Ask HN: What if every one wears hand-gloves and a face mask for Covid-19?
Its probably a naive question, though I wonder if its a viable option to distance people from the virus itself by wearing hand gloves and masks for full face. The economics of providing the safety gear should be very cost effective compared to shutting down the countries IMO and the mechanism is as affective as doctors practicing their regular routine safely in hospital in the midst of all germs and viruses. So, wearing a mask in public is not about avoiding getting sick. It is about not getting OTHERS sick. You may be an asymptomatic carrier and the mask filters your droplets out and keeps them from contaminating surfaces other people will touch. In many asian cultures this is considered common courtesy. Some people may be courteous enough to wear a mask when sick, but most people wearing a mask in Asian countries are not sick and being courteous, they are (sensibly) trying to avoid becoming sick. There are not, at present, enough PPE[1] to allow for this. If there were, then use, even haphazard and inexpert use, would slow transmission, reducing R0. As there isn't, allocating PPE to highest priority, maximally effective, and most capability-preserving uses, is appropriate: - Medical personnel, especially those with high exposure to (possibly) infected individuals, and with high and hard-to-replace skills. - Others in high contact with the public performing critical work: first responders, retail and delivery workers, some construction and manufacturing workers. - The known or presumed ill, when in contact with uninfected individuals. - High-at-risk individuals: the elderly, immunocompromised, pregnant, or with preexisting conditions, if exposed to possibly infected. individuals. If you are not a member of one of these groups, or even if you are but can reasonably and safely isolate yourself, any PPE is better reserved for those who have greater need or provide greater societal benefit. It's not that PPE doesn't work (though this has definitely been part of messaging). It's not that most people cannot put it on, take it off, wear it, or choose where and when to use it for even reasonable efficacy (though this is often true). It's not that asymptomatic carriers aren't potentially contagious (they are). IT'S THAT THERE SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH FOR CRITICAL USES ALL OVER THE WORLD. And that shortage will make the epidemic far worse, far faster, and in a far more overwhelming manner, for everyone. You and your friends, family, and community included. Other than a small supply for use should you or household members fall ill, spare supplies for critical needs first, so long as shortages persist. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2... https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-when-... https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/f... https://time.com/5794729/coronavirus-face-masks/ ________________________________ Notes: 1. Personal protective equipment, including face masks, gloves, protective eyeware, gowns, etc. Most people (non medical professionals) couldn't take off gloves properly without contaminating themselves. Same thing with putting on and taking off a face mask. It'd provide a false sense of security. Teach them and let them know the risk if they don't do it right. I think this is one of the situations where there is no scientific study to be able to make an informed decision. The CDC has said over and over that asymptomatic individuals can still pass the virus and that it's mostly transferred via respiratory droplets. The mask would at least reduce transmissions. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/transmissi... y, I still don't understand how wearing a mask isn't a priority when people do go out. I understand people might be taking away masks from trained professionals but if everyone wore even basic masks it would stop droplets on the spreader and spreadee side of things and keep people from touching their mouth and nose. Some type of glasses would be a plus too. There aren't enough masks available, and it reasonable for health care workers to be given highest priority access to them. Thats the question I am struggling with, what does it takes to set up infrastructure for masks on scale, maybe somewhat lower quality for the population. Compared to the cost of shutting down lives of people which would have a very long term impact. Certainly N95 and such should go to providers but if everybody used even a cotton bandana on their face would help. That's a reasonable argument to make, and a correct one. That's different from the lie which is being given to the population: that they don't help. I totally agree that first responders need to get them first. This virus will not go away. We need to plan towards the future until we get a vaccine or there's enough herd immunity that it's no longer a threat. I don't understand why people are wearing masks at all. Dont they only protect you from inhaling someone's cough or sneeze? How often do people get coughed on? Frequent hand washing and sterilization makes more sense to me. The cough droplets are on surfaces we touch. You aren't going to inhale them. Wearing a mask is about not spreading your droplets around. While they do protect you to some degree they also protect other people from you. There is no way to know if you are an asymptomatic or presymptomatic carrier. Hand washing and sterilization are also useful tools but so are masks. Certainly we need to have them for our providers but having even a cotton bandanna on yourself is a courtesy to others. Anything to reduce your spread of droplets may help others. these are the cdc guidelines for removing gloves safely. it's literally the simplest and most obvious thing in the world. i rarely wore gloves before this and this is what i have been doing with my gloves the entire time. why do you think this would be difficult for people? https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/poster-how-to-remove-glove... Sample bias. If you put shaving cream all over the gloves, and tell a person to remove them without coming to contact with the shaving cream, they usually do contact the shaving cream (which represents bacteria). Most people will not intuitively remove gloves in a hygienic manner. While this can be solved with education, the gloves without the education is false protection. Have you not been in public before? Most people are complete idiots and would do more damage than good vs staying home. If people would take this serious and just stay home that would be great. Interesting. I feel like step 4 may be a bit tricky to do reliably without touching the exterior of the glove.