Masks

So far the government's stance on wearing face masks has been yes, necessary for front-line health workers, but not for the general public. It says there is not enough scientific evidence that wearing a mask is an effective protective measure against picking up infection from somebody who is carrying the virus. Masks let through viruses. Washing hands and observing social distancing are much better.

Lately there are hints that the government may change its mind where infected people are concerned, as a mask does inhibit the scattering of moisture droplets containing the virus whenever an infected person speaks or coughs. So persons tested, and found to be definitely infected, may be required to wear a face mask as some sort of protection for those who need to be physically close to them. Although at the moment, that cannot be many people, because an infected person has to self-isolate and cannot go to shops for food and medicine unless it's completely impossible to do anything else.

But for the rest of us?

Well, we may soon know. In two days' time the latest scientific data will be pooled, discussed, and a judgement made.

I'd be surprised if the advice for the general public is changed. It would be a very big step to insist on everybody wearing a face mask when outside their own home. And indeed it wouldn't be possible to enforce such a thing overnight, simply because there aren't sufficient masks available. The all-important front-line health workers rightly have first call on the supply, and that denies medical-style masks to most ordinary people.

But what about when some social-distancing relaxations are eventually introduced, and yet the virus is still around?

With people mingling a lot more in public places, and retail staff needing to be protected from them, the government may insist on everyone donning some kind of face-covering, however basic, when out in public and close to other people.

I'm perhaps thinking of a bandit- or cowboy-style mask - meaning a square scarf or large handkerchief folded diagonally to form a triangle, and then knotted around the back of the head. It ought to be big enough to cover both nose and mouth, and extend down over most of the neck. It wouldn't be nearly as good as a proper medical face mask (and even that's imperfect), but it would be something. If such a thing could keep the dust out of a cowboy's nose and mouth when riding the range, then it's arguably some kind of barrier to a virus. Although what blocks dust wouldn't necessarily block something so much smaller, that just shoots straight through the weave of the fabric.

Let's say the government does encourage us all to look like desperate bank robbers. Well, there is already advice on the Internet concerning how to use a bandana handkerchief as a makeshift mask. So making one, or turning a scarf or large hanky into one, is no mystery.

There's an obvious problem though: what if one doesn't already have a set of big yellow or red bandana handkerchiefs, or silk scarfs, stashed away in a drawer?

This may be the time when some little-worn garments, possibly luxury garments, bite the dust in the interest of public health, getting cut up into squares, and turned into masks! Apparently those with a dense weave are best. The colour or pattern doesn't matter. But one will need more than one mask if out in public a lot, so that used ones can be washed before wearing them again.

I wonder if wearing a mask will seem 'normal' for a while, and whether they might be any protection against more usual things like pollen? The hay-fever season will of course be starting soon...