Moreover, humans are social beings. Six months ago could you imagine being afraid of another person's droplets? How about having to stand six feet apart from most everyone? Or cleaning your hands every time you touch an object outside your home? Buying food is stressful! Nowadays I remove my shoes before stepping back inside my apartment, then spray the soles with 3% hydrogen peroxide before placing them in a designated area to dry. WTH!
Although I've never been a germophobe, if I pass a chatterbox on the sidewalk who is careless with social distancing, I'll walk in the street. Whenever a bottleneck of people stands on the pavement, I crossover to the other side of the street ... so uncharacteristic of me, but this disease SHOULD be taken seriously!
Here in Manhattan, we must wear a face covering to enter supermarkets and drugstores. It's a practice I support (and hate) in order to keep everyone safe.
Although there are lots of playful colors, patterns and prints made from leftover fabric from Old Navy's popular clothing, you accept what comes in a "surprise pack" of either 3, 5, or 10 masks. There are 2 sizes: children or adults. An excellent price. A cotton face mask should not cost $15+ each! But oh boy, they are on backorder until the middle of June! Well worth the wait. Best price for the quality!!💙You may also enjoy:
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I think masks are the best idea, but for some reason our Government has not insisted on them. However as they are now pushing to get the economy moving again, ie people resuming old ways, masks are more important that ever, imo. It is near impossible to buy the disposable ones which have gone to the medical people. I made my own, just about the same design as the Old Navy ones. I did two layers, but after reading this I will try three layers. I plan to make a few more this weekend. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteHospitals have the special N95 masks, which we have been asked not to buy because of the shortage. Doctors and nurses are in the faces of known infected people and need those special masks for protection. They offer 95% protection against Convid-19 ((estimated size 0.12 microns). But hospital workers get fitted for them and are trained how to properly wear them. They often also wear googles so the virus is less likely to infect them through their eyes. Although we've been asked not to buy them, I do see too many people on the Upper East Side wearing them … and often improperly with their noses sticking out, or lifted up on their foreheads or pulled down on their chins. I always think since you decided to take an N95 mask away from hospital workers …. at least don't waste it by not wearing it properly! Masks also loose their effectiveness when the mouth area gets wet … which happens after hours of wearing them and by talking. I think for these reasons, they are often wasted on the public.
DeleteIt turns out that although disposable surgical masks and homemade or the Old Navy cotton masks are not as effective as a properly fitted and worn N95 mask, they are about 70% effective, as well as, offer excellent protection if everybody wears them. I don't understand either why the west is so slow in telling the public to wear masks. We were slow in New York City too! In the beginning I felt ridiculous!
Asian countries have experienced other waves of viruses and are ahead of us in wearing masks in public. Before our lockdown a young Asian man wearing a white medical frock and plastic gloves stood in front of a clinic and handed out free surgical masks. I passed him on my way to work, and he handed me 3 free surgical masks, which SAVED me when we had to start wearing them to enter supermarkets. (The mask I made out of a cotton napkin and hair bands doesn't fit my face as well, but at least I had a backup until I could order them.) Personally, I think the mark-up of all types of disposable masks have gone through the roof, making them too expensive to wear everyday. We don't know for what duration we'll have to wear them — but it gets pricey when you need one every day! I'm so happy with what Old Navy is offering.
Trish, I knew you were talented seamstress! Show and tell your work if you can … please!