Another new variant

[Pachapapa]

Please do not post nonsense.
They protect others. Do I have to post the link once more for those hard of understanding that surgical masks protect others?
Are there better masks? Yes certainly but please do not denigrate the cheap and effective solution for the population at large.

The truth of the matter is that WOVEN masks UK made are less effective and dearer than NON WOVEN KN95 masks made in China.

Surgical masks are NON-WOVEN whether made in China or France.

Does the melt blown non woven feature apply to all four ASTM categories. I wonder what UK provisions are.
There are four levels of ASTM certification that surgical masks are classified in, depending on the level of protection they provide to the person wearing them:

Minimum protection face masks are meant for short procedures or exams that won’t involve fluid, spray, or aerosol.
Level 1 face masks often feature ear loops and are the general standard for both surgical and procedural applications, with a fluid resistance of 80 mmHg. They’re meant for low-risk situations where there will be no fluid, spray, or aerosol.
Level 2 masks, with 120 mmHg fluid resistance, provide a barrier against light or moderate aerosol, fluid, and spray.
Level 3 face masks are for heavy possible exposure to aerosol, fluid and spray, with 160 mmHG fluid resistance.

[niemeyjt]

A FFP2/KN95/N95 that gets all three green ticks. The only mask to get this accolade.
Whilst the FFP3 mask also gets three green ticks getting a better percentage retention; this is due to more efficient sealing which I find uncomfortable.
Good post, informative illustrations, thankyou. PP.

No mask should have got three ticks - as masks do not protect you only others. The virus can also enter via the eyes and a mask covering the eyes would be a blindfold which is not very helpful. This is why a visor is required to protect yourself.

[Pachapapa]

If you read the statutory regulations for testing FFP2 masks, you will find that 95% of the test aerosol in the prescribed
range is retained. Thanks for advice on eyes. All these orifices are potential points of entry.
Shopping on Tuesday I shall source earplugs, butt plugs and prepucial cover.

[Char]

If you read the statutory regulations for testing FFP2 masks, you will find that 95% of the test aerosol in the prescribed
range is retained. Thanks for advice on eyes. All these orifices are potential points of entry.
Shopping on Tuesday I shall source earplugs, butt plugs and prepucial cover.

Behave yourself.
Can we move on from masks now?

[RobertArthur]

The virus moves on:

On Friday, 61 passengers from two KLM flights from South Africa tested positive for the coronavirus at Schiphol airport. Further analysis by the RIVM has shown that at least thirteen of them indeed tested positive for the omicron variant, news this Sunday afternoon.

The investigation into all 61 people who tested positive has not yet been completed. It is possible that the new variant will be found in more test samples, according to the RIVM.

Ongoing discussion: it looks like that the testing is voluntary, there are rumors that about 80% of the passengers arriving with these, and earlier flights from South Africa headed home without any test.

[Bayleaf]

It's most likely already in most countries. Potentially at least 8 suspected cases in France. As long as so much travel and country hopping goes on, this is never going to go away. Almost like nature saying "you keep polluting my body, I'll keep screwing you too".

I see two Dutch people "escaped" the quarantine hotel in Holland, and were reprimanded as they managed to get on a flight! Probably going to be fined.

Why people can't think for themselves, and just blindly follow whatever the Govt says is beyond me - the Govt. rarely "follow the science". Again, it shows up how much of the population are "me first, me first", and grow weary of helping protect themselves and their fellow man.

5 years for the duration of the Spanish Flu? "Demographers estimate the global population in 1918 at about 1.8 billion persons. These figures suggest that about 30% of the world's population was infected during that pandemic and that it killed about 2.7% of that population."

We're what, knocking on the door of 8 billion now - with so much more travel possibilities at our fingertips.....hence my comment elsewhere that was shot down in flames!

[Blaze]

South Africa's whingeing about travel bans being discriminatory and unnecessary ...
Surely banning international travel is one of the best ways of limiting the spread of the virus. Difficult balance for governments who want to keep trade and commerce going ....

[hughnique]

I follow a group on Farcebook about where we used to live, mainly it deals with old photos, and what's happening in the area. Of late it seems to have been infiltrated by a bit of commercialism and various pop up markets have appeared, the latest being over the last weekend. There they all are mincing around not a mask in sight, even the local mayor is in attendance chatting away to local shopkeepers and stallholders. I couldn't resist a comment regarding an ideal breeding ground for Covid, upon which I was told by one of the organisers that most of it was held outside, so that's the answer then, forget about vaccines, experts and all the rest of them just spend more time outside and it will disappear. Mask wearing in the UK has practically been exterminated, until tomorrow of course, I doubt the shops have restocked as the demand fell away, so there will be a shortage there, total complacency, on the part of the British public.

[Spardo]

Finally got though on the phone this morning to the doctor's secretary, and made rdvs for both of us for the vaccin on the 14th of December.
I mentioned that we need a prescription for a wheelchair as, with Fran's arm still paralysed from the fall many weeks ago, she cannot leave the house without one. I have to get back to them this afternoon for the decision.
Fired up with my success I then rang the hospital at Perigueux for the renewed rdv which is the follow up to her visit to the Urgence after the fall. The 1st one was cancelled by me because I couldn't get her to the car without a wheelchair.

[Pathca]

I’ve just been out to the local shops and was pleased to see about 70/80% masks worn inside and several people on the street wearing masks as well