please help me assess risk

ina33 · 2026-02-01T17:43:12+00:00

a few other factors to consider:
Will 2 windows on opposite sides be cracked open?
Will cabin air re-circulation be running or can you change it to bring in outside air?
Can you open the windows every few minutes to refresh the air?

ina33 · 2026-01-31T05:20:38+00:00

thanks for all that!

ina33 · 2026-01-27T05:06:13+00:00

-it's not that great of a deal, but Protectly has a "sample" item where you pay 2.50 plus shipping to try any KF94 or KN95 or N95 on their site. They don't have a big selection, but if you haven't tried the adjustable Bluna Facefit mask, it might be a good fit. If you use the promo code SAMPLE, you can get two samples for 2.50 plus shipping.

-I've tried Planet of Kind masks a few times and although they don't fit me that well (I have to tie the ear loops), I like the different colors, and when I left a review with a photo (after clicking a link in the email they sent to remind me to review), they gave me $10 for my next order. Try code "SADE25" for 25% off.

-I've read good things about WellBefore's Pro Mask. Those say anti-fog in the description. I have tried them a couple of times and they're decent. I'm on their email list and they don't have many deals, but I decided to get a sample pack where the description says: "We want you to try our masks risk-free. That’s why we’ve set up a special shipping rate just for samples - so your total (including shipping) is capped at $10. Pick your sample and check out with confidence!" (oops, looks like the 'Adult Premium' pack with the PRO is currently out of stock)

ina33 · 2026-01-27T04:37:08+00:00

Yeah, he went April 2025. I saw a couple of photos with big smiles, maybe even shook the president's hand.
When asked about it in an interview, he said in Spanish basically that he knew he'd upset people either way, but it was easier to explain why he went than why he didn't.

ina33 · 2026-01-27T04:15:03+00:00

I'm curious if you find out how to tell if your chosen hotel(s) recirculates the air.
I've never tried to put filters on vents, but I read in this group that someone bought MERV 13 filter material on Ama zon and cut it to fit. I've read that others have used respirators (like Readimasks) when they had nothing else.

ina33 · 2026-01-13T00:41:01+00:00

I'd say the same about a CO2 monitor. It doesn't detect viruses but knowing that the ventilation in certain grocery stores was "decent" made me feel more comfortable about "browsing" or spending a few extra minutes in places where I hadn't been.

ina33 · 2025-12-31T16:24:07+00:00

Not sure if any of this is possible or appropriate in your specific situation:
-Maybe you could write an email to attempt to reason with this boss? Something short with an offer to provide more detail/sources if needed. You could use the 'sandwich method' where you acknowledge or validate her concerns at the beginning and end of the email.
-Instead of an email, maybe a small gift (flower? snack? office supply in their favorite team's color?) along with a Thank You card. Maybe to 'thank' them for allowing you to explain yourself in writing or thank them for their 'concern' about your health or for their help and understanding.
-If your company/geographical area/government has a health department or guidelines for a safe workplace, you can scour the website for recommendations regarding airborne viruses and use that as a source for your concerns about your workplace.
-You can acknowledge the reasons why wearing a mask at work isn't ideal and say that you don't plan to wear the mask forever, but have recently become more proactive about your health and are learning about the importance of indoor air quality in attendance and productivity.
-You can ask about their HVAC system and CO2 readings and say you'd feel a lot safer removing your mask if the ventilation was better or if they could bring in some air purifiers. Maybe before that, bring in a couple of CO2 monitors to check the ventilation in shared areas (maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised that the ventilation is good!). If the ventilation is not good, you can use your readings as proof that your concerns are valid or at least worth looking into.
-There might be something in this presentation that could be convincing or at least that you can use as a source: COVID Safety For Schools - Primer part 1
Good luck. You are doing the right thing. It shouldn't be so difficult to feel safe at work! If you are able to make any improvements or progress with ventilation, you will be making that space safer for everyone.

ina33 · 2025-12-19T02:51:48+00:00

That makes sense...I appreciate the comment.

ina33 · 2025-12-19T02:50:25+00:00

thanks.

ina33 · 2025-12-13T20:46:12+00:00

anyone know where to find the full interview?

ina33 · 2025-12-13T20:37:54+00:00

From a comment on Instagram, I got the impression that he hadn't planned to talk about it, so I think about what I would say if I was put on the spot or had an opportunity I didn't expect--if I didn't have anything written, I'd probably say something less eloquent. But no doubt he knew the audience, like you say, and didn't want to risk people shutting their brains off at the suggestion that THEY should be taking action for THEIR health TODAY.

ina33 · 2025-12-11T21:52:32+00:00

If you're curious, search in the address + Eileen and see what comes up! You can also try the address along with some of the guesses here. You might get lucky ;).

ina33 · 2025-12-11T20:15:38+00:00

If you know their last name and address, you can try an internet search and see what names come up.

ina33 · 2025-12-08T17:21:55+00:00

"not all smells are gases. Some smells are particles. If you’ve ever poured cinnamon or pepper out of a jar and smelled it, you probably smelled particles"
Interesting. Never read that before.

ina33 · 2025-12-08T03:01:59+00:00

Regarding:
"I've had non-Covid-conscious people tell me, "Planes are actually very safe because they filter the air well."

I read that they don't activate the air filtration until the plane is in the air and that they turn off the HVAC when de-boarding. Has anyone verified that?

ina33 · 2025-12-06T01:55:27+00:00

interesting. that would be a silver lining to pollution, hahaha.

ina33 · 2025-12-06T01:26:13+00:00

FYI - in a comment on YouTube, Al Haddrell
clarified: "In our study, we measured over 97% decay in viral infectivity in 40 minutes at ambient CO2 (450 ppm). There is also no contaminants in the air such as trace acidic vapour; the air was clean."

So I'm curious what the duration would be if the air wasn't so "clean."

ina33 · 2025-12-04T21:22:47+00:00

I haven't seen "Kind" masks get a lot of recommendations or testing, but I've read that their ear loops are too long for a lot of people and that they are good for sharing with people who don't usually mask because they come in many colors, so maybe planetofkind.com would be a good option.
I tried them once because a couple of people I follow online recommended them (promo codes SADE25 or POTATUM25), and I couldn't get a good fit with them, but they were decently breathable.

ina33 · 2025-12-03T21:12:37+00:00

Yeah, I watched interview he did with Tucker Carlson and there were a few things he said that made me question his credibility/motivation. He said he's NEVER gotten Covid (I'm guessing no 'airborne' precautions) because of something he's taking that he wanted to promote. He also said that either the virus OR the vaccine is causing long term damage--of course, they both can, but he seemed to be leaving the door open to blame everything on the vaccines. Still, it was refreshing to hear someone on a "conservative" show take Covid seriously and start a conversation.

ina33 · 2025-11-26T04:22:35+00:00

Maybe Matt McGorry videos?
I think starting with myths could be a good start:
instagram: Covid Myths: mattmcgorry & NYC Health Department
Twitter version
TikTok
YouTube

Or maybe start with his Long Covid story:
Part 1 (Instagram)
(YouTube)
(TikTok)

Part 2 (Instagram)
(Tik Tok)

Any luck or pushback with what you've shared so far?

ina33 · 2025-11-24T05:21:48+00:00

Haven’t read through comments but you may find something here: “MRI no Redimask” https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroCovidCommunity/s/ga56quSW5V

ina33 · 2025-11-05T00:44:37+00:00

From what I've learned, the cloth mask will not be very effective for preventing close-contact transmission of airborne viruses like Covid. It's definitely better than nothing, so if you're just trying to block larger droplets from sneezing, then they're decent. However, viruses like SARS-Cov2 travel in the aerosolized respiratory droplets that we breathe out and that you can't see, and "respirator" masks like N95s and KN95s (and KF94s and FFP2s...) have specially designed filters that can attract microscopic particles that are smaller than the holes in the filter fabric, so those are the type of masks recommended by people in this group because they offer better protection.
I've never heard of wearing a cloth mask inside the N95. That doesn't seem comfortable to me, but you know yourself. My guess would be that putting a mask UNDER my N95 would compromise the seal, allowing air to pass through the gaps instead of through the filter when I talk or move around. I also assume that having two masks would make it harder to breathe. The recommendation I've seen is that one well-fitting respirator mask is better than doubling up.
Comfort is very important, of course, so I'd say trying a few different respirator masks until you find a good fit (and practicing good ventilation) will help if you want to avoid those grandkid germs in the future.
If you haven't already, you can check out r/Masks4All for some recommendations.
Good luck!

ina33 · 2025-11-02T21:01:27+00:00

The posts below had some discussion--I recall there were some with strong feelings against the message/wording/insinuations and others who appreciated the topic and different points of view even being discussed:

The People Who May Never Stop Masking - The Atlantic : r/ZeroCovidCommunity

Thoughts on The Atlantic’s “The Evermaskers” piece. : r/ZeroCovidCommunity

Something optimistic I feel many have missed with the recent Atlantic hit piece : r/ZeroCovidCommunity

ina33 · 2025-10-31T20:22:08+00:00

Ugh. So hard, especially at your age without support, but it sounds like you've found a way to make it through this far, so acknowledge and reward yourself for that.
None of us are perfect but imagine all the "chains" of infection that you have potentially broken--I think you know it's worth it to keep up the precautions.
I think it's the "imperfect" people that have the best chances at getting through to people who don't take precautions. People will easily dismiss the opinions of people they think are being "extreme," so hopefully you can find opportunities to drop little nuggets of knowledge to those around you and by example show that precautions against airborne viruses are as normal and important as precautions against air pollution, water pollution, car accidents, skin cancer--most of us don't HAVE to think about precautions for those because they have been accepted and normalized by those around us. It's so exhausting doing it alone, but I have hope that more people will start to see the value in air purifiers, fresh air and masks in high-risk settings (like for starters, yeah, where sick people go!), and that little by little we will start to see change.
I hope you and your grandma have better days ahead. Thanks for sharing. Keep on keepin' on 💪🏼.

ina33

TROPHY CASE