Know what you are getting at Stewart, but see post 14 for a more definitive explanation on mask and/or visor usage.

Kev

So why do hospital staff in intensive care all wear shields then if they do not do anything?

Intensive care would deal with more issues than just covid-19. eg direct bodily fluids from both the patient and the nurse/doctor. I believe they also wear a mask too :shrug:

I would have shoplifted something to teach him a lesson Bob.

As far as I know they will wear a re-breather type when intubating where the danger of air-borne particulates is much, much higher. A medical grade mask (and perhaps visor depending on construction) does not stop all transmission, it only reduces.

Kev

Yeah . . . . masks!

Because she 'failed' all the mask fit testing for FFP3 and FFP2, my dental nurse wears a full Wuhan style positive pressure protection suit. I have one too, but never worn it and keep it as a spare, since I 'passed' on several brands of mask. It uses a small motor and battery pack to drive a fan which draws air through a HEPA filter (bit like some of the welding kits out there) I've been tempted to march into Tesco's with the kit on for a laugh, but I'd probably infringe some kind of local rule, so I've chickened out:getmecoat:.
The space suit is just higher spec mitigation like all the hand washing, face touch avoidance, social distancing and masks....it's all mitigation and preventive (and worthwhile) despite being imperfect. If you do come into contact with a cloud of infectious droplets and the concentration is reduced because of mitigation, the virus/bacterial/fungal inoculum is less. Starting from the moment of the inoculum, if the virus enters any cells, the lower initial dose gives the body a better chance of resisting infection or translates into a less severe experience. I wouldn't be without a mask in my daily routine doing dentistry, (but dislike wearing one in Tesco's lol)
I absolutely use my own hand sanitiser. Who knows the provenance of what we're offered when we're out and about. There's going to be an epidemic of dermatitis:eek:

I would have needed to wear a mask as well. The same goes for FFP3 masks with exhaust valves. Nice for the wearer only and not suitable for Tesco's lol
My assistant has tested negative twice but we also have a lot of other mitigation in the surgery to protect patients, namely high volume extraction over the chair and also a 'Covid Filter' which draws room air through a high voltage grid (30k volts). This deactivates organic particles (down to 20x smaller than coronoviruses supposedly) and also adds a charge which assists entrapment in the Hepa filter. All the usual other universal precautions apply as before. I have enormous respect for medics at the sharp end dealing with people with known serious infections. We know that most of our own patients are pretty safe to work on.

Wouldn't really do for me Ian. Although the accident was about a year ago the "cut" part of the ear is still incredibly sensitive despite being tidied etc by a plastic surgeon, the cartilage was trimmed and skin closed over it. I still can't bear anything touching the cut face hence the top elastic on the mask going over the top of my head.

I don't think others should be mandating dress. I thought this was made clear with head scarves? What happened to 'my body, my choice'?

Seem? There is barely any evidence that wearing a nonsurgical mask in a nonsurgical setting is in any way useful (never mind if it outweighed the negative effects of doing so).

So I would be relaxed about that. People who are not always have the option of masking or deliveries too. Maybe a mask-free day?!