Masked and Synonymous?

spicyayam

I agree that the ill-fitting cotton masks probably don't offer much protection. I think it is more of acting at least as you care about the people around you. Any protection in enclosed spaces is probably better than nothing. As soon as schools went back in China there was a news story about two students who died while running with a mask. Even before Covid-19 it was common for Japanese to wear masks during the flu season. Other Asian countries like Taiwan and HK probably are similar and they have fared well. It seems like it is only the US where it seems to be some kind of political statement.

Balifrog

Masks are in a pain in the a... and I always drop it on the chin. Whats the point of wearing one in a nearly empty street ? The temp thing is 90% a joke. Ok, it will ring the alarm if you have 39C fever, but in that case I guess one stays home anyway ? "Record" was last week in a Guardian shop, i was "measured" 32,4 C .... Complete joke.

Balifrog

JohnnyCool wrote [B][I]But[/I][/B], it's "better" than coming across as impolite, arrogant foreigners, exhibiting disrespect towards the locals they live among.

Like walking around shirtless, proudly exhibing ones beer belly and tattoos ?

Markit

Fact is stats show that ON AVERAGE peeps stick their fingers in their faces 24 times an HOUR. So if you care about shit like that and don't want to infect yourself wear a mask OR BOXING GLOVES.

JohnnyCool

There seems to be lots of confusion, (both in Indonesia and other countries), conflicting “advice” from governments and health experts, regarding the need/effectiveness of different kinds of “masks”. Not all masks are the same. And they have different purposes. Take “surgical masks” for example. They were originally meant to mainly protect a patient from catching something from the surgeon/medical attendants! One-time use only. Different masks have different sized “holes” in them, hence different sensitivities. Home-made masks vary wildly, too. [I]Could[/I] be almost 0% and maybe 5% in effectiveness. Pure cotton [I]might[/I] be slightly less than polyester. [I][B]Proper mask usage[/B][/I] This is [I][B]not[/B][/I] as “simple” as we might think. How to touch them safely [I]before[/I] putting them on and taking them off later? How tight-fitting are they? ([I]Any[/I] gaps around the edges?) If you have a tight-fitting mask, how long can you wear it for before experiencing breathing problems? How long can you breathe your own carbon dioxide, if you’re not a plant? [I][B]Temperature sensor usage[/B][/I] Many venues now “test” us with little gun-like devices [I]before[/I] we go in. To measure our temperature. OK. Sounds reasonable, right? [I][B]Not[/B][/I] exactly. An elevated temperature can show up from different causes. [I]Maybe[/I] a flu virus, dengue fever, malaria, etc. Not to mention age differences of what’s considered “normal” in different age groups. Add to that people who may have no symptoms (yet) of COVID-19 but may still be spreading it. Temperature “tests” won’t pick [I]them[/I] up. Out of curiosity, I bought myself an infrared temperature device a week ago (not cheap). It came with a 16-pages long document on how to use it! Included was a section stating that it [I]shouldn’t[/I] be used repeatedly [I]in quick succession[/I]. Like, you shouldn’t “test” one person straight after another until it “settles” down. [I]Should[/I] be kept away from draughts, temp differences between inside and outside venues. And make sure it’s set to what kind of temperatures you want to measure. (Surfaces, ambient air, objects, people.) What could go wrong? I’ll leave that to your imagination. I went to see an eye specialist a couple of weeks ago in a major hospital. On my first visit, she asked me to put on my mask. I did, and told her it was hard for me to breathe properly. Here’s the clanger! She’s an eye specialist and eye surgeon and told me she found it difficult to breathe with [I][B]her[/B][/I] mask. I rest my “case”. Thinking about Putin's recent brain fart. Drink more vodka and ride a tractor. Anyone know [B][I]where[/I][/B] I can rent a tractor in Sanur, where could I park it and how much?

JohnnyCool

spicyayam wrote I agree that the ill-fitting cotton masks probably don't offer much protection. I think it is more of acting at least as you care about the people around you. Any protection in enclosed spaces is probably better than nothing...

Couldn't agree more. Expats who choose to live here need to respect the decisions made by our hosts. Even when we may not think they're right. I'm not convinced that "nothing" is [I][B]better[/B][/I] than "nothing". [B][I]But[/I][/B], it's "better" than coming across as impolite, arrogant foreigners, exhibiting disrespect towards the locals they live among. "Ignorance" [I]might[/I] be bliss for some people until it isn't. If you want to "follow" someone or something, try an stay in "front". No need to broadcast or advertise anything.

JackStraw

Even the N95 masks, the supposed "king of masks" is receiving mixed opinions on its effectiveness. But how often do you see those in Bali. These cloth fashion masks everyone is wearing are 100% useless against eh microscopic droplets carrying COVID-19. It's all a complete joke, just like the "social distancing" measures, beach closures and all the other bullshit that has surfaced over the past few months. Do I still wear a mask in public? Of course, because I'm not trying to stir the pot and respect goes a long way over here. As for those temperature checks, that's a bunch of bullshit. Yesterday I walked into someplace and registered a 30-degree temp. Pretty sure I would be dead if that was the case but the woman just smiled at me and said, "selamat datang' and I was on my way.