Coronavirus

[maggiebee]

Have just read that our local B & Q has sold out of dust masks because of the Coronavirus. Considering there have been no cases in Scotland, would you think this is a bit of an overreaction? Maybe I'm being too blase about the whole thing?

[teacake44]

Going on what I've seen on TV, all virus experts have said that face masks give little or no protection by wearing a face mask. But if it makes one feel safer then have one.

[retrocop]

Not at all. Can't be too careful. I wear my old SR6 everywhere I go now. I keep losing the wife though when we go out.

https://gasmaskandrespirator.fandom.com/wiki/SR6M

[jim360]

Huge overreaction -- as stated above, and made clear plenty of times elsewhere, dust-masks do absolutely nothing to stop viruses, including CoVID-19. In a perverse way they make the risk even worse, because it provide a misplaced sense of security and so the user could take chances elsewhere on things that really do matter, such as washing hands thoroughly and so on.

[teacake44]

I would think she runs off retro when seeing you in that. :0)

[woofgang]

yup, just people being silly

[gingejbee]

There is a HUGE difference between the size of dust particles and any virus you may encounter....so, pointless.

[retrocop]

Thanks teacake
Could be why I keep losing her. :-)

[Ken4155]

Over-reaction? Hard to say without numbers. Does the article you read say how many the store had in stock in the first place, Maggie. Our local DIY store probably has about half a dozen on show at any one time. Obviously I don't know how many they keep in stock.

[Prudie]

On a similar note I tried to buy antibac wipes from both Boots and Superdrug online for a forthcoming trip and they were completely sold out with no stock expected for at least two weeks.

[Peter Pedant]

yes no
they dont work
as in they dont stop infections spreading
holes in the mask dont filter viruses or bacteria

the experts on R4 this am werent much good

[aelmpvw]

//holes in the mask dont filter viruses or bacteria//
not very clever masks are they?

[Ken4155]

I had a very clever mask, once. Knew it's times tables all the way up to 7.

[Ellipsis]

A mask is more likely to protect other people from you than you from other people.

[gingejbee]

^"not very clever masks are they?"
Yes, they are - for their intended purpose ie dust.

[TheDevil]

We have but only one option...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cpg6s4wWIAAFBMR.jpg

[Old_Geezer]

Massive overreaction. But folk tend to think, "Why take a risk, I might not be here to look foolish if all goes wrong". So they stock up on facemasks, that probably have gaps that to a microbe would appear cavernous, if microbes could look.

[ludwig]

The first time I'll start to worry about the coronavirus is when I'm diagnosed with it.