oneeyedag said:

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BiochemAg97 said:

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Are we wearing masks to protect ourselves or protect others? Vastly different needs depending on what the answer is.

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I hear this question all the time from our workers. Depends on your job function, proximity and exposure time.

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That's my point.

If I were a healthcare worker dealing with COVID patients, I would want an N95 and I wouldn't particularly care if it had a vent or not. I am not worried about spreading COVID to COVID patients.

If I'm complying with the state mask mandate to walk to my table at a restaurant, I have different criteria and my mask choice would be different.

I'm not disagreeing!

An example of job function and exposure levels

I can tell you I have over a 100 Paramedics, and not a single positive (knock on wood). They've performed invasive airway procedures on covid positives as well as aerosolized treatments. We started out in P100 with goggles, to N95 with goggles and faceshields, and now we are at surgical masks and sheilds.

Police department well over a 100 there as well and perform as first responders. Started out in N95s on all first repsonder calls, now in surgical masks and protective eyewear. See above for positives.

Now have I put a bunch in quarantine... yes quite a few.

Public Works crew staff is over 200 with three positives and one death. Off and on compliance with facecoverings and with 2 ply bandana.

I wear a face-covering, or N95 when I need too! If I'm doing confined space training I'll wear a PAPR. But by and large I wear a face-covering or surgical mask if I forget my day to day covering.

What do you suggest teachers wear if their students (K-4th grade) aren't wearing anything? Does that recommendation change if their students (5th - 12th grade) are required to wear them?

BiochemAg97 said:

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Are we wearing masks to protect ourselves or protect others? Vastly different needs depending on what the answer is.

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I wear them to be polite and not draw attention to myself.

A regular two ply face-coving. When I do risk assessments, I look at proximity to others, compliance (hygiene and mask wearing) and exposure level. I would rate teaching kids as medium risk, but that's probably on the high side.

The posting earlier from the Ag selling them is perfect. As a matter of fact, I'll probably buy a couple to go with my Virginia Tech face coverings.

http://texags.com/forums/50/topics/3122684