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Can we talk about gloves, people? Honest to goodness, I am the Glove Queen! I step into that full authority and responsibility. In fact, you may actually call me the Glove Queen. I have been thoroughly trained on the use of gloves and then trained some more.
First a word about masks. So, talking to the general public here, regarding infection control, should you a wear a cloth mask? Probably or possibly, but with big caveats. Viruses are really tiny, they go right through the weave of material. So if wearing a cloth mask makes you feel better, go for it, just don’t let it give you a false sense of security. You still need to keep your distance from other people. Also, you have to dispose of it or wash it frequently, otherwise all you’re really doing it putting a dirty rag over your face and rubbing germs right into your mucus membranes. How long does it take for a mask to become contaminated? About two seconds. One sneeze.
The CDC, WHO, all the people who are being hesitant about the general public wearing masks are not part of an elaborate conspiracy theory, they are not trying to deceive you! The wisdom about wearing masks has really not changed much in years. A cloth mask can be a possible barrier to slow the spread of germs or it can just become a dirty rag you use to concentrate germs and carry them right where they want to go. Both facts are true at the same time.
Gloves are cut and dry however! No controversy, no questions. Gloves spread disease faster then bare hands. Gloves are task specific. You wear them for a task and then you throw them out. Pick up some raw chicken with a pair of gloves and boom, they’re contaminated. Don’t go handling door nobs now claiming “it’s okay, I’m wearing gloves!” No, you’re just wearing raw chicken infested gloves and smearing it all over everything you touch.
Gloves offer no magic what so ever. They are only as smart as the person wearing them.
So yesterday me and my bare hands had four separate occasions to recoil in horror and shudder. A woman put her gloves on before she handed me some money while proudly proclaiming, “I’ve been wearing these same gloves all week.” My stomach actually dropped. That’s the truth too, that’s what people do, they think the glove itself is magic and kills germs. Actually they just provide a really safe environment for germs to hang out and gather on.
Gloves probably spread disease even better than bare hands. Think about that truth. Also, you have to wash your hands, before and after you use them! Most people don’t. In fact, most people use gloves as an excuse to wash their hands even less.
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My point being, the use of gloves and masks is a skill set, something you should train yourself on. It’s not a magic panacea. Nobody is trying to deceive you or manipulate you. There is no grand conspiracy trying to keep people from using masks or gloves. It’s honestly a cost effectiveness/safety equation. Do masks in the hands of the general public slow the spread of disease or make it spread even faster?
Welp, we know for certain that gloves in the hands of the general public can actually spread disease even faster than good hand washing. That is a well documented fact. Especially true if you’ve been wearing your stupid gloves all week.
See, there's this thing called biology... 
This is so good. Am linking to my post today, will link back to you. This was truly informative, thankyou so much.
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Have underlined current post with yours, Thankyou!
https://innerdialects.home.blog/2020/04/01/surprise-visitors-april-2/
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I did not know that, thank you.
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My husband bought a large number of gloves and masks and insists I wear them when going to the store or post office. I see a mask as not so much protecting me as the people around me. While I hate that people can’t see me smile, when my allergies kick up, at least people don’t freak out so much when I cough or sneeze behind the mask.
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Oh, good comment, you reminded me of a couple of things! The good news is that our skin is a barrier, that this virus can’t enter through our skin. One should wear gloves when say, cleaning paintbrushes or something. Something like paint thinner can probably be absorbed by your skin, but not this virus.
Second of all, allergies! One reason why Asian people are more culturally inclined to wear masks is actually because of dust and pollen. Some of that tree pollen really is huge and probably stopped by the weave of cloth. Viruses however are tiny and pass right through, but big stuff, pollen, sand, heavy dust, absolutely a mask offers some protection.
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Thanks IB— I go forth to the grocery store and I’m about the only person not peering nervously over a blue Mack and my bare hands receive my sacred hand sanitizer once back in the car— every one in the grocery store eyes the unmasked, such as myself, as if I were a leper— sigh
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And that would be ‘blue mask’— my bad thumb 🤗
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Right?? We sensible one have now become the lepers! Well, I guess we always were. Common sense is highly contagious and some people just flee from it. 🙂
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@Julie
Masks have not yet caught on here in northern Virginia.
My elder daughter is a doctor, and she insisted upon sending me a mask. Sigh! In her profession folks know how to use them. Since I have a cough this time of year (allergy or some such thing), the mask mostly just reassures other people, not me.
Anyway, I may start wearing a mask to deal with my allergy. When my nose gets runny next year, I will put one on and see what happens. Then I can tell everyone I have COVID-20 and watch them freak out.
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Yes, my allergies- my sore throat and stuffed sinuses make me feel like Typhoid Mary but it’s timely and typical
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A week? Ohhh-kay…
I’ve been buying and using those blue gloves for years. For cleaning, working in garden, etc. But they r just a buffer of protection – hand washing is just part of the basics we learned in K-garten.
The mask, I’ve been wearing one out to Costco/W-Mart – but primarily as a courtesy. I’m trying to find a good pattern/style to make some face masks to help others given the scarcity of 95s.
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Excellent post IB, great info!
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Seen the same thing–reusing gloves. Really? The other day I steeled myself to get some necessary items. Saw a woman with a mask on, but it didn’t cover her nose! Geez Louise!
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Bahahaha! I saw a bunch a masks with uncovered noses at the grocery store, too. I just assume they’re going to rob a stage coach or something. 🙂
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I am watching a dramatic series on Netflix called “Containment”, about the outbreak of a similar Coronavirus in Atlanta, and a cordon thrown up around the section of the city thought to be the epicenter of infection. The medical personnel caught inside the cordon are supposedly knowledgeable about infectious diseases, yet even they unconsciously and repeatedly touch their faces and adjust their masks using gloves that have touched the infected. The series is scary and very realistic, a cautionary tale about how the human herd behavior and habits can destroy even the most carefully designed protection. Only two things are certain: masks can reduce the spread (of an aerosol infection by those already infected) but afford little protection for the wearer not infected; gloves need to be disposed of AFTER touching anything public but BEFORE you touch anything personal. Example: I shop, touching cart handle and touchscreen with gloves, then remove gloves before touching door handle of my car, using the inside surface of the glove for handling the bags, throw gloves in trash, wash hands thoroughly AFTER putting groceries away. But after all that, what if someone had sneezed on the box of pasta I just put away? There’s only so much we can do……
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Ha! Germs and epidemics always make a really good disaster movie because of human behavior. We’re the disaster!
On the bright side, there is some beautiful symbiosis in the world, some things we still don’t fully understand. Many germs can be our friends, they build up our immunity, possibly even prevent some cancers. Viruses can work to keep bacteria away. Many autoimmune problems today may have originated from our attempts to be so clean and germ free.
Sounds like you got it figured out! Stay safe and be well. 🙂
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Thank you for this!!!
We’ve been using gloves and masks regularly since moving out of the city, because we need them while cleaning up. Some areas are probably going to require a full hazmat suit. *L* So we had a pretty good supply on hand before all this started, though I’m running out of masks. I just have dust masks left. I can’t imagine using gloves more than once. How do they even last that long? I can barely get them on my hands without tearing them. And yes, use ’em and toss ’em. As for masks, I hate wearing them. The area covered gets all sweaty and when I exhale, my glasses fog up. I never have to touch my face more than while wearing a mask!!
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Great point about masks. I too really struggle not to touch my face while wearing them. This virus doesn’t have legs or wings, so we pretty much have to rub it into our eyes and nose. Sometimes masks can make us even more prone to do those kinds of things.
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