So I live in a part of the US where I haven't seen more than 2 or 3 people wear a mask (outside of a protest I went to) in the past two years. Its genuinely just not done here. I will wear a mask if I feel a under the weather or my allergies are acting up but typically don't wear one. Should I? Would it help? Do y'all wear one everytime you go out?
As I understand it masks don't prevent you from getting sick as much as they prevent you from getting others sick. Is this correct?
You should mask up in public indoor spaces and crowded outdoor spaces. Wear at least a KN95. This significantly protects you from COVID.
Others wearing masks would be better but this doesn't mean masks won't protect you. You should try to get COVID as few times as possible to reduce the chances of complications. It will also help protect people around you, particularly the immunocompromised.
High quality respirators, especially KN95s and even better are N95s, protect you considerably. I haven't been sick since 2019.
Echoing the others to say that wearing an *N95 will provide some protection to you, as well as those around you. I wear one every time I'm indoors in public spaces or outside in large crowds.
N95Gang says masks are sexy and functional!
I always wear an N95 and use a nasal spray when I got out in public indoor spaces and the rare times I have to do the outdoor crowds. I also wear an N95 at home because I live with family who "after Covid" swung wildly back towards being total germ cultists and spending months at a time sick with "allergies." Despite them passing their "allergies" back and forth like trading cards for months at a time, I haven't caught a communicable disease since I started masking full time a couple years ago.🤞
edit: forgot to put after Covid in quotes.🤪
I personally use covixyl, costs about $20 a bottle, one bottle a monthish. I also keep a bottle of xlear handy, but it's more like a sinus wash, I rarely use it. I've been thinking about trying the iota-carrageenan, but I buy covixyl in bulk to save a few bucks and have another couple bottles left. Avoid anything that relies primarily on povidone or claims it's sterilizing your nasal passages. Also note that the FDA has been getting angry at some of these sprays claiming not be drugs/inactive while claiming to be preventatives. I know covixyl got a letter about that earlier this year.
Here's a Google doc with a bunch of the different types. Recommend opening in incognito to avoid sharing your account cookies.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15AfpHj1XItgJMfVoYRckIV3GnTd-v_vxZdUSfOoUsps/edit
Welcome! They say it lasts up to 6 hours. So I tend to do it 2-3 times a day. NGL though, when someone in the house is sick I probably do it every few hours.
Thanks for all the replies, I'll be wearing more masks from now on lol
KN95s tend to be cheaper than N95s for no other reason than they come from overseas; that's how I stocked up. Plus, if you can weather the added aggro, it makes plague rat anglos quietly seethe seeing a reminder of the thing that 'sTrIpPeD aWaY tHeIr LiBeRtIeS'; and I value unsettling the Nurglites.
