Question: Coronavirus & home sewn masks?

These aren't home sewn masks, but if you just need some sort of face covering these might be interesting...

From SeaSalt. Especially since you can use them as neck warmers, Alice bands, or head coverings as well - the patterns are nice too. I've bought some of these, the patterns are nice. I've been wearing one today around my neck as it's turned rather chilly here!
https://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/accessories/handyband-headbands

Or if you want pre-sewn more anti bacterial (anti bacterial stuff guaranteed for 30 washes), you can try Celtic & Co. I've got these on order, I think they'll arrive in the next day or so. OH is having a couple as he may be glad of them if he goes into shops.
https://www.celticandco.com/womens/womens-accessories/shop-all/knitted-face-mask

Big Bloomers also do face masks. They do bigger sizes too, which may be better for men? I haven't ordered from them so can't really comment. Plus they do kid size ones.
https://www.thebigbloomerscompany.co.uk/collections/face-masks

These are just places I've bought from in the past - no idea how well any of these masks function. They are all washable and re-usable.

I just don't have the energy to sew stuff myself.

 

This petition makes sense to me:

Make Face Masks Mandatory In Indoor Public Spaces in the UK

http://chng.it/cgD5SBcSj8

I think if everyone was asked to wear them we could greatly reduce transmission rates.
I’ve signed.

 

And I'm sure if I'd met you I would just think you were missing Wimbledon

 

I wasn't sure where to post this video since it applies to more than just home sewn masks. But I'm adding it to this thread for now.

If the moderators want to move this to another thread, feel free!

Code:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tp0zB904Mc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tp0zB904Mc

 

This may already be largely known:

Wearing face mask cuts your own risk of coronavirus by 65%, California doctors say

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/news...alifornia-doctors-say/ar-BB16yjRs?ocid=ientp2

 

I would love to see the reference for that figure

 

The headline suggests mask wearing protects the wearer, but the article seemed less clear. Population data wouldn’t give detail on individual protection, if most people wore masks.

 

I've not been around much the last couple of days, but I don't remember seeing this series of questions about mask wearing?

How to stop your glasses steaming up – and 19 other essential facts about face masks.

 

Mask wearing now to be encouraged. Boris Johnson seen shopping wearing a mask.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53365062

 

If anyone wants me to make them a facemask, I'm more than happy to oblige.
PM me.

 

I haven't been going anywhere where people are, but in case I every do, I've just ordered a cotton mask online to try, and I'll order more if I like it. I'm not planning on washing any of them, though - just leaving them for several days to self-sanitise.

I'm assuming that's OK?

 

I have a few homemade masks and some disposable Chinese medical ones. I quarantine the home made ones for a few days after using them and wash them when necessary.

I use the disposable ones for an hour at the most so I leave them in quarantine and reuse them until they've had quite a few hours of use. I've yet to read why this would be a bad idea and I've looked a lot.

Re Chinese made surgical masks - it's hard to tell if you're getting a proper mask or something completely useless. As a starting point here are some tests you can do to indicate they might be alright.
First make sure there are three layers.
Secondly, pour some water into the mask and if it doesn't run through the outer layer it is waterproof.
Thirdly, try to set fire to the inner filter layer. If it burns like a tissue it's no good. The real thing can't be burned with a flame; it just shrivels away.

 

Could you please share the source(s) for these tests? I have some Chinese masks that are supposed to be KN95 certified (equivalent of FFP2), but I suspect they might be fake

 

Just to tempt you... Here is the latest batch I'm working on...

 

How do you tell if there are 3 layers? I'm finding it very difficult, since I can't separate them out. I have a nasty feeling some I bought (from the local pharmacy, of all places!) are only two, because they seem very thin. Some of mine, I'm not sure whether they have 2 or 3 layers.


And, in case there's anyone here who's been blithely "decontaminating" their masks using UV light, BEWARE:
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/med...oronavirus/ar-BB16DH58?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=ASUDHP