Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[pauly7]

I have not had the time to put together some definitive words about Masks and respirators…sorry… the following is all I have to say...

As a summary , I opine that a body of potential bug customers may benefit from wearing a respirator.
Folks over 50 , with immune compromising conditions who move in crowded areas , probably should wear a mask.. no matter what the pigeon settling info says

Flat surgical masks have little if any protective effect as they are not airtight and should not be used
P95 (US) / P2 (Europe) moulded respirator masks are a very good first defence if fitted and used sensibly (this is why health professionals use them).
The virus is usually transported on a carrier, typically aerosols (watermist) and these masks are very effective in this area.
Moulded paper masks should be restricted to one usage over a limited time frame due to internal moisture build up.
To paraphrase another contributor.. doffing and donning correctly is extremely important.
Once fitted the exterior of the mask should be considered contaminated, so if you grab the front of mask to speak or eat…the whole process is a failure unless you refit and wash your hands or fit a new mask.

P3 respirators are a higher level of protection and in practical terms offer 99% protection.

I really do understand you are scared and keep pressing your opinion but unfortunately you keep missing the point (@Princess Fiona and others have also pointed out again and above) that masks are only going to be effective in certain scenarios by people that are trained properly on how to use them.

There is also a shortage of the properly rated masked where they need to be preserved for optimal community use in virus transmission (like on infected patients in care, for trained healthcare professionals dealing with infected patients etc). But even then you will see a lot of healthcare professionals probably wearing solid plastic shield visors over their masks as well (if they can get them!) because they know the virus is aerolised to a point the tiniest little crack (say if you crack a small smile in the mask and it moves) will allow it in.

If they were used broadly by normal healthy people as they go about their normal day they would actually work against us because people simply wouldn’t use them correctly.

They could even spread the virus faster becoming yet another contact transmission point. Unfortunately it is frighteningly easy to accidentally contact contaminate them, easy to wear them for longer than you should, accidentally pick the wrong one, not fit it perfectly, take it out of the box/bag incorrectly, not clean/sterilise the reusable one properly, the list goes on.

Your scenario of over 50’s wandering around in a mask in crowded spaces in their day to day life I’m afraid would just be, for most part ineffective, possibly put people at higher risk and take finite resources away from the people that need them.

 

[pauly7]

The government released 270,000 masks from the stockpile on Wednesday. But a health professional should be putting it like "Masks are not always plentifully available when health professionals need them so it would be appreciated if..." rather than a military order-like "Nobody else should seek to obtain or use them. ".

Fortunately while everyone else was fighting in the aisles over loo paper we did our research and got our masks.

Ok, and how far do you think 270,000 masks will go with our healthcare workers?

Let’s forget ALL other healthcare workers that need masks and just look at GPs - front line primary care. That is going to be about 8 disposable masks per GP. GP only. Not the nurses also at the GP clinic and not any other healthcare professional in the field. Given the protocol on use of masks in now a pandemic situation that seemingly large number you quoted will be wiped out in days.

I agree with you, the government communication has been awful, confusing and at times incorrect. I completely disagree with your personal choice but it is yours to make, you have made it with the information you have chosen believe, so I just hope you feel better that you have them.

 

[tgh]

Thoughtful individuals bought up almost the entire commercial stock of masks very early on while the "really important" folks were sleeping on the job.
I posted this buying advice on AFF when the Wuhan news broke.
We are now some kind of pariahs for our intellect and self management.
The talk downs and put downs by marginalised professionals is disappointing considering the coming community need for intelligent and caring assistance.
IF I had any sense of fright Pauly , it is at the presentation and tone of some of the purported professional advice.

 

[Denali]

Had my first employee with flu like symptons today - and now we wait. Do I wipe down his area, then clean myself afterwards?

I also contacted HR in regards to my hugging, touching, didnt wash hands, "we're all going to get it anyway so why bother" coworker. I requested a reminder to all about social distancing and washing hands often.

 

[Pushka]

Had my first employee with flu like symptons today - and now we wait. Do I wipe down his area, then clean myself afterwards?

I also contacted HR in regards to my hugging, touching, didnt wash hands, "we're all going to get it anyway so why bother" coworker. I requested a reminder to all about social distancing and washing hands often.

We've received a note from our Health Department that if someone has suspicious symptoms and a reason why they may have Covid (travel, contact etc ) then the office closes and full disinfect. Currently in SA we haven't had any human to human spread, it's all been brought in by travellers.

 

[jakeseven7]

Thoughtful individuals bought up almost the entire commercial stock of masks very early on while the "really important" folks were sleeping on the job.
I posted this buying advice on AFF when the Wuhan news broke.
We are now some kind of pariahs for our intellect and self management.
The talk downs and put downs by marginalised professionals is disappointing considering the coming community need for intelligent and caring assistance.
IF I had any sense of fright Pauly , it is at the presentation and tone of some of the purported professional advice.

So what if you did post? I post lots of stuff on AFF, who cares? I would hardly call the people who did hoard thoughtful, I wound't call them anything... apart from the fact the things they bought probably are going to do jack-nothing for them. Probably money wasters would be what I would call it but its their money to waste and hopefully they aren't then taking that mask from someone (like a doctor or nurse) who really needs it. But hey if it makes you feel better and less frightened maybe its worth that to you at least.

I think everyone is agreeing with you mate the government needs to get their ship into shape on communicating clearly because very clearly the message isn't getting through and people are panicking. But I'm not sure I'd call the CHO/CMO marginalised professionals though, suspect they are a little more qualified than anyone on this forum!

 

[jakeseven7]

We've received a note from our Health Department that if someone has suspicious symptoms and a reason why they may have Covid (travel, contact etc ) then the office closes and full disinfect. Currently in SA we haven't had any human to human spread, it's all been brought in by travellers.

That is probably common policy in all corporates I suspect - if someone has been in a high risk contact point and exhibits all of the symptons then that makes sense.

 

[jakeseven7]

Had my first employee with flu like symptons today - and now we wait. Do I wipe down his area, then clean myself afterwards?

Firstly, you should follow your workplace guidelines.

If your employee has all of the symptons AND come into contact with a known infected person / travelled though high risk areas then you need to alert HR.

 

[Denali]

Firstly, you should follow your workplace guidelines.
If your employee has all of the symptons AND come into contact with a known infected person / travelled though high risk areas then you need to alert HR.

Already advised HR. For contact with known person - who knows who people contact after hours/in their home life. Ive asked his manager to phone him to discuss.

 

[jakeseven7]

Already advised HR. For contact with known person - who knows who people contact after hours/in their home life. Ive asked his manager to phone him to discuss.

Great job, they should hopefully ask the right questions. You are all over it!

 

[tgh]

someone (like a doctor or nurse) who really needs it

Indeed and it should be source of some embarrassment that thoughtful individuals have trumped qualified professionals in basic PP provisions.
There is a large picture in todays courier mail of some professionals preparing for tests… wearing surgical masks and visors.. achieving what ? peace of mind?
To be fair , being caught like a fox in the spotlight is a specialty of government and its functionaries and this little Pandemic is no different

 

[drron]

Checked Monday and basically all medical supply companies have no masks left and some without gloves.These would be the go to for medical practices to source their disposable supplies.

 

[tgh]

I can probably source you a P3 respirator good doctor… Cartridges are 05/20 delivery but I can (or could yesterday ) still source a few here and there.

It is probably going to get worse… much worse ..ATM the demand probably exceeds possible production to an order of magnitude.
On the bright side.. P2 masks will be cheap as chips next year….

 

[RSD]

Ok, and how far do you think 270,000 masks will go with our healthcare workers?

This is just an initial release, I'm not sure how large the total stockpile is.

Let’s forget ALL other healthcare workers that need masks and just look at GPs - front line primary care. That is going to be about 8 disposable masks per GP. GP only. Not the nurses also at the GP clinic and not any other healthcare professional in the field. Given the protocol on use of masks in now a pandemic situation that seemingly large number you quoted will be wiped out in days.

I suspect the first release of 270,000 was kept at that low number to enable them to make sure that they had their delivery logistics right etc.

I agree with you, the government communication has been awful, confusing and at times incorrect. I completely disagree with your personal choice but it is yours to make, you have made it with the information you have chosen believe, so I just hope you feel better that you have them.

I just checked the stock levels on line and the store we purchased our masks from still has stock at each of the five closest branches. We chose half face P2 masks that are cleanable and reausable as they came in 3 different sizes rather than the one size fits most appraoch of the disposable P2 masks - made sure that we got the correct sizes for each of us. With filters they were about $120 each. I would hardly call us Preppers, but sometimes I think that a little bit of preparation can go a long way.

 

[RSD]

BTW if any healthcare workers are experiencing a shortage of masks contact me via PM and I will let you know where to get a mask.

 

[jase05]

Apparently Tom Hanks and his wife have tested positive on the Gold Coast

 

[jakeseven7]

Apparently Tom Hanks and his wife have tested positive on the Gold Coast

So two more senior aged foreign nationals to add to the QLD total you mean

 

[Himeno]

First confirmed case in Canberra. The person became ill on Tuesday, went to the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre (preferred clinic for COVID-19 cases, though the other walk in centres will take people) yesterday and test came back positive today.

May be related to the ADF meeting on Feb 28, where someone flying in from SYD for the day was later confirmed to have it.

 

[jase05]

Confirmed that a VA cabin crew member has the virus

 

[jakeseven7]

Confirmed that a VA cabin crew member has the virus

Ohhhhhh dearrrrrr.

Bets for share price tomorrow.....