Wear a scarf. The OP didn't say criticize people for not wearing mask-alternatives in a time of a shortage, they critized people for not wearing anything. DIY masks may not be as effective, but they still help (some top HN post claimed 70%-80%). This isn't a situation where if you can't do something perfectly you might as well not try. This is a situation that calls for doing anything within reasonable measures (don't raid hospitals for masks etc).

Paper masks are in shortage in Vietnam but that doesn't stop people from wearing big respirator kits or cloth masks that they rotate out.

Scarves are about the least effective makeshift masks, catching less than 50% of virus sized particles. A tea towel/dish cloth catches over 70% and a vacuum cleaner bag is over 80%, almost as good as a surgical mask.

> Professional and Home-Made Face Masks Reduce Exposure to Respiratory Infections among the General Population

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440799/

> ... catching less than 50% of virus sized particles.

This is true but irrelevant.

You want to catch larger globs that carry virus-sized particles, and almost any material will help to some extent with this.

Not discouraging it, just pointing out that there are much better alternative materials.

But breathing through a vacuum cleaner bag is too hard.

Still, it might work if you did a radical pleat. I'll try it.

As I recall, two layers of cotton t-shirt is the best option.

That would be awesome but I think you meant a "radial" pleat.

Huh. I meant radical in the sense of large surface area. And I was thinking ~cylindrical.

But radial is a great idea. And as soon as I started playing with paper, the ancient muscle memory of folding filter paper came back to me.

Edit: OK, I used filter paper from a shop vac, 20 cm wide by 30 cm high, with six faces triangular faces on the top and bottom, and eight faces on the sides. The ends of the faces on each side are sewed together, with an elastic strap connecting them. So the base is a diamond, ~18 cm wide and ~12 high. There's cloth edging on the top and bottom, and a cloth-wrapped 1 cm x 5 cm strip of aluminum edging to seal the top of the nose.

Try making your own mask: https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-...

Wrap a t-shirt around your face and use a clothespin to secure it. It's not perfect but from the best of my reading it's far better than nothing.

I was referring to either storebought masks or homemade ones.

Literally some paper towel, wire, and rubber bands [1].

If you're willing to break out a needle and thread you can make a durable cloth one. [2] [3]

> we're also getting advice not to wear them so they can be saved for healthcare professionals!

AFAIK, surgical-quality sterilizing masks are separate from what you'd probably find in the store; you're not pulling from the same stock.

(Though I seem to recall some charity effort of people sewing masks for doctors, so IDK what the actual U.S. healthcare regulations are.)

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNjpH5lBZ8w (University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital)

[2] https://nypost.com/2020/03/20/doctors-are-now-running-out-of...

[3] https://www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask

EDIT: "Sheesh"

> I'd love to have been wearing a mask every day for the past two weeks

Well, that’s the reason they are sold out, and heath professionals are desperately asking for donations.

You don’t need a mask unless you are sick. For protection you need a mask and glasses, but keeping your hands clean and away from your face does 95% of the job.

> You don’t need a mask unless you are sick. For protection you need a mask and glasses, but keeping your hands clean and away from your face does 95% of the job.

Except you do, because carriers without symptoms are contagious and the main drivers of this pandemic.

And no, coronavirus doesn't have wings, they are carried by water droplets, and any sort of barrier that can stop water droplets is better than no barrier at all.

If you’re truly asymptomatic then you wouldn’t be coughing.

1. coronavirus isn't the only thing that cause coughing 2. coughing isn't the only way people spread out water droplets 3. you also don't want water droplets from other people landing directly on your face 4. nor you want to accidentally touch your face after touching potentially contaminated surfaces 5. people like you are being a hazard to their communities with this kind of behavior

There are lots of other things that can cause coughs, especially now that spring allergies are starting to kick in.

Well technically we didn’t like masks before... if we like them we like them now that the situation is bad.