Speaking of COVID-19  

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

@tim-m30

Are you taking into account seasonal changes?  Infections of Coronavirus should drop as we move outside in late spring or early summer.  

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

It is best to remain in your closet hidden from this disease.  Even better, build a bunker in your back lawn.  

Just kidding.  

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

lol - well, actually summer is not likely to help us since humidity is what normally kills some CoV quickest - it likes dryer air - anything at 20c and 50%RH or lower seems to support it for days.  

I have no plans to avoid it. I want to be the first to get it locally so my hospital isn't being overrun and all the staff is still working, just in case. 🤓 

Here's today's chart: 3k to 4k in a day ...

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

What most people don't realize is that the masks should be used by those infected to prevent them from spreading the disease through sneezing and coughing. A healthy person wearing a mask makes little sense if the infected aren't masked and coughing around you. The droplets from their cough will spread through the air and land just about everywhere, your clothes, hair, skin, just everywhere. You, being masked, then touch these areas, forget to wash your hands and then rub your eyes or scratch your nose. Boom, your infected even though you wore a mask.

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

@nikolai-r

I know it won't completely get resolved in a week, but maybe it'll get a little better and I'll be able to go back to my university soon, or at least leave the house... hope dies last!

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

Posted by: @richard-l

What most people don't realize is that the masks should be used by those infected to prevent them from spreading the disease through sneezing and coughing. A healthy person wearing a mask makes little sense if the infected aren't masked and coughing around you.

My understanding is that the N95 masks are really needed by healthcare professional in close contact with the infected. Most civilians are wearing these masks improperly, reducing effectiveness by 40% and consuming a valuable resource that can be in short supply. The masks require frequent replacement as they become fouled. You need dozens, not one. Facial hair reduces effectiveness even further.

The basic filter masks help with avoiding contact from airborne spray (as do goggles) but don't filter the actual virus.

The droplets from their cough will spread through the air and land just about everywhere, your clothes, hair, skin, just everywhere. You, being masked, then touch these areas, forget to wash your hands and then rub your eyes or scratch your nose. Boom, your infected even though you wore a mask.

And that's the big one. Unless you practice overall hygiene, the mask itself isn't a shield. If nothing else, I suppose the mask is a reminder to avoid touching stuff and carefully disinfecting when possible. I'm carrying bleach wipes when flying as well as hand sanitizer. If someone around me is sniffling, I might consider a mask but not yet. 

I see a lot of people with masks dropping them "just for a minute", thereby undoing any benefit.

It is interesting that China seems to be mandating masks, even if not N95 masks. Also interesting that their officials were quick to grab the good ones away from the healthcare professionals early on. What I'm not clear on is whether an infected person wearing a non-N95 mask is benefitting anyone. I suppose the mask will contain some material, but not "the virus". Better than nothing, but not as good as isolation. The Creality 3D printed mask might be most useful as a method of reducing spread, not preventing infection.

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

I'm still trying to determine if these guys were serious or just having fun:

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

As for actual masks, there are N95 dust masks, then there are N95 biological masks. They are not equal when you read the fine print.  Also, most N95 masks will not filter out 100% of the particulates, and usually say it is due to fitment. 

Here's a 3M product statement for an N95 medical mask:

• NIOSH Approved: N95
• FDA Cleared for use as surgical mask
• Helps protect against certain airborne biological particles
• Fluid resistant and disposable

And there are N100 masks designed to fit, and do claim even  better biological control at the cost of more difficult respiration (finer filters).  Of course, best is a true HEPA style forced air breathing pump.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WVO3UUA

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

And this leaflet is a great read for typical masks you'll find.  Especially the bit about those pleated masks you get at doctors offices or online for $20 a box of 100.

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/956213O/differences-between-respirators-and-masks.pdf?fn=Respirator%20vs%20Surgical%20Mask%20flye

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

Posted by: @tim-m30

As for actual masks, there are N95 dust masks, then there are N95 biological masks. They are not equal when you read the fine print.  Also, most N95 masks will not filter out 100% of the particulates, and usually say it is due to fitment. 

Following the flow chart in the PDF, I'm still coming up with "Particulate Respirator", so no surprises. Want to keep the baddies out (at least for now).

I was surprised to see that while N95 respirators are hard to find, N100s are still hanging on the walls. I suspect people are glomming onto the "N95" label as a protective talisman.

As for the HEPA style forced air breathing pump, I think at some point, TSA is going to pull me aside. There was a guy on a flight with a fancy respirator with the side filters. Very stylish. Glanced over mid-flight and he had his head back sleeping with it hanging around his neck.

I would really be interested to see how the Creality printed model functions with some cut up HEPA filter material. The idea that it can be sized for a custom fit is appealing. Or just go all-in...

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

Here's a fun piece:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/02/27/us-workers-without-protective-gear-assisted-coronavirus-evacuees-hhs-whistleblower-says/

If you extrapolate the facts - it probably explains why there is now an "untraceable" infection in - wait for it - the same county as Travis AFB.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Coronavirus-live-updates-Trump-to-hold-news-15085591.php

Stupidity is going to kill us all.  Maybe not this outbreak, but someday.

--

Regarding plastic printed mask shells.  My take is if you buy a bunch of those pleated sputum "protect the patient from the doctor masks" you might be able to cut them down to fit inside the plastic shell; and with the better fit and "airtightness" of the shell achieve something better than no protection.

As an aside, most HEPA filters do not filter virus sized particles.  But they can catch some under specific circumstances.  As a face filter, probably not all that helpful; but better than nothing.  As I've mentioned before, trying to find  bulk HEPA filter material is a chore.

--

ps: if you want to do a deep dive, read up on the differences between N and P rated masks.

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

Posted by: @armedleftist

Pretty cool of Creality to do this:

https://creality.com/info/makers-guide-3d-printed-face-mask-no-worries-on-mask-shortage-and-virus-infection-i00248i1.html

Nice looking mask for.  Too bad it will do almost nothing to stop COVID-19.  The virus is passed by touch, not air.  Unless an infected person comes right up and coughs in your face, a mask is not very effective.  

And before anyone asks, I get my information from the U.S. Surgeon General, the Centers for Disease Control, and my missus, who is a Nurse Practitioner working at one of the urgent care facilities in town.  She generally wears a mask all the time, but has been doing so since way before anyone had heard of this particular strain of the human coronavirus.  Check this tweet from the U.S. Surgeon General:  https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/1233725785283932160

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

Italians play Fortnite game to avoid the covid 19...
https://www.gameshit.xyz/2020/03/italians-play-fortnite-game-to-avoid.html

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

A cool idea with a mask, but it seems to me that the look is also very important. During an increase in the number of cases, the effectiveness of the masks does not increase. There will be people who forget about it. But I support the idea of ​​creating masks.

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

An interesting watch is the video that Tech Ingredients put up. He does cover why masks are (partially) effective, both for physical and psychological reasons. He covers other protective techniques. See it here:

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

I printed a few of the creality masks for myself, wife, and others...... (.3mm LH, PETG, and scaled to 110% - 3.5hrs) they fit pretty well and look decent in prusament colors, but PLA was too uncomfortable.  I just used a double layer of cotton tshirt based on this article:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic

To be clear, these are only a very minor protection, and are meant more for the safety of others than ourselves.  Seeing a very old woman outside the grocery store with plastic bags on her hands made me realize I would rather take any precaution I can to not even spread a cold .  I know sneezing/couching into a mask is a lot safer for others than into my hand or arm.

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

The masks can be also printed with bottom PLA and filament change to TPU for the rest. This way you can get pretty nice fit.

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

Italians play Fortnite game to avoid the covid 19...
see more

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

@nikolai-r

I don't have an enclosure, so I really havent tried any flex materials yet....but I didn't know TPU stuck to PLA.  Thanks!

RE: Speaking of COVID-19

Posted by: @nilok

@nikolai-r

I don't have an enclosure, so I really havent tried any flex materials yet....but I didn't know TPU stuck to PLA.  Thanks!

You don't need an enclosure for flexible filaments. You are accidentally conflating flexibles with ABS or other "enclosure highly suggested" filament types.