November 24, 2020

masking update

We have been wearing masks for months now, but I feel we need them now more than ever. We are having a surge of infections here in Seattle, today our positivity rate is rising quickly up from about 2.1% month ago all the way to 8.6% today. That is a rapid rise and I worry we will not be able to flatten the curve so readily this time. The news in the rest of the country and the world is not much better.

It is time to revisit masks. The CDC has a good article that explains how they help protect us and back it up with data. The Seattle Times reminds us that it may be time to replace the masks we have been using simply due to wear. This New York Times article reinforces the best mask designs to use and why. Fit matters, the less gaps the better. A filter may protect you even more.

Looking for elastic free masks is a good idea if your skin is reacting to wearing a mask. Some people have an allergic reaction and avoiding elastic or latex can help. Wearing masks that tie in the back, rather than looping over the ears, can be more comfortable and fit your face better with less gaps.

And finally this excellent article in The Atlantic answers many of your Pandemic Thanksgiving questions.

Wash your hands, cover your nose, keep safe six, and be sensible this week.

And finally, my caveat is that this is my experience and my opinions, which are subject to change as more information is available, and not related to the organization I work for. Thanks for reading.

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/daily-summary.aspx

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/masking-science-sars-cov2.html

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/you-should-probably-replace-some-of-your-fabric-face-masks/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/well/live/covid-best-masks.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201113154624.htm

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/11/pandemic-thanksgiving-faq/617190/