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* Market Watch…
Do masks really work? Ask the dozens of Starbucks customers who tested positive for COVID-19 in Seoul this month after a woman with coronavirus sat under one of the cafe’s air-conditioners.
According to a local news report, at least 56 coronavirus cases have been linked to that one customer. The kicker: The four masked workers avoided infection.
The Starbucks SBUX, 4.88% patrons, according to officials, weren’t consistently wearing masks because, of course, it’s hard to enjoy a latte when you can’t access your mouth.
“This speaks volumes about the role masks can play,” Ma Sang Hyuk, a pediatric infectious diseases physician in South Korea, explained to Bloomberg News. “Masks may not provide 100% protection, but there’s nothing out there that’s as effective.”
Local authorities made it mandatory this week for everybody to wear masks both indoors and outdoors, as the greater Seoul area has seen a surge in coronavirus cases.
* And wear your mask over your nose…
Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill mapped locations in the respiratory tract to see where COVID-19 most likely infiltrates the body and found the cells that line the nose were significantly more likely to become infected and spread virus than the throat or lungs.
In addition, they said that part of the reason you could be more likely to get infected through the nose is because COVID-19 infects cells with tiny hairs on them called cilia, which usually helps protects from pathogens.
“The nose is basically the purveyor of all viral ill,” said Dr. Richard Boucher, director of the Marsico Lung Institute/UNC Cystic Fibrosis Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. “The virus appeared to pick the nose as a fertile ground for infection.”
Ellerin called the study “important” and explained that the nasal passage has as many or even more receptors that the virus can use to enter the cell than the throat or in the lungs. Which makes it imperative that people cover their noses, he said.
Density and temperature are intricately related, and coughs tend to be warmer than their surrounding area. Tapping into this connection, Simha and Rao utilized a technique called schlieren imaging, which visualizes changes in density, to capture pictures of voluntary coughs from five test subjects. By tracking the motion of a cough over successive images, the team estimated velocity and spread of the expelled droplets.
Unsurprisingly, they found N95 masks to be the most effective at reducing the horizontal spread of a cough. The N95 masks reduced a cough’s initial velocity by up to a factor of 10 and limit its spread to between 0.1 and 0.25 meters.
An uncovered cough, in contrast, can travel up to 3 meters, but even a simple disposable mask can bring this all the way down to 0.5 meters.
* WebMD…
A study conducted in Brazil — the nation with the second-most coronavirus cases and deaths in the world — found that people with sociopathic traits were less likely to follow safety measures designed to curb the virus, such as face mask wearing.
“Our findings indicated that antisocial traits, especially lower levels of empathy and higher levels of Callousness, Deceitfulness, and Risk-taking, are directly associated with lower compliance with containment measures,” said the study published in the online journal Personality and Individual Differences. […]
People who tested for high levels of empathy were more likely to follow coronavirus safety measures, the study said.
Researchers said 1,578 adults in Brazil took a test between May 21 and June 29 to assess their “maladaptive personality traits,” as well as their attitude toward COVID-19 safety measures. The test included 220 questions answered on a 4-point scale.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:31 pm
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I thought all along the policy should’ve been N95’s for everyone…
Comment by Anotheretiree Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:37 pm
I still see people with their noses sticking out…in a somewhat passive-aggressive (but transparent) protest?… or unable to grasp the concept?
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:37 pm
The Market Watch study shows why Governor Pritzker’s decision to allow indoor service at bars, restaurants and reopen schools was such a terrible idea.
Being inside with no mask on is unsafe, we have known that for awhile now.
Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:41 pm
==especially lower levels of empathy and higher levels of Callousness, Deceitfulness, and Risk-taking, are directly associated with lower compliance with containment measures,”
Well knock me over with a feather. I’m shocked at this finding.
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:41 pm
Thomas Paine is preaching common sense, based on science.
Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:43 pm
The nose is the portal entry point for COVID 19.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0868-6
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:44 pm
Are those behaviors measured antecedent or subsequent to lack of compliance?
Comment by Ok Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:46 pm
Thanks for posting this, Rich. It’s a message that needs to be repeated and reinforced.
Comment by Doc Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:46 pm
“The nose is basically the purveyor of all viral ill,”, and all this time we thought it was an elected official.
Comment by pool boy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:46 pm
“I thought all along the policy should’ve been N95’s for everyone”
I think this is a good example of not making perfect the enemy of the good. While an N95 may be the gold standard, supply wouldn’t be able to keep up with demand, and you don’t want folks thinking that wearing a cloth mask is a waste of time if that is what they have/can easily access.
To the post overall, I agree, just wear them. The more we normalize it, the better.
PS - If you are a woodworker, I suggest you start making cute mask hanging racks people can mount by their door and set up an Etsy shop to sell them. You won’t be able to keep up with demand this holiday season. You are welcome.
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:46 pm
– “The nose is basically the purveyor of all viral ill,” –
Good news for mouth breathers
Comment by Leigh John-Ella Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:47 pm
Thank you Rich.
The lives you’re saving, it may not be yours from “me”, you are saving “me” from spreading to those because I don’t know I have it, until it might be too late.
Wear a mask.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:49 pm
=and reopen schools was such a terrible idea.=
We wear masks in schools. Adding, the kids actually wear them over their nose AND mouth.
Kids… the adults in the room.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:52 pm
@allen skillicorn
Nuf said
Comment by gfalkes Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:03 pm
=== We wear masks in schools. Adding, the kids actually wear them over their nose AND mouth. ===
Explain how lunch works December - February, or when it raining.
And drinking water.
Thanks so much.
Comment by Thomas Paine Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:12 pm
Does this mean some of our leaders are sociopaths? I am shocked I tell you, shocked!
Comment by Nobody Sent Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:17 pm
“The virus appeared to pick the nose as a fertile ground for infection.”
The verb selection in that sentence could have been better.
Comment by SAP Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:20 pm
Thomas Paine–do you work in a school? I believe JS Mill does. Maybe you should take his word for it.
Comment by ajjacksson Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:24 pm
“Our findings indicated that antisocial traits, especially lower levels of empathy and higher levels of Callousness, Deceitfulness, and Risk-taking, are directly associated with lower compliance with containment measures,” said the study published in the online journal Personality and Individual Differences.”
I’m stunned. This isn’t at allllll consistent with the people I’ve observed, ahem Darren Bailey, ahem.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:27 pm
“…The kicker: The four masked workers avoided infection…..”
Of course. A mask helps protect the wearer. Why would it not?
Comment by CapnCrunch Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:28 pm
===Our findings indicated that antisocial traits, especially lower levels of empathy and higher levels of Callousness, Deceitfulness, and Risk-taking, are directly associated with lower compliance with containment measures,===
^^^^^Speaking of on the nose.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 3:57 pm
I’ve only heard of two cases of students refusing to wear a mask at school in my district. One decided to wear it and stay. The other continued to refuse and will now be a remote learner for the rest of the semester.
Comment by historic66 Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 4:00 pm
“especially lower levels of empathy and higher levels of Callousness, Deceitfulness, and Risk-taking”
Does this sound like a particular Oval Office occupant we know?
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 4:06 pm
Thank you so much for these posts. I’m generally all-in on wearing masks in public, but these posts are great for motivation and confirmation.
Comment by Muddler Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 4:11 pm
Thank you all for a wonderful exchange. I’m all in on the masks. I nearly lost my afternoon coffee on reading about the virus site selection.LOL
Comment by Froganon Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 4:33 pm
Still not addressing known infection pathway via the eyes.
Comment by Larry Saunders Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 4:59 pm
It would be good to see an emphasis on improving the quality of the masks being produced, distributed and worn to varying degrees. Until we have a vaccine, this is all about masks, and all masks are not created equal. There is a lot of talk about the “viral load” being a key factor in the severity of the virus on an infected person. The better the mask, the less virus gets distributed for lack of a better term. Better masks for everyone would be a good goal.
Comment by SSL Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 7:20 pm