Panic only makes tunnel vision narrower and emboldens irrational thinking.
I am not preaching. Right now, I am seriously considering spending hundreds of dollars a month on medical and respirator face masks.
Facts and reality alleviate panic and eliminates panic-buying regret (I don’t know why I need a face mask. As of this writing, over 110,000 people on Earth have COVID-19. In December 2019, only a few people in China had it. How did face masks prevent this spread? I don’t care – I want a face mask).
Medical face masks are designed to prevent the wearer from spreading germs. They block pollution to some degree. They are NOT effective in blocking highly contagious viruses.
COVID-19, or “Coronavirus Disease 2019,” is a “novel,” or newer version of an existing respiratory virus that primarily infects animals like livestock, camels, and bats. It sometimes transfers into humans.
The former SARS and MERS epidemics were strains of the coronavirus. Believe it or not, the common cold is just a form of the coronavirus.
The coronavirus was first recorded by science in the 1960s. It mutates into newer strains regularly.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus December 2019) is the newest version of coronavirus discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
I am panicking. The flu kills 12,000 to 61,000 Americans every year. I didn’t get the free annual vaccination.
This feels different.
COVID-19 is new and it spread around the world quickly. Scientists are still learning about it.
I want to get face masks. But there are massive shortages which affects doctors and hospitals.
And, they really don’t protect against COVID-19 unless you practice social distancing.
Paying to Ease Panic
I’ve been doing the math. Not for the context of this article mind you.
I am seriously freaking out and for some reason, I think medical face masks would have stopped the Black Death if they existed centuries ago.
You can get medical face masks in 50-pack and 100-pack boxes for $32 to $44.
However, you must wear 1 or 2 per day. Some of these face masks, the cheapest ones, are so thin and flimsy you might have to wear two-at-a -time.
So, that can add up to $88 monthly, or about $1,056 annually.
The N95 respirator mask costs $65 for a 2-pack. A 20-pack costs $175.
N95 respirator masks require a filter that only works for 8-hours. Filter packs, which contain 2 to 6 filters, start at $17 but are usually more expensive.
N95 respirator face masks are designed to block particles of dust but may be optimal to protect against COVID-19 – for an expensive, daily cost.
I am learning that the best way to protect against COVID-19 is to wash my hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizer.
If COVID-19 particles get on your hands and you touch your eyes or nose, then a cheap medical face mask or a $32 N95 respirator mask won’t provide any protection.
It’s a costly, financially wasteful endeavor buying face masks in bulk to quell panic when it obviously doesn’t provide protection.
Soap and water and common-sense hygienic practices are much cheaper solutions, for now.
You can buy a simple cloth face mask or use a bandanna. There is no reason to buy this product in massive bulk quantities since we are on lockdown. (After lockdown might be another issue).
And as I explained, buying the N95 masks will cost a pretty penny in the long run. Medical professionals need it anyway.
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Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.
