Masks for Wuhan

[CptTrips]

And China has begun to put export restrictions on masks.  And our mask manufacturing capacity has been outsourced to China.  So where are we going to get the other 90% of masks we need?

https://www.guerillastocktrading.com/china-puts-export-restrictions-on-us-companies-making-n95-masks/

If some US company went on a crash course factory setup now, they could have stock rolling off the line in ...6 months?

[mikeWe9a]

And China has begun to put export restrictions on masks.  And our mask manufacturing capacity has been outsourced to China.  So where are we going to get the other 90% of masks we need?

https://www.guerillastocktrading.com/china-puts-export-restrictions-on-us-companies-making-n95-masks/

If some US company went on a crash course factory setup now, they could have stock rolling off the line in ...6 months?

Probably sooner - I read that FOXCONN, who normally make computers/electronics (in particular Apple products) had already repurposed their factory to make masks.  Many textile plants could probably make them (OK, there aren't a LOT of textile industries around, but there should be, and Mexico has plenty of them as well, IIRC).

Mike

[guncrasher]

Probably sooner - I read that FOXCONN, who normally make computers/electronics (in particular Apple products) had already repurposed their factory to make masks.  Many textile plants could probably make them (OK, there aren't a LOT of textile industries around, but there should be, and Mexico has plenty of them as well, IIRC).

Mike

kind of doubt this.  from computer parts to masks need new machines.

semp

[CptTrips]

kind of doubt this.  from computer parts to masks need new machines.

semp

Oh it can be done. We converted factories from washing-machines to B-17's.

The question is how fast, and how many healthcare workers do you put out of action in the meantime.

But who is going to man the factories?  If things really get bad, that whole mass shoulder to shoulder factory thing is going to be hard in hazmat suits.

[guncrasher]

Oh it can be done. We converted factories from washing-machines to B-17's.

The question is how fast, and how many healthcare workers do you put out of action in the meantime.

But who is going to man the factories?  If things really get bad, that whole mass shoulder to shoulder factory thing is going to be hard in hazmat suits.

we converted  factories to make b17s parts., not b17s as they shouldn't fit in the front door.

switching to something different requires new machines and retraining of people, several  months in between.  not like they have machines just laying around.


semp

[CptTrips]

we converted  factories to make b17s parts., not b17s as they shouldn't fit in the front door.

I guess it depends on the door.

switching to something different requires new machines and retraining of people, several  months in between.  not like they have machines just laying around.

I think we agree we should be skeptical that local factories can be completely refitted for mask production fast enough to help much in the critical shortage over the next year.  For a variety of reasons possibly including worker quarantine.

I can't believe that we've been buying B-2's for billions a pop for decades to mostly sit in hangars, but some contingency planner didn't think to stockpile masks for the next major pandemic that everyone knew was going to hit sooner or later.   

[guncrasher]

true


semp

[Mister Fork]

BTW - you only need to wear a mask if you're infected or a medical worker to protect, not yourself, but to already sick and infected patients from giving them a cold or other common transmittable diseases you, as a medical worker, already have.

Wearing a mask does ZIP to protect you from catching a virus or bacterial infection. Proper washing of your hands and good cleanliness is the best way to protect you and your family.

[CptTrips]

And the hits just keep on coming....

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/04/hhs-clarifies-us-has-about-1percent-of-face-masks-needed-for-full-blown-pandemic.html

[Shuffler]

And the hits just keep on coming....

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/04/hhs-clarifies-us-has-about-1percent-of-face-masks-needed-for-full-blown-pandemic.html

What exactly are they using the face mask for?

[CptTrips]

What exactly are they using the face mask for?

Masks are very important for frontline healthcare workers who might have to be treating hundreds of infected patients a day in tight confines, in close proximity, in a closed air system.

They'll be spending 12-16 hours a day in a viral hot-zone only slightly less dangerous than walking in to a reactor core.

If the doctors and nurses drop, then the whole health system collapses.  Untreated, death rates would skyrocket.

Sending health workers into an infection ward without proper equipment would be like sending our soldiers to war without guns, or ammo, or helmets.







 

[Mister Fork]

Masks are very important for frontline healthcare workers who might have to be treating hundreds of infected patients a day in tight confines, in close proximity, in a closed air system.

They'll be spending 12-16 hours a day in a viral hot-zone only slightly less dangerous than walking in to a reactor core.

If the doctors and nurses drop, then the whole health system collapses.  Untreated, death rates would skyrocket.

Sending health workers into an infection ward without proper equipment would be like sending our soldiers to war without guns, or ammo, or helmets.

You hit the nail on the head. Why China demanded all it's citizens in and around Wuhan wear them is beyond me as it caused a huge demand in the masks by millions of people who didn't need them.

[Shuffler]

Masks are very important for frontline healthcare workers who might have to be treating hundreds of infected patients a day in tight confines, in close proximity, in a closed air system.

They'll be spending 12-16 hours a day in a viral hot-zone only slightly less dangerous than walking in to a reactor core.

If the doctors and nurses drop, then the whole health system collapses.  Untreated, death rates would skyrocket.

Sending health workers into an infection ward without proper equipment would be like sending our soldiers to war without guns, or ammo, or helmets.







 

Sure for a doctor or nurse..... I mean those folks walking down the sidewalk. LOL

[MiloMorai]

You hit the nail on the head. Why China demanded all it's citizens in and around Wuhan wear them is beyond me as it caused a huge demand in the masks by millions of people who didn't need them.

When one doesn't know who has it and who doesn't have it, especially at ground zero, rather prudent for all to wear.

[CptTrips]

When one doesn't know who has it and who doesn't have it, especially at ground zero, rather prudent for all to wear.

It doesn't hurt to wear one, other than diverting the supply away from critical frontline health workers.  It does drive me crazy to see people with their surgical masks yet not wearing gloves and walking around touching everything in public like door knobs, hand rails, table tops, elevator buttons, etc. I'd be wearing gloves before a mask.

If I was riding NY subway, or city bus, or getting on a plane, or a cruise ship  , or working on a factory assembly line all day, I'd want one.