Coronavirus and wearing masks in stores

[Alpha8472]

Masks in stores by employees is of course the best way to prevent the spread of disease and to protect employees and customers. Restaurants workers and deli or meat employees at supermarkets should have been wearing masks all these years in the U.S.

Taiwan has a population of 24 million and they have only 6 deaths from coronavirus. The reason is the widespread use of surgical masks and they do not have a shortage of masks. In fact, the White House secretly obtained masks from Taiwan for people working in the White House even when the White House was claiming masks were not needed by ordinary citizens.

California has a population of 39 and a half million and 1,072 deaths from coronavirus. This is due to the fact that masks were not widely available in California and stores are still out of surgical masks. If California had enough masks available, many people would not have died. In fact, if the entire country had enough masks we would not be in such a dire economic situation. The demand for masks is here and people cannot even buy them.

[storewanderer]

Masks in stores by employees is of course the best way to prevent the spread of disease and to protect employees and customers. Restaurants workers and deli or meat employees at supermarkets should have been wearing masks all these years in the U.S.

Taiwan has a population of 24 million and they have only 6 deaths from coronavirus. The reason is the widespread use of surgical masks and they do not have a shortage of masks. In fact, the White House secretly obtained masks from Taiwan for people working in the White House even when the White House was claiming masks were not needed by ordinary citizens.

California has a population of 39 and a half million and 1,072 deaths from coronavirus. This is due to the fact that masks were not widely available in California and stores are still out of surgical masks. If California had enough masks available, many people would not have died. In fact, if the entire country had enough masks we would not be in such a dire economic situation. The demand for masks is here and people cannot even buy them.

As long as the masks are properly used (and properly disposed of- I have seen more than a few masks littered in parking lots which is really disgusting given the shortage). A major public information campaign is in order to the US Public about how to properly use masks. I don't think those bandanas that only cover the mouth and not even the nose are helping much. Or people who remove their mask to cough or sneeze then put it back on...

Hopefully we can start to make masks here given how common they will be. They will be like a disposable plate or disposable cup they will be so widely used and in demand.

As far as reusing masks or cloth masks goes keep in mind how often these have to be cleaned. How many people don't even have a washing machine in their house/apartment/dorm and have to go to a shared facility to use one once a week or maybe even less often? That is too long to keep reusing a cloth mask. It is reasons like that why the disposable products are needed and most sanitary.

[BillyGr]

As far as reusing masks or cloth masks goes keep in mind how often these have to be cleaned. How many people don't even have a washing machine in their house/apartment/dorm and have to go to a shared facility to use one once a week or maybe even less often? That is too long to keep reusing a cloth mask. It is reasons like that why the disposable products are needed and most sanitary.

Although people have been washing clothes without machines for a long time, so they could do the same for the masks (just wash in hot water with soap in a sink - kind of like you would wash your hands).

[storewanderer]

As far as reusing masks or cloth masks goes keep in mind how often these have to be cleaned. How many people don't even have a washing machine in their house/apartment/dorm and have to go to a shared facility to use one once a week or maybe even less often? That is too long to keep reusing a cloth mask. It is reasons like that why the disposable products are needed and most sanitary.

Although people have been washing clothes without machines for a long time, so they could do the same for the masks (just wash in hot water with soap in a sink - kind of like you would wash your hands).

Yes, that would be good for masks. Hopefully it will happen. You would think it would be common sense. But given how many people I observe not washing hands after using a public restroom...

[Alpha8472]

The coronavirus is affecting men in greater numbers than women. This is probably due to the fact that many men do not wash their hands. Most cases of the virus are men. Deaths are also higher.

I have noticed many men not wearing masks while their women companions do. There are mask requirements now and there are still unmasked men trying to argue their way into stores.

I have seen unlicensed mask sellers parked in front of Walmart stores. Since there are no masks to be found in stores, people are actually paying $10 for these thin cloth masks.

Would you trust these people?

[klkla]

Would you trust these people?

You're getting ripped off lol. They've been selling them on the streets for $5 here for a while. They're usually a stretch fabric and are reasonably comfortable.

If you don't trust them you can wash them first which is what I did.

[storewanderer]

Was in a store today and there was a new sign.

"If you are purchasing age restricted products, you will be asked by your cashier to temporarily remove your mask."

Great...

Touch mask to take it off, handle ID with the same hands you just touched your mask with (hope your hands didn't pick up any germs from your mask), hand ID to cashier (who has been touching money, raw meat, and everything else) who then hands it back to your hand, put ID away, then use your hand to put the mask back on.

Yeah, this just sounds great for all parties involved.

I get the need to verify ID on age restricted items, but, ugh.

Only a couple employees in this store were wearing masks and none of the customers were.

[Super S]

Was in a store today and there was a new sign.

"If you are purchasing age restricted products, you will be asked by your cashier to temporarily remove your mask."

Great...

Touch mask to take it off, handle ID with the same hands you just touched your mask with (hope your hands didn't pick up any germs from your mask), hand ID to cashier (who has been touching money, raw meat, and everything else) who then hands it back to your hand, put ID away, then use your hand to put the mask back on.

Yeah, this just sounds great for all parties involved.

I get the need to verify ID on age restricted items, but, ugh.

Only a couple employees in this store were wearing masks and none of the customers were.

I can see in some cases where this can be a problem, not just in stores, but places such as bars and liquor stores, as well as the legal marijuana shops in Washington and other states where that is legal.

I wonder how casinos will handle this. Most here are closed.

[storewanderer]

I can see in some cases where this can be a problem, not just in stores, but places such as bars and liquor stores, as well as the legal marijuana shops in Washington and other states where that is legal.

I wonder how casinos will handle this. Most here are closed.

The entire casino situation is less than functional with masks. In casinos people smoke, drink, and talk. You can't easily smoke or drink with masks on.

Another safety issue (with casinos, banks, etc.) will be risk of robbery due to the mask situation and inability to easily identify someone. Supermarket banks in my area have been hit by robberies in the past couple years and this mask situation adds additional risk to what was already a bank type that was getting targeted. They can mitigate this somewhat by not having doors open that are near the bank area so it is harder for the robber to escape I guess.

I think they need to come up with a clear/see through mask for safety reasons to mitigate risk of robberies. And that clear/see through mask needs to be the mandated/required mask that everyone has to wear.

[reymann]

the city of fresno just mandated masks for everyone in all stores and violators are subject to fines.