Macross

CandiLea, I would go, stock up on good clorox wipes. I saw a video today of the planes cleaning like never before. I wear those cheap gloves from Target that you can text in. I take three pairs and wash the one I wore that day and put a clean pair on the next day. I think because of the metro and holding on to the rails on the elevator and in the cars. You could get latex gloves and wear under them. I am wishing you well, sure have been through enough.

Traviata

Yesterday we flew from DC to Paris on Air France. The plane was 2/3 full ( a pleasure!)...we wiped everything down, EVERYTHING, with Lysol wipes and only put our masks and gloves on just before we landed. Other than a doctor from Houston on the flight, we were the only ones with masks....and yes, we did look really dorky. So far, all is as usual here...no signs of extra precautions, although I am sure they are there. We were especially careful picking up our baggage......gloves for sure. The sun is shining in Paris today and it feels so great to be here.....let us hope it stays that way....for all of us.

kerouac

Were you sick? Ordinary masks are only supposed to be worn by sick people to prevent infecting others. They are totally useless for keeping a virus out.

loacker_thegreat

This is simply not true. COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets that land in your mouth or nose. When worn properly, an N95 masks helps reduce the risk of transmission greatly. There's a reason health workers wear them when dealing with sick patients.
I think medical professionals are telling people masks are ineffective because they're worried that people who need them the most won’t be able to get them.

Traveler_Nick

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/...sks-face-masks

I think most consider surgical masks ordinary masks. N95 are not what most are wearing.

menachem

You are not a medical professional, not am I. Your source for "a N95 mask helps greatly"?
And please dial down on the conspiracy theory.

menachem

And then you brought the virus to Paris.

loacker_thegreat

The virus is spread through droplets that land in your mouth and nose. It doesn't take a genius to realize that a barrier covering your mouth and nose helps spread the virus, right?
Doctors do wear masks when treating infected patients.

And this is not a conspiracy. The WHO is urging people not to buy masks and to leave them for those who need them most, like health workers. This seems to contradict some experts' claims that masks are ineffective.

loacker_thegreat

DC is not a Coronavirus hotbed as far as I know. Can you stop virus-shaming people?
COVID-19 is the new normal and is not going anywhere. It'll soon be as common as the seasonal flu. Better get used to it, unless you're planning to self-isolated forever.

kerouac

More information about masks: https://www.businessinsider.fr/us/wu...fective-2020-1

In any case, if you are not wearing goggles at all times, you are not really protected at all since the virus can enter through the eyes.

Traviata

menachem...let's just hope everyone coming is as careful as I was......hopefully I did not " bring the virus to Paris". We did have 95 masks and were aware of the different theories in wearing them.....we decided to split the difference and wore them late in the flight and during and after arrival.....

neckervd

I suppose everybody in this forum knows that the most important protection mesure is not a masked ball dress but efficient hand washing.

hetismij2

Good handwashing and not touching your face are the most important protections. Hard not to touch your face, everyone does it without realising, which makes the hand washing even more important. Politicians are trained not to do it apparently, but it is tough.
Personally I think the masks should be for those who have to deal with the sick - the medical staff, rather than for random tourists and germophobes.

Have a good time in Paris, Trvaiata, with or without your masks - don't forget to change them often and to wash your hands between masks!

whitehall

This is the expert opinion, sent to friends, from a noted US virologist:

“Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.”

IF you can find them. We cannot even find hand sanitizers in any stores near us.
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Traviata

Thank you heti......I will try my best to have a great time and will be very careful and try to follow all the rules, but....not to repeat myself....I will try my best to have a great time. That is not hard work!

kerouac

Masks may no longer be bought in France without a prescription if you are not a heath professional. Too many people were buying them uselessly.

loacker_thegreat

That's because aerosols can still penetrate an ordinary mask. Only N95 masks can protect you from a sneeze.

AJPeabody

The mask is not armor. Infection is easy if the virus gets into the eyes, which the usual masks do not protect. Also, if the mask has protected you, it is itself made infectious, and must be disposed of correctly, after which you must wash your hands. And masks have a time limit for continuous use, after which they are rendered ineffective due to moisture, clogging, etc.

Traveler_Nick

It's now clear the need for glasses is an evolutionary advance intended to protect us from viruses. Who knew.

menachem

I'm not virus shaming, I'm travel shaming. Please consider not traveling until we're well into the year.
I'm really amazed at the lack of interest for "others".

People on this forum seem not to understand. All this is not about your individual infection, but about flattening a curve that will overwhelm healthcare services somewhere in May, at the latest. We know that with warmer weather infections may decrease, but we're not sure. Nor are we sure this IS seasonal. The global population is immunologically naive and herd immunity has not yet built up. That is the difference with "the seasonal flu".

Yes, the spread of the virus in China is now contained. But the response to bring this about what massive, with massive travel and social contact restrictions for citizens. Do you see that happening anywhere else in the world? Korea perhaps. Lastly the news that CDC advised the White House to issue an urgent advisory to seniors not to travel, but that this wasn't done.
In Itally doctors' organizations argues it would be best not to give medical care to advanced age seniors with a corona infection and symptoms, so as not to overwhelm the healthcare system.