve used it,” he says. “That’s the whole reason you’re using it, to not contract the bug. You [should] treat them like your [already worn] underwear. Don’t touch them or share them or reuse them.”
SamanthaSMorris And if so, where on earth can we buy them?
SamanthaSMorris Biden’s government is giving N95 masks out for free to all U.S citizens. I think Scotty should go the same for us.
SamanthaSMorris Sorry but your guide and the experts you quote suck. The SF Chronicle did it much better
SamanthaSMorris Obviously Joe Biden doesn't have the benefit of Catherine Bennett's vast wisdom 🙄
SamanthaSMorris Plenty of great washable Cloth masks that take N95 insertable Filter's. So many discarded masks everywhere. See them washed up on the beaches and in the gutters.
SamanthaSMorris Purely hypothetical since they can not be had for love or money. Another stuff up from our PM and his government. In US P95s and RATs are free.
SamanthaSMorris There are better mask options available that are not disposable and designed for filtration, with certified technology used. AusAir is one company, they use merino wool and have designed it with University of Sydney. Or Airinum a Swedish company. Invest in your health.
SamanthaSMorris No thanks..
SamanthaSMorris Depends whose paying. I haven’t got that kind of money.
SamanthaSMorris Plenty of people were saying N95s should have been used since the start.
SamanthaSMorris Can we get them for free ScottMorrisonMP
SamanthaSMorris They appear to be the best, but not very fashionable as the cloth ones are. Don't know if they can be washed though.
SamanthaSMorris No... because Germany mandates these in public. Doesn't seem to make any appreciable difference. Why spend all that extra money (and plastic) on something that obviously doesn't make an effective impact on covid cases. You *will* catch covid, it's clearly inevitable.
SamanthaSMorris And where exactly would we get the NP95/P2 from? I can't afford to pay 14$ for one.
SamanthaSMorris Ditch masks altogether.
SamanthaSMorris Much better advice here
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