Covid-19

[unspeakablehorror]

I want to design one of those old-timey plague doctor masks and just go out in that all the time.  Probably wouldn't protect me from breathing the virus in but could protect me from people, like, coughing on me at least.  I keep thinking about this because years ago I got super-sick after being coughed on (directly in my face) by someone who was sick, and thus I believe they passed whatever they had onto me that way.  And so now one of the vectors I worry about a lot is getting things by being directly coughed or sneezed on.  And I know the covid-19 virus can be passed on that way too.

Comments

tangentially related

[rugessnome]

I think it's in connection with a medievalist I follow that I encountered someone pointing out that, without microscopy, miasmic theory (part of the reasoning behind the plague doctor mask design) is actually not the worst explanatory theory— many things (though not all) that contain pathogens do smell bad.

er, anyway, I think that concern is understandable given the circumstances, and I hope nothing of that nature happens but also that the fear doesn't stop you from carrying out the currently normal activities (eg exercise with distance precautions, obtaining food)

Re: tangentially related

[unspeakablehorror]

Thanks! I hope you're keeping safe and healthy too! I have been avoiding any nonessential trips outside, and unfortunately that includes exercise walks to the park and such. I don't even go to the store anymore--I've been ordering everything online. I have been using, like, old shirts as makeshift bandannas and such when I go out. I've just not felt up to my usual walks outside. Perhaps I'm overly cautious, but the last time I went for a walk outside when this first started being a thing in the US I noticed so many joggers and such and it just made me feel uncomfortable. Being outside itself doesn't bother me but most every person who would usually exercise in a gym has now been forced outside and occupying the bike paths/parks I like to frequent. On the upside, I do have videogames like Dance Dance Revolution that I can play to exercise in my apartment. And I can clean or organize if I want to accomplish something while I exercise. If I get something a little more solid to protect my face (that also wouldn't be taking needed supplies from doctors), I might feel up to going outside a bit more, so I've been looking into that. Hence the joke about the plague mask, haha.

In general the idea of a face shield to help protect against transmission of disease is just a good idea that seems to have been noticed early (unfortunately it didn't help much with plague as I understand due to the transmission through fleas which can bite any part of the body, but I don't think it was a bad idea either even then as plague can *also* be transmitted by coughing, etc). And face shields are one of the ways being recommended for covid-19 that might be helpful short of using something like an N95 mask (which isn't recommended for reuse and anyway must still be used with care to actually provide useful protection). A plague mask is just a very elaborate face shield.