#from projectN95

[wyvernska]

new masks just arrived :)

[solymn]

oTL been over a year since I’ve had to restock face masks (had a huge hoard been going through) and the ones I just bought are totally counterfeit k95s now I gotta return them and order from an actually reputable source

[theofreakingbell]

forgive me if I'm a little late to this? but let me get this straight: 

Neil Gaiman asks for fans coming to his events to please mask for everyone's safety

when asked why he isn't mandating them he says he tried but the venues won't allow it

many people don't listen, or don't see the ask bc it isn't official from the venue, and show up maskless

Neil now has COVID (for a second time, which means his risk of complications is higher) along with anyone else who got infected at that event

I just. y'all. please. 

If you are going to a fan event, especially a big one like a con where there will be tons of people, you need to be wearing a mask right now. Actors and other people who work in entertainment who meet with many people and frequent large gatherings or are part of con staff for instance are at significant risk of COVID from the sheer amount they are being exposed to, not only from acute infection but cumulative damage from multiple infections or long COVID and post COVID complications. COVID levels are nearly as high as they were in the first wave in 2020 and being vaccinated does not guarantee u cannot catch and/or transmit it(this study from this year says it's around 1 in five). Please be excellent to each other and do your best to not get your faves, their staff, or other fans sick. 

why and how masks work and what types are the safest (you can get good masks in all sorts of colors now btw if u want to match ur cosplay or stuff, ProjectN95 is a good source, and Jelli has clear masks if u want to have ur face visible)

I wish Neil a speedy and full recovery, and I hope more people listen to him and others trying to keep fans and creators and staff safe right now ❤️

#FansMaskUp

[none-tadashi-left-hiro]

I do think a big reason a lot of people don’t mask is people genuinely don’t know where to get them anymore. Like you have to do some digging you can’t just pick up a mask wherever you shop anymore. anyways I thought abt making a nice list but I haven’t had the spoons so here’s off the top of my head-

projectn95.com shut down but has a long list of good places to get them from. Bonafide masks is a good site too. You can still get 3M auras (popular comfortable n95 mask) at Walmart I think. Armbrust is another one.

If money is an issue look for your local mask bloc on social media- usually it’ll have mask bloc in the handle, or “clean air” or “covid safe” etc etc. and you should be able to request some from them for free.

There’s not really a lot out there on to tell if your n95 is counterfeit if you get it from Amazon so try to avoid there but if it’s what you got then just be aware it’s a thing and do what you can, any mask is more effective than no mask

Genuinely grabbing you by the shoulders looking you in your eyes take some time to click the browser type one of these in and get. Some masks

[jenroses]

consider yourself asked about masks!

Genuinely, where do I find good ones (preferably somewhere online that ships to europe)? The ones I currently use don't fit quite as well as I'd like them to, letting some air get aroung them whenever I breath out so that a little bit ends up in my eyes.

In Europe? I'm not an expert about who ships there but the single best mask I've tried for leak-proof fit and high breathability is from Drager which is a German company. It's the only mask I've tried that fits my giant face and my PT's tiny face and doesn't fog either of our glasses. Not the top for comfort as it digs in a little across the cheeks but zero gaps. Otherwise, for best fit, I've found that duckbill masks tend to fit my face the best with no gaps. You need a nose wire, you need to conform the nose wire to your nose, and you need to make sure the straps are tight enough that there isn't gaping or slipping. But as you'll see from my answer to the last ask, "perfect" is very different from person to person.

My first stop for checking on masks before I buy is Armbrust's Database.

So if you find a mask, check and see if it's on there.

In the US we have resources like ProjectN95 (and Armbrust itself) which give a lot of help for finding legit masks.

Anyone have better suggestions for Europe?

[kabutone]

Hi!! I hope this is okay to ask but you seem to be really knowledgeable on masks so i was wondering what type you recommend the most?? :0 i'd love to get more masks since i do mask already but want to get better ones and i feel like you'd know which ones are the best!! Tysm in advance and feel free to delete this if this is weird!! ^^

yes ofc im glad you asked!! this might get kinda long so bear with me lol (TLDR: I'd recommend to find an N95 that is comfortable and fits you well! My go to is the 3M Aura 9210, but there are a variety of other masks for every face shape if the 3M Aura isn't a good fit!)

It can be kinda tricky to name one specific mask since face shapes differ so much, but I'll list the ones I've tried and some styles you could explore! But my main recommendation is to look for an N95 or better! The most important things to look out for is a mask that has good filtration material and that it fits well on your face (no big gaps or leakage)! And of course, that you're getting a legitimate product.

I prefer N95s because they're generally more protective than KN95s and KF94s. There also isn't as much regulation for KN95s and KF94s as there is for N95s, so it can be easier to come across fakes. People also sometimes find that head strap masks keep their fit better than earloop masks. This isn't a one size fits all rule, however, some people have passed fit tests in ear loop masks! It's just something to keep in mind.

I'd recommend looking at masks on ProjectN95! These have been vetted to ensure they're good quality, and there should be links to buy directly from the website. Unfortunately there's a lot of fake or underperforming masks out there, so it's important to buy from a trusted source. Here's a video that covers this issue and what to look out for! Another great resource is Aaron Collins, who has posted a lot of tests and info about many different types of masks.

I use the 3M Aura 9210! I like this one for the material it uses for the straps. There are other kinds of 3M Auras (like the 9205) which are just as good, but they have those rubber straps and I just don't prefer those. This is the only trifold-style I've worn, but it's pretty comfortable!

And this is just anecdotal, but I've heard the 3M Aura tends to fit more faces better than other styles. Compared to other masks I've tried, it has a stronger nose wire, so its easier to shape it to your face! Some others have had flimsy nose wires that don't hold very well, while others (like cup-style masks) have rigid ones that you're not really supposed to mold at all. This one has passed fit tests for me, and is comfortable enough for me to sleep in!

Another style I like is the Gerson 3230! This is a duckbill style mask!

It looks a little silly but these are SUPER breathable. So much so that I feel a little exposed wearing them lol but I've passed fit tests in them multiple times!! One downside to these though is that unlike the 3M Aura, they don't have as much structure, so if you inhale too hard they kinda suction onto your face.

This is the 3M 8210, which is a cup style mask!

These didn't work for me, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't work for you! This specific mask is very rigid, so you can't really form them to your face, but they will not collapse when you breathe! I haven't tried other brands' cup style masks though, just 3M's.

This is a bifold mask! I just grabbed a photo of the Demetech one because I thinnnkkk I've worn this before? But its been YEARS, I don't wear bifolds anymore. KN95s also usually come in this style

This style can be a bit tricky because they come folded in half, and that sharp point at the nose bridge can cause issues for some people. I see a lot of people walking around with a big gap at their nose because of that folded point, so just be sure to properly fit it to your face if you use these! Here's a video demonstration on how to do this, and here's a good photo example:

Finally, there's also this strapless adhesive mask. They're kinda pricey compared to the others, but kinda cool I guess? Can also get them here

Strangely I didn't pass a fit test in these? I think maybe I just need more practice putting them on lol

These are all N95s, but there are also masks like N100s, P100s, and PAPRs if you wanna get really intense. And I can also ramble about those but this is already so so long lol

Finally, it's important your mask fits well! This is to make sure that air is going through the filtration material, not going around the mask. For example, it'd be safer to wear a well fitted N95 than an ill fitted N100. A quick way to check for leaks is to do a seal check when you put on a mask! here's a guide on how to do it, and here's a video demonstration!

But it's important to note this is not a foolproof solution, and the best way to measure fit would be a qualitative or quantitative fit test. Unfortunately, fit testing can be rather inaccessible to most people, so it's hard for me to recommend it. There are DIY kits and DIY tutorials in addition to official kits, though. Quantitative fit tests are even less accessible, and I'm still trying to figure out how to get one :( But if you're interested in it, I can also ramble about that.

If you read this far thank you so much for listening to my lil mask infodump :') I hope this was helpful !!

[c19library]

Affordable High-Quality Masks

Last Updated September 4, 2023 (Note: Some products on this list occasionally change prices, and I may not have updated the price yet.)

KN95

WWDOLL KN95

Color Options: Yes Size Options: Yes GB 2626-2019: Yes Manufacturer: Chengde Technology Co. Filtration Test (Adults): 98.63% (Mask Nerd) Filtration Test (Kids): 98.50% (Armbrust)

Adults

Amazon: $17.77 for 25, $13.02 - $22.27 for 50

Amazon.com: WWDOLL KN95 Face Mask 25 Pack, 5-Layers Mask Protection, Breathable KN95 Masks White : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry

Amazon.com: KN95 Face Mask 50 Pack, WWDOLL KN95 Masks 5-Layer Breathable Mask with Elastic Earloop and Nose Bridge Clip, Disposable Respirator Protection Against PM2.5 Black : Tools & Home Improvement

Kids

Amazon: $17.77 - $24.74 for 50

Amazon.com: WWDOLL Kids KN95 Face Mask 50 Pack, 5-Layers Breathable KN95 Masks for Children, Black : Tools & Home Improvement

WWDOLL Kid KN95 Face Mask 50 Pack, 5-Layers Breathable KN95 Masks, Multicolored - Amazon.com

Hotodeal KN95

Color Options: Yes Size Options: No GB 2626-2019: Yes Manufacturer: Chengde Technology Co. Filtration Test: 99.67% (Armbrust)

Amazon: $34.19 for 60, $43.69 for 120

Amazon.com: Hotodeal KN95 Face Mask 20 PCS,5 Layers Cup Dust Mask Against PM2.5 from Fire Smoke, Dust, for Men, Women, Essential Workers(White) : Tools & Home Improvement

HUHETA KN95

Color Options: Yes Size Options: Yes GB 2626-2019: Uncertain (Assume No) Manufacturer: Guangdong Nuokang Medical Technology CO., Ltd Filtration Test (Adults): 99.70% (Armbrust) Filtration Test (Kids): No data

Adults

Amazon: $11.39 - $14.25 for 30, $14.39 - $21.84 for 60

HUHETA KN95 Face Masks, Packs of 30 Individually Wrapped, 5-Ply Breathable and Comfortable Safety Mask, Filter Efficiency Over 95%, Protective Cup Dust Masks Against PM2.5 (Black Mask): Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

HUHETA KN95 Face Mask 60 PCs, 5-Ply Safety Masks for Men & Women, Filter Efficiency>=95% (Black Mask): Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

Kids

Amazon: $11.39 - $14.24 for 30

Kids KN95 Face Masks for Children, Packs of 30 KN95 Mask for Kids, KN95 Black Mask for Girls Boys with Breathable 5-Layers Protection and Adjustable Earloop for School, Park, Indoor, Outdoor Use: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

NOTE: If a KN95 mask is too big for you, or you can feel air leaks when worn, there are products that can bring the ear loops further behind your head or tighten the front for a better seal. N95s are recommended first for an improved fit/seal if you can access them.

Examples:

Fix the Mask: https://www.fixthemask.com

Lanyard: Amazon.com: ZASIE Face Mask Holder, Face Mask Lanyard for Kids and Adults, Face Mask Extender Strap Holder, Face Mask Tightener, 5 Pack : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry

Silicone Buttons: Amazon.com: 4 PCS Extended Silicone Bands Anti-Tightening Strap for Masks to Prevent Ear Pain,Adjustable Comfort mask Grips Extension Buckle Holder Hook Ear Strap,4 Color : Health & Household

Velcro: Amazon.com: Maskie Face Mask Holder, Ultra-Light and Breathable Mask Ear Saver with Adjustable Gripper, Comfortable Mask Strap, Wear It in Multiple Ways, Reusable Mask Extenders/Ear Savers, 2.9 g - URSA Straps : Health & Household

N95

Blox Duckbill N95

Color Options: No Size Options: No NIOSH: Yes Manufacturer: ivWatch

Blox Direct: $12.50 for 50 (~$28 after shipping + tax)

blox N95 (part BLX-9501, medical use) | BloxDirect.com

Project N95: $15 for 50 (~$30 after shipping + tax)

Duckbill Blox N95 Masks Universal (projectn95.org)

3M Aura 9205

Color Options: No Size Options: No NIOSH: Yes Manufacturer: 3M

Amazon: $12 for 20, $129.99 for 440

Amazon.com: 3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+, N95, Pack of 20 Disposable Respirators, Individually Wrapped, 3 Panel Flat Fold Design Allows for Facial Movements, Comfortable, NIOSH Approved : Tools & Home Improvement

3M VFlex 9105

Color Options: No Size Options: Yes NIOSH: Yes Manufacturer: 3M

Office Depot: $28.59 - $30.39 for 50

Standard: 3M VFlex Particulate Respirators 9105 N95 White Pack Of 50 Respirators - Office Depot

Small: 3M VFlex Particulate Respirators 9105S N95 White Pack Of 50 Respirators - Office Depot

Honeywell DF300

Color Options: No Size Options: No NIOSH: Yes Manufacturer: Honeywell

Amazon: $34.24 for 50

Amazon.com: Honeywell Safety DF300 N95 Flatfold Disposable Respirator- Box of 50, White,One Size : Tools & Home Improvement

Donations (Free)

Project N95 has a free mask program for those in need. https://www.projectn95.org/free-masks/

—————————————————————

Certification Type

GB 2626-2019 (KN95)

95% or higher filtration. Other specific standards set by China. Usually manufactured and certified in China.

https://www.projectn95.org/kn95-mask-guide/

https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/NDA4MTMxMzYz

NIOSH (N95)

95% or higher filtration. Other specific standards set by the United States. Manufactured and certified in the United States.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2021-124/pdfs/2021-124.pdf

Other

Labels that indicate set standards, manufacture, and certification in other countries.

https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20200403-2

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2020-04-03-0

Filtration Test Results

CDC Testing

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/respirators/testing/NonNIOSHresults.html

Third-Party Testing

Mask Nerd: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M0mdNLpTWEGcluK6hh5LjjcFixwmOG853Ff45d3O-L0/htmlview#gid=1976839763

Armbrust: Comprehensive Mask Testing – Armbrust American (armbrustusa.com)

[none-ofthisnonsense]

Hi, I saw that you couldn't afford any masks but that you wanted to wear them. I just wanted to let you know that if you're in the US, you can request free masks from Project N95. Just to go to projectn95 (dot) org/free-masks/

The reddit board r/Masks4All also has some really great resources. There are options out there!

Thanks for the info!

Unfortunately, I'm not in the USA (and I'm currently in the process of changing countries too - not to the USA - so adresses are a bit wacky at the moment.)

Thank you for all the resources, I'm checking them out :)

[sweetfirebird]

To the younger people who do not understand, once upon a time in America and elsewhere, total eradication of diseases was the goal of public health programs, and while they did not all succeed and there were definitely fuckups (like the entire early US handling of the AIDS epidemic), that goal was considered sane and just and normal--and the eradication of polio was lauded! Public health programs and science at their best! We got rid of a disease that killed people and destroyed lives and we got rid of it so well that we don't even vax against it anymore.*

And one worldwide pandemic later, as infections and reinfections of a novel virus play absolute havoc with people's bodies and immune systems, FUCKING POLIO suddenly reappears and we are seeing a resurgence of other diseases and people being absolutely flattened by a strange, long flu season?

And people are acting like this is normal? That dropping all safety precautions and expecting people to get 1-2 Covid infections a year is normal and just how things have always been? Instead of fighting it as hard as we could in the first place like what used to be the goal???

There are going to be (and already are) so many longstanding medical conditions from this and that is not even mentioning whatever measles-like bullshit it is doing to immune systems.

And not to be that person but hospital workers are already Done, the system is already exhausted.

*in America

I scream. Keep your fucking masks on. And follow ProjectN95 on Twitter if you want links to good quality masks.

[dontletmeontheinternet]

How Robert Cringely Scored 5 Million N95 Masks From China

This week, tech pundit Robert Cringely described how a chance conversation with China-based entrepreneur Anina led to a friend with a garment factory "now making fully certified N-95 respirators with no clear distribution plan." Late on a Sunday night with the tech world in shut-down, how long would it take for me to find someone looking for up to five million N-95 masks? It took 10 minutes. I reached out to Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and to Mark Cuban from the Dallas Mavericks and Shark Tank... Mark Cuban put me in touch with ProjectN95, a just-created national clearinghouse for urgently needed medical equipment... It's important to realize what a miracle we accomplished. Normally there are lots of middlemen in Chinese distribution, but in this case, there were none, which meant maximal speed and minimal price. The goods were U.S. FDA certified, too, and the certification could be verified... We are tech people attempting to function during a pandemic, but what really counted here were personal relationships. Anina knows and trusts the factory owner. Anina and I have known each other for 15 years and I've known Marc Benioff and Mark Cuban even longer. We spend billions as a culture trying to build digital versions of such webs of trust, but sometimes it is better to do it the old fashion way.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

from Slashdot https://ift.tt/34fhfUY

[friendshapedplant]

Just a heads up for anybody looking to buy from ProjectN95: They're ceasing mask sales December 15th. They're already out of the M/L Black N95. The site says they'll put together a list of resources on where to get masks, and the only way I'm aware of getting these so far is ordering straight from Dentec, which will put in an order for a quote so I dunno how much they'll be! Definitely get them from PN95 while you still can.

My new favorite thing: People making their reusable elastomeric respirators beautiful! (Usually the Dentec P100 or the Dentec N95, which are NIOSH-certified and reusable.)

(Above is the artist @nickelpin)

I've been collecting as many of these customizations as I can find, and I think they fall into a few categories:

The first is the colorful distraction, where it seems like the aim is to make the mask colorful and cheerful — less scary — which distracts from the apocalyptic / gas mask vibes, while still being simple enough for everyday wear.

2. The second is make it fashion, where the aim is to just make something that looks so incredibly cool that you feel beautiful wearing it, and it feels like a stylish accessory. These use lots of shiny elements and swirling patterns (all of the below by @nickelpin)

3. And the third is punk where the mask customization embraces and enhances its non-conforming / resistance undertones. My favorite in this category is by @andrewshumate, who installed a CO2 monitor and set it up so the filters change color based on the CO2 levels in the space.

[c19library]

Popular High-Quality Masks

Last Updated September 8, 2023

KN95

BNX Flat Fold KN95

Color Options: Yes Size Options: Yes GB 2626-2019: Yes Manufacturer: BNX Converting, LLC

Amazon: $20.69 for 20

BNX 20-Pack KN95 Face Mask, Disposable Particulate KN95 Mask Made in USA, Protection Against Dust, Pollen and Haze (20 Pack) (Earloop) (Model: E95) White: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

KN95 Masks GB2626-2019 Archives - BNX Converting LLC.

BreatheTeq USA

Color Options: Yes Size Options: Yes (xs, s, m, l, xl) GB 2626-2019: Yes Manufacturer: BreatheTeq

BreatheTeq USA: $14.95 for 10, $69.75 for 50, $129 for 100

BreatheTeq USA - Most breathable KN95 face masks made in North America – breatheTeq

Powecom KN95

Color Options: Yes Size Options: No GB 2626-2019: Yes Manufacturer: Guangdong Languan Medical Biotechnology Co. Ltd.

Project N95: $12-$14 for 10

White: projectn95.org/products/white-kn95-powecom-ear-loop-masks/?configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=false

Black: projectn95.org/products/powecom-kn95-black-ear-loop-masks/?configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=false&query=powecom&page=1

Amazon: $16.47 for 10

Powecom - KN95 Face Mask, Reusable & Disposable Masks, 10 Pack: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

Well Before Flat Fold

Color Options: Yes Size Options: Yes GB 2626-2019: Yes Manufacturer: Well Before

Well Before: Price depends on model and size.

KN95 Masks - WellBefore

Project N95: $14.90 - $15.90 for 10

WellBefore Masks from Project N95

Well Before Boat Style

Color Options: Yes Size Options: Yes GB 2626-2019: Yes Manufacturer: Well Before

Well Before: Price depends on model and size.

3D (KF94 Style) KN95 Mask With & Without Adjustable Ear Loops (wellbefore.com)

Project N95: Standard $9.90 - $10.90 for 10, Adjustable $19.90 - $25.90 for 10

WellBefore Masks from Project N95

N95

3M Aura 9205

Color Options: No Size Options: No NIOSH: Yes Manufacturer: 3M

Amazon: $11.49 for 20, $126 for 440

Amazon.com: 3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+, N95, Pack of 20 Disposable Respirators, Individually Wrapped, 3 Panel Flat Fold Design Allows for Facial Movements, Comfortable, NIOSH Approved : Tools & Home Improvement

Office Depot: $24.69 for 20

3M Aura N95 Particulate Respirator 9205PH 20 DC Pack of 20 Respirators - Office Depot

Project N95: $33.99 for 20

projectn95.org/products/3m-company-n95-respirator-mask-9205-aura/?query=3m&page=1&configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=false

BNX Flat Fold N95

Color Options: Yes Size Options: No NIOSH: Yes Manufacturer: BNX Converting, LLC

Amazon: $15.29 for 10, $21.59 for 20, $54.99 for 50

Amazon.com: BNX N95 Mask NIOSH Certified MADE IN USA Particulate Respirator Protective Face Mask (10-Pack, Approval Number TC-84A-9315 / Model H95W) White : Tools & Home Improvement

N95 Masks NIOSH Certified Archives - BNX Converting LLC.

BNX Trifold Boat N95

Color Options: Yes Size Options: No NIOSH: Yes Manufacturer: BNX Converting, LLC

Amazon: $21.59 for 20, $49.49 for 50

BNX N95 Mask NIOSH Certified MADE IN USA Particulate Respirator Protective Face Mask, Tri-Fold Cup/Fish Style, (20-Pack, Approval Number TC-84A-9362 / Model F95W) White: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

N95 Masks NIOSH Certified Archives - BNX Converting LLC.

Elastomeric (Reusable)

Flo Mask

Color Options: Yes Size Options: Yes (Face and Nose) Filtration: >95%

Adults

Mask: $89.99

Filters: $59.99 for 50

Flo Mask for Adults (KN95)

Kids (Ages 4-12)

Mask: $49.99

Filters: $24.99 for 25

Flo Mask for Kids

Certification Type

GB 2626-2019 (KN95)

95% or higher filtration. Other specific standards set by China. Typically manufactured and certified in China. Some are designed and manufactured in North America.

https://www.projectn95.org/kn95-mask-guide/

https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/NDA4MTMxMzYz

NIOSH (N95)

95% or higher filtration. Other specific standards set by the United States. Manufactured and certified in the United States.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2021-124/pdfs/2021-124.pdf

Other

Labels that indicate set standards, manufacture, and certification in other countries.

https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20200403-2

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2020-04-03-0

Filtration Test Results

CDC

International Assessment Results | NPPTL | NIOSH | CDC

Third-Party (Mask Nerd)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M0mdNLpTWEGcluK6hh5LjjcFixwmOG853Ff45d3O-L0/htmlview#gid=1976839763

[laurellynnleake]

As a disabled person who can't attend in-person protests right now, I'd like to add: GET PEOPLE RESPIRATOR MASKS!

Disposable respirator masks like N95s protect us from deadly and disabling viruses as well as police surveillance. Masking up is an act of solidarity with those who bear the brunt of pandemics and police violence: disabled people of color!

Consider talking to your local activist groups about respirator masks, and see if they are taking mask donations or have some kinda fund or wishlist. Many groups may already be handing out masks at protest events, or want to but don't have the money. If you have funds, consider buying masks in bulk!

But even buying your own supply of masks, and sharing them with your friends and neighbors, helps the cause. It may feel hopeless, but every mask makes a difference and keeps us all safer.

Good places to buy masks:

ProjectN95.org Flo Mask, Bonafide masks, DemeTECH, Family Masks, BE HEALTHY, MaskLab, Armbrust Mask Sampler Kit, Canada Strong, Envo Mask, ReadiMask, [breathe], CanadamasQ, black N95s, breatheTeq

Curious what actions in support of Palestinian liberation you’re engaging in? I’m disabled so participating in physical protests is difficult but I’m not seeing much collective actions that are more accessible to me (other than following BDS company protests, sharing the stories of Palestinians and info about the Israel apartheid state). Maybe I could organize something myself but I’m not even sure what that could look like? Do you have any tips?

educating yourself & being vocal across various social media sites & in your personal life does matter in terms of refusing and combatting rhetoric and disinformation that justifies genocide, including "both-sides" rhetoric

yes, spreading information about & participating in BDS boycotts. tell family & friends. BDS may also have a local chapter near you (note that local chapters may have a different or expanded list of companies to boycott) that you can join & ask how you can help.

contact your representatives (no it's not going to end Israel but it doesn't take much time)

similarly, look for phone zaps taking place in your state. phone zaps organise a good deal of people to call on the same day.

donate to the strike funds or bail funds of labor unions who are blockading arms factories that send weapons to Israel, refusing to offload arms from ships, &c. and spread their links

contact a local labour union or Marxist organisation that's taken an anti-Zionist stance and ask them if there's something you can do to help. some of this might be coördination and organisational work that doesn't require you to leave your home. you're going to be more effective if you link up with other people who are already organising to do work than if you try to organise something yourself without having wide connexions to local labour imo

[kabutone]

projectn95 is a great database of where to buy reliable masks!

you can also check to see if there is a mask bloc near you that you can get masks from

In light of the summer surge of COVID-19 rolling round, masking protocols getting scrapped left and right, other respiratory diseases on the rise and seasonal air pollution ramping up, here's some more things that high-performance respirator masks (N95 and the like) protect against:

Influenza (including bird flu!)

Common cold

Bacterial pneumonia

Tuberculosis

Measles

Fungal spores (including valley fever!)

Dust

Airborne allergens (pollen, pet dander, dust mites, etc)

Man-made air pollution (exhaust from cars and jets, industrial emissions, etc.)

Wildfire smoke

…and much more!

While COVID-19 is undoubtably serious and masking is the best way to prevent yourself from catching it, there's many more reasons why the air might be bad to breathe, and breathing bad air is a public health risk for everyone! Additionally, certain demographics experience higher levels of exposure to airborne contaminants than others, yet they often have the least access to accurate information, personal protective gear and medical resources.

It is imperative, for stemming the spread of COVID, mitigating the effects of other airborne hazards and showing solidarity with vulnerable individuals, that we normalize masking for a variety of reasons. Do you have a cold? Wear a mask. Do you have allergies? Wear a mask. Do you live or work in an area with heavy air pollution? Wear a mask. Is there a wildfire nearby? Wear a mask. Just want to avoid getting sick when you go to the doctor's office? Wear a mask. Whenever and wherever there might be bad air, masking protects you!

It may seem like nobody cares now, but I promise you; change is possible, change is inevitable, and YOU have the agency and ability to make change for yourself, your community and the world by setting an example and spreading the word. So take charge and clear the air!

(I do not use Blaze. Please reblog this post so it gets more notes!)

[feminist-space]

How quickly do people forget. This virus is still very much here. Covid vaccines help but they don't stop people from getting disabling long covid (only reduces those chances by like 5%). Cases are as high as they've been in a while because people have forgotten, and their governments have abandoned them.

Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others. Projectn95.org is on their literal last two days of operation before shutting down -- they have N95, KN95, KF94 masks on sale.

Alt text included in image.

Tw: Graphic descriptions of death

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"In order to handle the thousands of bodies of COVID-19 victims, the city has set up dozens of refrigerated trailers outside medical facilities. They are largely staffed by temporary workers, many of whom have operated in extremely difficult and often gruesome conditions. One of those workers, Erik Frampton, 46, emailed WNYC reporter Arun Venugopal about his experience. He and his husband run a boutique art framing business, but had to suspend their business because of the coronavirus outbreak.

This account is based on that email and subsequent interviews; it contains graphic descriptions of conditions inside the trucks.

"My friend got this gig through a neighbor and offered it to me. We were both welcome additions. There were about 10 in our crew, with two working at a satellite facility.

I lurched. I said yes. Without knowing why I was doing it, without knowing if I was at risk, without knowing what the cost would be.

We are mostly working in one of two full size 20 ton air-cooled trailers. Each can hold about 110 bodies.

They have obviously run out of body bags and space, with the heavy black bags being replaced with very thin white ones. Some are barely in the bags because they have ripped so many times. Almost all of the remains still have their tubes in them, especially the ventilator connections. Most of the index fingers clearly read “Covidean”.

At the main facility on Grand Concourse, yesterday morning began with a jumble of bodies in the trailer. No shelves had been installed yet. The morgue inside the hospital was completely filled with bodies on stretchers, also filling the room outside the refrigerators.

The bodies inside the trailer were not well marked. Sometimes we were forced to open up the bags to find ankle or wrist bracelets. Installing the three-tier shelves was delayed because they were being built hurriedly off-site and kept arriving through 4 p.m. At that point half of the shelving had been installed and bodies two abreast had been hoisted and manhandled and lifted into place.

If I could describe the utter chaos of needing to remove 50 to 80 bodies in a jigsaw arrangement in order to maneuver the shelving over them, I would. But words escape me.

At the satellite facility two miles away, the trailer was more orderly, but there was no coherent inventory. Most of my first four hours yesterday was hand-writing a master inventory list with MR numbers (a dead person’s digits). Three bodies were not found for funeral directors who showed up to collect them.

We are dressed in two layers of body aprons to prevent liquids from splashing on us. Two layered masks--hospital grade--and unlimited gloves. We do not know if the bodies can generate aspirating [COVID-19] particles during their continuing leakage and decomposition, and constant temperature flux.

I absolutely protect myself to the limit of the equipment they provide me. At least, I hope I do, but I’m probably just naive.

We use hospital bed sheets where bags have failed. There are tons of blood and fecal matter, etc., that have leaked out. The floor is sometimes streaked with it.

It pays $75 per hour. They write a check for your first day, in case you don’t come back.

I think I’m scared of dying. I don’t want to die. I’m definitely scared.

My husband’s fears have gone from, “I completely trust you to protect me,” to “I cannot believe you’ve done this to me.”

We are isolating, in a weird way. We’re not touching. We’re not kissing.

But we sleep in the same bed. So it’s all just farce. Clearly the system is overwhelmed. Just caught completely off guard. Funeral directors I’ve met have complimented our operation as well run and organized, describing other facilities as more chaotic. Hard to believe.

Today has been smoother. The satellite here has successfully connected 13 bodies so far with funeral homes. We are handwriting the time of transfer, name, authorized person, etc. After being forced to shrug my shoulders several times yesterday, this is a huge relief.

I know that at least one body is missing in action. The family has sent a photo. That must be sooooo hard on them.

I know that most people go to a funeral and see a body that looks loved and manicured. Families should not know what is going on with their loved ones’ remains in this situation . . . . We have to really move them . . . and it is difficult, probably dangerous, messy. And they are sooooooooo heavy!

My mournfulness for each body, my respect for each body is a literal imagination of who knows them. Who's calling about them? What person could not visit them when they were, you know, in isolation before they had to go on respirator and they couldn't talk anymore? Who wants to know where that person is right now?

I don't have any mournfulness for the vessel that I'm handling. I guess if I did, I wouldn't be able to do this. But I do constantly think of the people who want to know, where is their person? I can assure them that person is safe. Cold. Respected.

I think of a Jennifer, I think of Moyshe, I think of a Santiago, I think of a Melissa, I think of a Bessey and a Betty, I think of an Hernan.

I can't stop thinking of them.""

https://gothamist.com/news/dispatch-morgue-truck-worker-coronavirus-covid-nyc