Face Masks, Gel etc

[Guest]

I saw the sign below in a Bangkok pharmacy today.

Overall, there are still facemasks available, but gel is much more difficult to find.   If anyone wants to enlighten me by showing exactly where to find it, I would be delighted.

I still suggest anyone travelling to Thailand brings their own.

Even if I were making a big error and alcohol gel is currently available after searching more carefully than I have, if the number of infections were to increase markedly, the stuff would sell out.

Also, I found it easier to find a good quality FFP3 facemask back in the UK (Screwfix).  Unfortunately, my mask is not exactly fresh after being worn for air pollution in North Thailand.

The Thai masks tried include:

1  A cheap commonly worn type with several folds on it.  Unknown filtration spec. Reasonable fit.

2  A Japanese mask.  Claims to filter pm2.5, but I have no idea what percentage or to what standard.  Looks stylish, but has terrible fit.   

3 A moulded FFP2 spec mask.  Pack of 3 for 75 baht at Mr DIY.   Probably the best of the masks purchased here

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Pattaya hotels suffer as Chinese stay home

Occupancy as low as 10% in wake of virus-linked ban on group tours

PATTAYA: Hotel bookings in the resort city have plunged in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that has forced the Chinese government to keep its citizens at home in a bid to contain the outbreak.

Agents from China had cancelled rooms in Pattaya after Beijing imposed a ban on tour groups from travelling abroad, said Pakmon Wongyai, the president of the Thai Hotels Association’s Eastern Region.

Tour groups account for about 40% of all Chinese travellers to Thailand, who numbered nearly 11 million, or 28% of all foreign arrivals last year. Trips abroad by individual Chinese travellers are also being discouraged, and in any case many could face screening or quarantine in destination countries.

The week-long Chinese New Year holiday, which began this year on Jan 25, is normally one of the peak periods for the hotel business in Pattaya, but there has been nothing to celebrate this year. Last year, Thailand received 1 million Chinese visitors in January and again in February. Chinese New Year last year fell on Feb 5.

Ms Pakmon, who operates the Brighton Pattaya Hotel, said some member hotels were seeing occupancy of 10% or lower because of virus worries and the ban on Chinese group tours.

 

[spoon]

Shortage of the face mask is because everyone is using it. In ideal case, only those who is sick, coughing or sneezing, should wear it to avoid infecting others. If you are healthy, fask mask wouldnt help much if u are in vicinity of one infected but not wearing one. Itll be better to actually gave the guy u see showing symptom the face mask to wear. Liquid/droplets from infected person can infect you through skin contact, eye, ears etc, not just mouth and nose. Thats why those handling the infected person in wuhan wears hazmat suit, and why most medical personnel wears medical gloves as well. 

But of course, due to the scares, most would just think i got to protect myself, which of course u could, but face mask alone is not enough, unless u make sure those showing symptom around you are wearing mask.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/01/28/health/coronavirus-us-masks-prevention-trnd/index.html

https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/healthy-people-dont-need-wear-surgical-masks-experts

 

On the other hand, washing hands frequently, or using hand sanitizer remains the most effective way to prevent infection, so is avoiding contact with infected person or simply common sense.

[reader]

5 hours ago, z909 said:

I saw the sign below in a Bangkok pharmacy today.

Overall, there are still facemasks available, but gel is much more difficult to find.   If anyone wants to enlighten me by showing exactly where to find it, I would be delighted.

I still suggest anyone travelling to Thailand brings their own.

Even if I were making a big error and alcohol gel is currently available after searching more carefully than I have, if the number of infections were to increase markedly, the stuff would sell out.

Also, I found it easier to find a good quality FFP3 facemask back in the UK (Screwfix).  Unfortunately, my mask is not exactly fresh after being worn for air pollution in North Thailand.

The Thai masks tried include:

1  A cheap commonly worn type with several folds on it.  Unknown filtration spec. Reasonable fit.

2  A Japanese mask.  Claims to filter pm2.5, but I have no idea what percentage or to what standard.  Looks stylish, but has terrible fit.   

3 A moulded FFP2 spec mask.  Pack of 3 for 75 baht at Mr DIY.   Probably the best of the masks purchased here

 

Hope it wouldn't be too much trouble if a frequent poster like yourself could commit to informing members of the pharmacy where you were able find face masks in Bangkok.

[reader]

From Vietnam News

Hotel clerk becomes sixth Vietnam coronavirus case

KHÁNH HOÀ — A receptionist at a hotel in the popular beach city of Nha Trang has become the sixth confirmed coronavirus patient in Việt Nam.

The Ministry of Health on Saturday confirmed the 25-year-old is the sixth person to test positive for the pneumonia-like virus and the first Vietnamese to catch the virus via human-to-human transmission in the country.

The woman works at a hotel in the south-central province of Khánh Hoà, a popular destination for Chinese and Russian tourists.

The health ministry has subsequently declared a coronavirus epidemic in Khánh Hoà Province in light of this new case.

On January 17, the patient had reportedly come into close contact with the first confirmed cases of nCoV infection in Việt Nam – a Chinese father and son from the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, China’s Wuhan city.

Two days later, she suffered from light coughing and a fever but did not go to the hospital and only bought over-the-counter medicines, which relieved her fever.

On January 24, when the father and son’s test results returned positive, her clinical samples were collected and sent for further analyses at the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang.

https://vietnamnews.vn/society/591717/viet-nam-announces-sixth-coronavirus-case.html

[Guest]

1 hour ago, reader said:

Hope it wouldn't be too much trouble if a frequent poster like yourself could commit to informing members of the pharmacy where you were able find face masks in Bangkok.

My facemasks and remaining stock of hand gel were purchased in Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan, ie a long way north of Bangkok.

Since I now have sufficient face masks, I wasn't really concentrating when seeing them today, in Bangkok.   However I saw at least one 7-eleven in Silom with masks, but I have been in many today.   Some street vendors nearer to Sala Daeng, on the south side of the street also had masks.

I WAS looking for hand gel, as I will run out of it before the end of the trip.   SOME of the larger 7-Elevens stock it normally, but were sold out.   As we see  in the 29 baht space below.     The small 7-Elevens do not even stock it.   

So my best suggestion is for anyone coming to Thailand to bring gel from home.   Possibly bring more than you need for sharing with friends.   Lidl do nice 100ml bottles for 49p (~20 baht).

[pong]

At least one or two 7s here in BKK yesterday had large piles of masks-already forgotten whcih ones. Note that the old style cheapees (with a few folded layers) are hardly worth it if you take this seriously. You should have those with a kind of attached ´inhaler´ or whatever this is named in /en/-like sometimes painters wear in EUR. I dont and the air is still just nearly as bad as last week before all this new hypes. A few yrs ago during the height of whatever virus then all citybuses had bottles of hand-gel on the rails near the doorstogoout. Not seen that now (yet).

In Thai the sign at the kwaayyaa (=sell medicine=pharmacy) says Hmot, kah (finish, polite).

[TotallyOz]

https://www.style-seal.com/

I ordered from here last week and it arrived in less than 3 days. They are high quality with interchangeable filters.

[Guest]

As far as I can tell, the common Asian response to any flu is to wear a facemask.  

In the UK and presumably Europe , using hand gel is more common.

Hence, if there is suddenly a demand for both products in Thailand, I would expect the supply of facemasks to hold up much better than the gels.   

After checking a few 7-Elevens,   it's unbelievable how much space is devoted to sachets of some sort of cosmetic, but they mostly don't stock antiseptic hand gel.

[Guest]

12 minutes ago, pong said:

Note that the old style cheapees (with a few folded layers) are hardly worth it if you take this seriously. You should have those with a kind of attached ´inhaler´ or whatever this is named in /en/-like sometimes painters wear in EUR. I dont and the air is still just nearly as bad as last week before all this new hypes. 

Would you care to share the evidence that supports these latest two pieces of advice ?    

If there is any evidence available.  

 

[PeterRS]

The problem with almost all masks is they cover only the nose and mouth. A cough or a sneeze from an infected person near you releases small droplets into the air. These can just as easily infect you through your eyes. Short of wearing goggles I guess those weatring regular eye glasses have a slightly greater degree of protection.

Other point is to avoid touching objects which may have been touched by an infected individual. Things like cash, elevator handrails, floor buttons on lifts etc. Always keep washing your hands.

[Jasper]

How to wear a mask according to WHO expert

 

https://m.facebook.com/quicktake/videos/499177220800935/

 

[hank75]

49 minutes ago, pong said:

At least one or two 7s here in BKK yesterday had large piles of masks-already forgotten whcih ones. Note that the old style cheapees (with a few folded layers) are hardly worth it if you take this seriously. You should have those with a kind of attached ´inhaler´ or whatever this is named in /en/-like sometimes painters wear in EUR. I dont and the air is still just nearly as bad as last week before all this new hypes. A few yrs ago during the height of whatever virus then all citybuses had bottles of hand-gel on the rails near the doorstogoout. Not seen that now (yet).

In Thai the sign at the kwaayyaa (=sell medicine=pharmacy) says Hmot, kah (finish, polite).

Pong, the “old style cheapees” could possibly be legit surgical masks (worn by hospital staff) which are actually encouraged to wear in times of virus contamination. They have a water resistant filter to shield your nose and mouth if you are in close contact with an unmasked patient who may be coughing/sneezing.

many of the stylish, high tech masks are only for pollution and industrial environments. 

[PeterRS]

26 minutes ago, z909 said:

Would you care to share the evidence that supports these latest two pieces of advice ?    

If there is any evidence available.  

 

Plenty. These masks do not fully cover the face. There are plenty of gaps at the sides and small gaps around the nose. Not difficult to breath only air that comes through the mask. The tight fitting N95 respirator masks are far more effective according to many medical websites.

[hank75]

2 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

Plenty. These masks do not fully cover the face. There are plenty of gaps at the sides and small gaps around the nose. Not difficult to breath only air that comes through the mask. The tight fitting N95 respirator masks are far more effective according to many medical websites.

What I’ve been told is, surgical masks (worn by hospital staff) are effective at blocking out the flu viruses which are transmitted through sneezes and coughs. The droplets need to be inhaled deep into the lungs for infection to transmit. So shielding mouth and nose is sufficient. People are not at risk through air passing around the sides of the mask as the viruses don’t transmit this way. They ARE at risk from still touching contaminated surfaces and bringing their hands to their face around the mask, or sloppy removal of the mask which still conveys droplets to their nose/mouth

And as you’ve pointed out, there are other more aggressive viruses are airborne and that surgical masks offer less protection against. The particle size is much smaller. Against cases like these you need the N95/99 masks or those very fitted heavy duty masks with a build in respirator. But if you’re not familiar with how to wear a N95 mask properly, you may not be protected. The regular man on the street may possibly be better off with just a regular surgical mask. 

and I have heard so many differing opinions about which category the coronavirus falls under that I’m thoroughly confused too.

[DivineMadman]

The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends good old-fashioned washing of hands with soap & water (thoroughly for 20 seconds) over hand sanitizer.  (Hot take - because proper washing cleans off everything.)  The CDC does recommend hand sanitizer when washing with soap & water is not available.  https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html. World Health Organization puts washing hands on a par with hand sanitizer - except when hands are visibly dirty, in which cash soap and water is the recommended.  https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public. 

By all means use hand sanitizer if you makes you happy, but absence of hand sanitizer shouldn't keep anyone home.  (Personal portable soap is readily available.)

 

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, hank75 said:

What I’ve been told is, surgical masks (worn by hospital staff) are effective at blocking out the flu viruses which are transmitted through sneezes and coughs.

I take the CDCs guidelines and use the N95 for greater protection against the smaller droplets getting through the mask. This type of mask is not very comfortable to wear in the heat of Thailand . But the normal surgical mask is not effective is protecting against the smaller droplets named aerosols.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/UnderstandDifferenceInfographic-508.pdf

I agree there is so much advice in so many places it has all become very confusing.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, DivineMadman said:

The CDC does recommend hand sanitizer when washing with soap & water is not available........ 

By all means use hand sanitizer if you makes you happy, but absence of hand sanitizer shouldn't keep anyone home.  (Personal portable soap is readily available.)

 

those are words of wisdom

[jason1975]

Here in Singapore, the government gave advice that only those with flu or coughs should wear masks. Such persons should also avoid going out to crowded places.

They should also only go out in public if it is essential e.g. taking public transport to and back from work or going to supermarket to buy groceries.

If a person is perfectly healthy, he/she does not need to wear a mask.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

 

Other point is to avoid touching objects which may have been touched by an infected individual. Things like cash, elevator handrails, floor buttons on lifts etc.

because this is impossible unless one stays sealed at home 

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

Always keep washing your hands.

this part of advice should be implemented as often as  possible

[anddy]

4 hours ago, Michael said:

https://www.style-seal.com/

I ordered from here last week and it arrived in less than 3 days. They are high quality with interchangeable filters.

 

surprise, surprise....

 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Plenty. These masks do not fully cover the face. There are plenty of gaps at the sides and small gaps around the nose. Not difficult to breath only air that comes through the mask. The tight fitting N95 respirator masks are far more effective according to many medical websites.

Writing "plenty" is not an example of evidence.   

I currently have FFP2 and FFP3 specification paper face masks.   Since Pong claimed these are ineffective against viruses and the type used by painters in Europe ARE effective, where is the evidence ?

The same author also recently claimed the EU banned plastic bags years ago and that the majority of buses in Thailand run on natural gas.   Neither appear to be correct.  

[TotallyOz]

50 minutes ago, anddy said:

 

surprise, surprise....

 

Yes, a friend saw that yesterday and still got an order in a few hours later. But, when they reopen for order, I recommend them.

[hank75]

Quieter Response to Coronavirus in Countries Where China Holds Sway

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Thai doctors say two drug groups help cure patient

Anti-flu, AIDS medications speed up recovery, say Rajavithi doctors

Thai doctors have declared the use of anti-flu and AIDS drugs a success in treating coronavirus patients after using them on a Chinese woman with severe symptoms.

Two doctors from Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok — Dr Kriangsak Atipornwanich, an expert physician, and Assoc Prof Dr Subsai Kongsangdao, a specialist — said at a briefing in Bangkok that improvements were seen in the 71-year-old woman 48 hours after administering the two groups of medications.

The woman was admitted first to Hua Hin Hospital and then transferred to Rajavithi Hospital on Jan 29.

After finding she had severe symptoms, the doctors decided to use oseltamivir, an anti-flu drug used to treat the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS), as well as lopinavir and ritonavir, two AIDS drugs.

Dr Kriangsak acknowleged that the Chinese had already been using AIDS medications to treat the novel coronavirus.

"We checked related information and found MERS had been effectively treated by anti-flu drugs so we combined both groups of medications with effective results.    “After poor lab tests for 10 days, the test finally turned positive after 48 hours of administering the medications. The treatment, as well as the recovery, is fast,” he said.

They noted they had reported the discovery to a medical journal and would use the drugs on additional patients. The two groups of drugs are effective on patients with serious symptoms, they said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1849024/thai-doctors-say-two-drug-groups-help-cure-patient