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The issue of cloth face coverings is one that I have talked about until I am practically blue in the face but here goes:
1) Cloth face coverings do not protect the wearer from anything and in fact may cause more harm than good if the wearer does not wash their hands each time before touching it.
2) Cloth face coverings do not protect persons near the wearer from virus. The cover will absorb large liquid droplets only, airborne virus is not stopped by cloth.
3) Asymptomatic means that a person is not coughing, if an infected person is not coughing then wearing a cloth face covering provides no benefit
The hazards potentially introduced by cloth face coverings (not FR, potential for holding infectious material closer to eyes, nose&mouth, potential skin irritation etc.) is not worth it.
Other measures are far more effective at preventing virus spread. Those measures are enhanced facility cleaning, maintaining physical distance from others, washing ones hands frequently and making sure that sick people stay home until they are well.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 8:23:11 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [DCHAS-L] Minimizing risk in reopening research laboratories
> In fact, just compiling a list of coronavirus-related issues that should be addressed would be valuable.
>
I'll throw one in: An issue I am concerned about in regard to reopening any public area is the cloth mask protocol. Cloth masks are community health measures rather than personal safety measures, so I would be reluctant to impose OSHA style expectations on
the use of cloth masks by the public. On the other hand, I can imagine that these masks are likely to become reservoirs for many contaminants beyond the Covid virus.
I think that we face a major challenge in maintaining the quality of the cloth masks if we ask people to wear them in public areas while relying on the wearers to maintain them. I suspect that professional laundry services will be required to assure co-workers
and the community that the masks are being appropriately cleaned.
A related question is: Are labs public areas? Few academic labs I have seen have security protocols that control who enters them and it will take a significant change in both protocol and culture in change this situation.
Thanks for asking an interesting question.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
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