Why is it that the Surgeon General says that masks are ineffective at protecting the general public, but are critical to health care workers?

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:20:48 -0400

Coronavirus Logic Puzzle #2
The Surgeon General says that surgical masks don't protect you from getting Covid-19. He says that they collect the virus on the surface, making it necessary to wash face and hands more often. Then he turns around later and tells us how critical these masks are to protecting our health care workers. Huh?
I am all for protecting our HC staff and they are doing yeoman's work on our behalf, but this doesn't make any sense and makes people like me question the information we're being given.
Logically, what he's getting at is that masks are needed more urgently in hospitals, so Joe Public should not buy up the supply.
But that is not what he said.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 31 at 2020 1:21 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:21:47 -0400

He's a little mixed up.

Response by SSG Michael Noll made Mar 31 at 2020 1:22 PM

SSG Michael Noll — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:22:05 -0400

Great share Top!

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Mar 31 at 2020 1:34 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:34:56 -0400

Probably because the vast majority of healthcare workers are trained to use and then dispose of them (or properly disinfect them), whereas the public at large will keep wearing the same one over and over (without replacing or properly disinfecting them). That's all about proper use and disposal. Additionally, it may be to prevent public demand for masks creating a shortage of masks for healthcare workers who are more directly at risk of being exposed.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Mar 31 at 2020 1:42 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:42:32 -0400

Was explained by a Doctor on Fox news this morning. Most of the masks being worn as you see above are the el-cheapo paper masks and do not fit or seal against the skin properly (picture above). The mask that health workers wear is of a specific medical nomenclature, which they mentioned but I forget what they said. Second, the medical workers are trained in the proper wear, removal and disposal of the mask and most Americans are not.....there is a max length time you can wear at which point the mask has to be disposed of. Third, masks only offer health care workers less than 100% protection unless they wear a respirator type mask and also have the eyes covered and are in a sealed suit. Fourth, far easier to train the public to regularly wash the hands and not touch the face with the hands. Which they found when joe public wears a mask and gloves they are far more likely to cause the infection and which some mask wearers do repeatedly as they do not wash their hands as much and touch their face more OR contaminate themsleves with improper removal of the gloves and/or mask. Fifth, mask and gloves give the non-medical user a false sense of security and they wash their hands less and touch their face more.....than without them.....roughly same as previous point. So that was all the Doctor covered that I remember.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2020 9:30 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 21:30:47 -0400

If I was into conspiracy theories I would surmise the initial Surgeon General protocol - the public should not wear a mask was an effort to maximize a scarce resource for medical professionals. Now I have no problem with this...I do, however, have a problem with lying about it.