" Making your own face mask? Some fabrics work better than others, study finds " This study, non peer reviewed and non published that's touted all over NBC is, sorry, looking at the issue in the wrong way. They studied how various materials can filter out the virus, which is tiny teeny, 03 micron. Sounds like this means that they're trying to prevent incoming viruses from infecting the person who wears the mask. However, one primary mode of transmission is through face-to-face interaction. Fact is that in normal interaction, speaking, coughing, sneezing, the virus is ensconced in droplets --- these droplets are way, way bigger than what Segal tested. Therefore, 1. The point is to look at how to prevent EMITTING these virus carrying droplets, that is, the wearer prevents transmitting his/her infection to others. And this is where face covers are extremely efficient: They block the spit droplets from leaving the mouth of an infected person. 2. So, any meaningful tests of protective mouth covers needs to test such droplets. 3. Yes, there is evidence that such droplets that are emitted by talking, sneezing, coughing can become aerosolized, ie become tiny, the size of what Segal tested. However, again, this can be prevented by emitting droplets in the first place. Super frustrating to see some anesthesiologist's unpublished, non-peer reviewed "study" be all over the Internet.

Annie, I noticed that lack of knowledge about fabric weaves, also. Batik is not a type of fabric. As most of us know, it is a dying technique. And, batiste, is much too thin to use for this. Given the rest of the ignorance about fabrics, weaves, and fibers that is probably not a misquote. It is also not true that the spaces between fibers are larger in a knit than in a woven. It depends on what fabric is being talked about. Some of these new knits do actually have some pretty large spaces between the fibers. Most of those are synthetic knits and if you wear a pair of pants made out of that fabric, you will feel the wind blow through. All knit is not the same, though. If you have a nice cotton interlock knit, you will not see any light between the fibers, unless, of course your fabric came from an old worn out garment. A cotton interlock knit will also have a bit of fuzziness to the yarns that it is knit from, thus, creating little bits of fuzz that may catch that droplet of contaminated moisture. A synthetic fiber is more like a string of plastic that is smooth and has a slick surface that won't catch or hold anything. A fabric that is really tightly woven is what is called "sheeting". I have seen sheeting fabric on bolts that is dyed in the batik method. It was popular back some years ago. Sheeting cotton is so hard and tight that the sewing machine needle needs to be really sharp to pierce it and sometimes multiple layers of it can be really hard to sew. You may need a thimble to even get a hand needle through it. It is possible that this experiment used a piece of batik dyed cotton and that cotton fabric happened be a sheeting fabric. I never understood why it is said that this is a good fabric to use as quilt backing. It may be sturdy , but it is so hard to get a hand needle through. A cotton muslin would be a better choice for running quilting stitches through. I am not sure how sheeting differs from a percale. A tight percale might be a good substitute. It might even be classified as a percale. I don't know. But, I do know that it is some tight and tough stuff without being bulky. I have some in my mask making arsenal and have been sewing on it and through it the last few days. The sewing machine needle will let you know when you hit a piece of sheeting fabric. I think that this researcher, or this person who wrote about it, did not know anything substantial about fabric, weaves, knits or fibers. This is very unhelpful information. Also, there is not really anything that is designated as heavyweight quilters cotton. Most cotton that is sold for piecing at places like Joanns is pretty poor cheap cotton, with a few minor exceptions. Good quality cotton that is sold in speciality stores is not better quality because it is "heavier". It is good quality because it is made of longer staple cotton fibers that make the fabric nicer. Being "heavy" is not a quality that you want when piecing.

My son-in-law is a pharmacist and he's well trained in the Medicare supplements-so you might suggest your friend speak with a pharmacist as well. Might be the easiest route given the craziness of things in the world these days. I'm not familiar with Utah, so I can't recommend other areas, but is it possible for him to find a PCP outside of his community? Especially since he's healthy and knows his own health, a drive might not be a bad idea if it makes it easier for him to find LGBTQ friendly providers. I'm sure there are providers in the state! As to not being allowed to wear PPE-I think that's been the case in a lot of places that have been slow on the uptick in dealing with the social distancing. The west coast primarily is on the forefront, I know in Oregon we're about a week behind California in the stay-at-home orders and school closures, etc. I noticed that many of the retailers that are open here are limiting the number of people who can enter the store, as well as installing sneeze guards at registers. Stores won't bag your groceries if you bring your own bags either. We even went from having gas station attendants to temporarily pumping our own gas, in order to limit exposure for those employees.

The CDC did throw a curve ball by such a brief announcement without a full explanation. Judging by 'the talk of the town'. And SNL's funny KateMcinnon's Fauchi skit. Surprised a place like TJ's or especially Costco would lift their mandates so quickly. I don't see that happening in NY anytime soon. We will continue to mask-up indoors for some time especially through the Fall flu season and will watch carefully how the variants spread. Also to support unvaccinated children, those immune compromised, retail workers, etc. I'm visiting another state in a county that, according to a NYTimes article, is the highest in vaccine hesitancy. (Delaware). We have stopped in a few places for fuel, a country store, etc., and all are masked and pleasant as if it is just the norm. I do wish for a reasonable 'proof of vaccine' method better than a piece of paper easily faked. We have very comfortable masks that have adjustable ear loops and a good nose wire that also wash well in a mesh 'delicates' bag. Still doubling up for now if distancing seems unlikely.