https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...esday-game

BU has a campus rule athletic teams have to wear masks when participating in contests on campus. For the road games, they'll wear a mask but the home team one would assume won't. I guess they're just excited to be playing a game since the Patriot League didn't have any non-conference games.

(01-04-2021 03:34 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...esday-game

BU has a campus rule athletic teams have to wear masks when participating in contests on campus. For the road games, they'll wear a mask but the home team one would assume won't. I guess they're just excited to be playing a game since the Patriot League didn't have any non-conference games.

Good for them.

Well ... that's just stupid. Playing a sweaty, high-energy, high-exertion sport with masks on sounds safe! Man has been around for thousands of years but somehow C19 is the death of all of us -- yeah, we're a stupid society.

Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

(01-04-2021 05:21 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

If the Covid is contained in aerosol droplets and the masks stop those while allowing through air, well, I suppose you can call that “magic” if you’d like.

Personally that is not safe enough. I believe this is the only answer.



This will provide safety. Safety first.

That is just plain dumb. Kids are going to have breathing issues exerting themselves with a mask on, and if they don't, it's because the "mask" is a sieve that will let anything in.

How effective are sweat soaked masks that are sliding all over your face. This seems to be more about the optics than actual safety.

(01-04-2021 06:41 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 05:21 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

If the Covid is contained in aerosol droplets and the masks stop those while allowing through air, well, I suppose you can call that “magic” if you’d like.

Have you tried to keep a mask in place while sweating profusely and turning/twisting in every which way. What happens if they have the ball, and their mask slips off or is bumped off or from covering nose or mouth. Are they supposed to put the ball down (and turn the ball over), so they can adjust their masks.

I played best of 7 games to 21 w a mask on 3 days ago. When he went to get a ball out of bounds, i'd pull it down get some extra air. It was fine. It didn't slide all over my face. Talking w one on slides more.

(01-04-2021 09:09 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Have you tried to keep a mask in place while sweating profusely and turning/twisting in every which way. What happens if they have the ball, and their mask slips off or is bumped off or from covering nose or mouth. Are they supposed to put the ball down (and turn the ball over), so they can adjust their masks.

That’s a different argument, I wouldn’t have rebutted that one! I know Siena made their own custom masks that go around the back of your head, but they’re still not wearing them during games. We have to hope that testing is enough. My team has also had to shut down three times due to positive tests and only played its first two games this week, so we’ll see how the rest of this season goes.

(01-05-2021 08:06 AM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  That’s a different argument, I wouldn’t have rebutted that one! I know Siena made their own custom masks that go around the back of your head, but they’re still not wearing them during games. We have to hope that testing is enough. My team has also had to shut down three times due to positive tests and only played its first two games this week, so we’ll see how the rest of this season goes.

NMSU has only played 3 games total so far this season.

(01-04-2021 06:41 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 05:21 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

If the Covid is contained in aerosol droplets and the masks stop those while allowing through air, well, I suppose you can call that “magic” if you’d like.

Here's a good article. N95 and surgical masks work to stop particle emissions. Homemade cloth masks, not so much:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-0...6CB8ZSiTIg

(01-05-2021 11:27 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 06:41 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 05:21 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

If the Covid is contained in aerosol droplets and the masks stop those while allowing through air, well, I suppose you can call that “magic” if you’d like.

Here's a good article. N95 and surgical masks work to stop particle emissions. Homemade cloth masks, not so much:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-0...6CB8ZSiTIg

Yep, this mask I wear is useless. It looks stylish though with my teams logo.

(01-05-2021 11:27 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 06:41 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 05:21 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

If the Covid is contained in aerosol droplets and the masks stop those while allowing through air, well, I suppose you can call that “magic” if you’d like.

Here's a good article. N95 and surgical masks work to stop particle emissions. Homemade cloth masks, not so much:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-0...6CB8ZSiTIg

Actually, keep wearing your mask and read the conclusions (quoting from this study): "While the efficacy of cloth and paper masks is not as clear and confounded by shedding of mask fibers, the observations indicate it is likely that they provide some reductions in emitted expiratory particles, in particular the larger particles (> 0.5 μm). We have not directly measured virus emission; nonetheless, our results strongly imply that mask wearing will reduce emission of virus-laden aerosols and droplets associated with expiratory activities, unless appreciable shedding of viable viruses on mask fibers occurs. The majority of the particles emitted were in the aerosol range (< 5 μm). As inertial impaction should increase as particle size increases, it seems likely that the emission reductions observed here provide a lower bound for the reduction of particles in the droplet range (> 5 μm). Our observations are consistent with suggestions that mask wearing can help in mitigating pandemics associated with respiratory disease."

(01-05-2021 12:22 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-05-2021 11:27 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 06:41 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 05:21 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

If the Covid is contained in aerosol droplets and the masks stop those while allowing through air, well, I suppose you can call that “magic” if you’d like.

Here's a good article. N95 and surgical masks work to stop particle emissions. Homemade cloth masks, not so much:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-0...6CB8ZSiTIg

Actually, keep wearing your mask and read the conclusions (quoting from this study): "While the efficacy of cloth and paper masks is not as clear and confounded by shedding of mask fibers, the observations indicate it is likely that they provide some reductions in emitted expiratory particles, in particular the larger particles (> 0.5 μm). We have not directly measured virus emission; nonetheless, our results strongly imply that mask wearing will reduce emission of virus-laden aerosols and droplets associated with expiratory activities, unless appreciable shedding of viable viruses on mask fibers occurs. The majority of the particles emitted were in the aerosol range (< 5 μm). As inertial impaction should increase as particle size increases, it seems likely that the emission reductions observed here provide a lower bound for the reduction of particles in the droplet range (> 5 μm). Our observations are consistent with suggestions that mask wearing can help in mitigating pandemics associated with respiratory disease."

Actual results for each type of mouth activity:

Breathing:

"Surprisingly, wearing an unwashed single layer t-shirt (U-SL-T) mask while breathing yielded a significant increase in measured particle emission rates compared to no mask .... Wearing a double-layer cotton t-shirt (U-DL-T) mask had no statistically significant effect on the particle emission rate, with comparable median and range to that observed with no mask."

Concerning speaking:

"In contrast, the homemade cloth masks again yielded either no change or a significant increase in emission rate during speech compared to no mask. The outward particle emissions when participants wore U-SL-T masks exceeded the no-mask condition by an order of magnitude with a median value of 16.37 particles/s. Wearing the U-DL-T mask had no significant effect."

Concerning coughing:

"In contrast, the homemade U-SL-T and U-DL-T masks however yielded a significant increase in outward particle emission per second (or per cough) compared to no mask, with median emission rates of 49.2 and 36.1 particles/s, respectively."

Concerning jaw movement:

"Wearing a surgical mask or KN95 respirator had no statistically significant effect on particle emission from jaw movement compared to no mask. In contrast, wearing all other types of homemade masks (SL-P, U-SL-T, and U-DL-T) substantially increased the particle emission rate, with the single-layer mask yielding the most at 1.72 particles/s."

Do they have wrestling teams???

(01-05-2021 06:21 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  Actual results for each type of mouth activity:

Breathing:

"Surprisingly, wearing an unwashed single layer t-shirt (U-SL-T) mask while breathing yielded a significant increase in measured particle emission rates compared to no mask .... Wearing a double-layer cotton t-shirt (U-DL-T) mask had no statistically significant effect on the particle emission rate, with comparable median and range to that observed with no mask."

Concerning speaking:

"In contrast, the homemade cloth masks again yielded either no change or a significant increase in emission rate during speech compared to no mask. The outward particle emissions when participants wore U-SL-T masks exceeded the no-mask condition by an order of magnitude with a median value of 16.37 particles/s. Wearing the U-DL-T mask had no significant effect."

Concerning coughing:

"In contrast, the homemade U-SL-T and U-DL-T masks however yielded a significant increase in outward particle emission per second (or per cough) compared to no mask, with median emission rates of 49.2 and 36.1 particles/s, respectively."

Concerning jaw movement:

"Wearing a surgical mask or KN95 respirator had no statistically significant effect on particle emission from jaw movement compared to no mask. In contrast, wearing all other types of homemade masks (SL-P, U-SL-T, and U-DL-T) substantially increased the particle emission rate, with the single-layer mask yielding the most at 1.72 particles/s."

Right, but I quoted the important part where it was put into context that "our results strongly imply that mask wearing will reduce emission of virus-laden aerosols and droplets associated with expiratory activities, unless appreciable shedding of viable viruses on mask fibers occurs" and that "the observations indicate it is likely that [cloth and paper masks] provide some reductions in emitted expiratory particles, in particular the larger particles (> 0.5 μm)." It's the large droplets that I was talking about in the first place. If you're using a cloth mask, make sure you wash it. If you're using a disposable mask, make sure you replace it. If you'd rather use a KN95, that might be better.

I dunno if basketball players should really have to wear masks during games. I do just know that filtering out large particles with a mask is a real thing, all proven by this study, and not merely "magic."

(01-04-2021 06:41 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 05:21 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Magic masks, I presume. Air can get through them, but COVID won't.

If the Covid is contained in aerosol droplets and the masks stop those while allowing through air, well, I suppose you can call that “magic” if you’d like.

If you understood the science behind how PPE truly works you'd be calling them magic masks as well. Both COVID and aerosol droplets are smaller than the weaving of the fabrics of the overwhelming majority of the masks being worn today so they aren't stopping anything other than the larger water particles that gravity would have rendered moot anyway. It's wintertime. That cloud of smoke you see when you exhale through your mask? It's water droplets.

I have a couple thousand hours of emergency biological response training, fifteen years of field experience, and working on a decade on the sales side of PPE in my retirement from the public safety field. Masks are the result of the "experts" being told they "have to do something" and there being absolutely nothing they can do. The Japanese have been wearing masks for years now and their influenza death rates have skyrocketed while mask use has increased. PPE always has and always will be designed for the protection of the person wearing it, and what they are claiming these bull**** masks are doing simply goes against all established science.

In my personal experience the masks have likely contributed far more to the spread than the little they have prevented it because once mask use became mandated here people stopped practicing social distancing. Social distancing is an effective infection control mechanism. Once folks started wearing the magic masks made from Junior's T-Ball tshirt or the latest cute pattern they saw at Michael's the quit worrying about maintaining social distancing because "The mask will protect you!" That's bull****. It's why even if I go into the grocery store for a single item I get a full size buggy because between the size of the buggy and my arm span you are going to be over 6' away from me.

The virtue signaling videos of people saying "The mask didn't hurt my o2 saturation while I worked out so they are safe" is bull**** as well. If there's no restriction that causes co2 buildup during strenuous work then there's no filtration being provided. A proper filter is going to cause airflow restriction regardless if it's the mask your wife made you out of that cool Spiderman fabric she found for you or if you are wearing a Drager X-plore 5500 respirator I sold you for around $20k. o2 saturation is always a concern when it comes to filtering the air you breathe unless you are using a self contained breathing apparatus like firefighters wear because anytime you are restricting the flow of outside air there is going to be a Co2 buildup of some kind. That's the science behind PPE, and the reason why I wear a simple neck gaiter when I can maintain social distancing and a N95 respirator with proper eye protection when I can't in public. I trust the real and proven science far more than I trust "experts" who were told they have to "do something" mainly because it's been my vast experience that they are the ones who get people hurt.

(01-05-2021 08:29 PM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(01-05-2021 06:21 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  Actual results for each type of mouth activity:

Breathing:

"Surprisingly, wearing an unwashed single layer t-shirt (U-SL-T) mask while breathing yielded a significant increase in measured particle emission rates compared to no mask .... Wearing a double-layer cotton t-shirt (U-DL-T) mask had no statistically significant effect on the particle emission rate, with comparable median and range to that observed with no mask."

Concerning speaking:

"In contrast, the homemade cloth masks again yielded either no change or a significant increase in emission rate during speech compared to no mask. The outward particle emissions when participants wore U-SL-T masks exceeded the no-mask condition by an order of magnitude with a median value of 16.37 particles/s. Wearing the U-DL-T mask had no significant effect."

Concerning coughing:

"In contrast, the homemade U-SL-T and U-DL-T masks however yielded a significant increase in outward particle emission per second (or per cough) compared to no mask, with median emission rates of 49.2 and 36.1 particles/s, respectively."

Concerning jaw movement:

"Wearing a surgical mask or KN95 respirator had no statistically significant effect on particle emission from jaw movement compared to no mask. In contrast, wearing all other types of homemade masks (SL-P, U-SL-T, and U-DL-T) substantially increased the particle emission rate, with the single-layer mask yielding the most at 1.72 particles/s."

Right, but I quoted the important part where it was put into context that "our results strongly imply that mask wearing will reduce emission of virus-laden aerosols and droplets associated with expiratory activities, unless appreciable shedding of viable viruses on mask fibers occurs" and that "the observations indicate it is likely that [cloth and paper masks] provide some reductions in emitted expiratory particles, in particular the larger particles (> 0.5 μm)." It's the large droplets that I was talking about in the first place. If you're using a cloth mask, make sure you wash it. If you're using a disposable mask, make sure you replace it. If you'd rather use a KN95, that might be better.

I would say the actual results are the important part. Discussion and conclusion sections often have a spin to them.

As for droplet size, it's the smaller ones that are probably more important to stop. The virus is small, after all and these particles will travel farther, linger longer in the air. And with those the homemade masks were worse than no mask for the most part.