Cycling UK Forum

briansnail wrote: ↑9 Jan 2024, 3:51pm ...
No invitation as in the past to get a COVID vaccination in the post from the government.
...

rjb wrote: ↑9 Jan 2024, 7:02pm The target audience are the ones least likely to have a smartphone and if they do won't have the NHS app either.

rjb wrote: ↑8 Jan 2024, 8:06pm I was under the impression that masks only reduce the spreading of the virus by an infected wearer. It doesn't confer much protection to a healthy individual. Wish I could be proved incorrect.

• masks made of material: do very little (more than nothing, but not much)

• medical masks (thin, paper like, usually green or blue): help prevent spread of infection for ca 20mins indoors if infected person is wearing

• FFP2, KN95: thicker masks, both to prevent spread of infection (if wearer infected) and protect wearer from airborne infection, good for ca 1 hour indoors, a lot longer if all persons present are wearing.

• FFP3, KN99: little practical improvement over FFP2, since almost impossible to wear tight enough to make a difference. Generally a lot more expensive than FFP2

• Obviously masks with a vent won't do a damn thing if being worn by an infected person. Masks not covering both mouth and nose are pretty useless too.

Galactic wrote: ↑10 Jan 2024, 11:42am

rjb wrote: ↑8 Jan 2024, 8:06pm I was under the impression that masks only reduce the spreading of the virus by an infected wearer. It doesn't confer much protection to a healthy individual. Wish I could be proved incorrect.

Rules of thumb (backed up by science, all other interpretations available on the internet, timings are very rough guidelines based on current research, dependent on conditions such as size of room, ventilation etc):

• masks made of material: do very little (more than nothing, but not much)

• medical masks (thin, paper like, usually green or blue): help prevent spread of infection for ca 20mins indoors if infected person is wearing

• FFP2, KN95: thicker masks, both to prevent spread of infection (if wearer infected) and protect wearer from airborne infection, good for ca 1 hour indoors, a lot longer if all persons present are wearing.

• FFP3, KN99: little practical improvement over FFP2, since almost impossible to wear tight enough to make a difference. Generally a lot more expensive than FFP2

• Obviously masks with a vent won't do a damn thing if being worn by an infected person. Masks not covering both mouth and nose are pretty useless too.

So if you're not infected, and wish to avoid it (eg while shopping, visiting GP, on bus), then just get an FFP2 and wear it properly.

Psamathe wrote: ↑10 Jan 2024, 12:38pm

Galactic wrote: ↑10 Jan 2024, 11:42am

rjb wrote: ↑8 Jan 2024, 8:06pm I was under the impression that masks only reduce the spreading of the virus by an infected wearer. It doesn't confer much protection to a healthy individual. Wish I could be proved incorrect.

Rules of thumb (backed up by science, all other interpretations available on the internet, timings are very rough guidelines based on current research, dependent on conditions such as size of room, ventilation etc):

• masks made of material: do very little (more than nothing, but not much)

• medical masks (thin, paper like, usually green or blue): help prevent spread of infection for ca 20mins indoors if infected person is wearing

• FFP2, KN95: thicker masks, both to prevent spread of infection (if wearer infected) and protect wearer from airborne infection, good for ca 1 hour indoors, a lot longer if all persons present are wearing.

• FFP3, KN99: little practical improvement over FFP2, since almost impossible to wear tight enough to make a difference. Generally a lot more expensive than FFP2

• Obviously masks with a vent won't do a damn thing if being worn by an infected person. Masks not covering both mouth and nose are pretty useless too.

So if you're not infected, and wish to avoid it (eg while shopping, visiting GP, on bus), then just get an FFP2 and wear it properly.

There is also the consideration of "knock-offs". Some time back I ordered some 3M FFP3 masks for workshop stock (hardwood dust, etc.). Ordered from significant online retailer. What arrived was unboxed (though each mask in it's individual wrapping). I was suspicious, reported my not-genuine suspicion and was immediately refunded and site launched an investigation. More out of interest recently I used one laying some loft insulation and quickly the one-way valve fell-off. I notice the specific seller has disappeared from the list of suppliers on the site.

Ian