Masks seem to have some effect limiting the spread of Covid-19. Even if their efficacy is overblown that shouldn’t be a reason not to use them. They’re something easy and low cost we can do, and they’re one of the few things within our own control besides staying completely isolated.
While they likely don’t explain why countries like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos have done so well against the virus as some have claimed, there’s very little reason not to wear a mask at this point.
U.S. airlines now require masks. And Marriott has become the first to announce a mask requirement for all guests in on-property indoor spaces and not just for employees. This requirement goes into effect July 27. I expect the other major chains will follow.
Following American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)’s “Safe Stay Guest Checklist” announcement last week, Marriott International will require all guests to wear a face covering in its hotels effective July 27. pic.twitter.com/frOjzcCQAs
— Marriott International (@MarriottIntl) July 20, 2020
To be sure hotel chains have enough of a problem even getting their properties to change the sheets and some moves made under the guide of Covid-19 are really about cutting costs for properties that are struggling, cleanliness and masking are part of the measures that will give guests confidence that it’s safe to stay in hotels.
Part of that though is that Marriott and other hotel chains need to drop the idea of bulk wall-mounted toiletries, where one guest shares with the next. Those dispensers are touch points that have never been cleaned well, that have been tampered with, and frequently aren’t refilled. There are plenty of photos of bacteria growing inside once they’re opened up, too.
Ultimately hotels that earn a revenue premium are the ones that are perceived to care for their guests, make them feel safe, and make them feel at home.
Ive never askedabout the american Irlines bank deposit credits only heard about them from u
If you thought getting rid of individual toiletries was “ecology-theater”
then thinking that keeping them would prevent COVID spread over soap dispensers is utter “hygiene theater”.
I have been wearing masks since before they were cool (I’m Asian if that helps) and I encourage mask wearing in all public spaces but I hope Marriott hotels stand willing to refund any guest who made a reservation prior to this announcement. It is a material change in how a guest may or may not be able to enjoy the hotel.
I presume they mean in the common areas only – lobby, hallways, bar. I cannot imagine that they think they can force people to wear masks in their rooms.
I have no problems wearing a mask if they hotels and airlines ask. I think it’s pointless, but if they want me to, I will.
One thing I do love however is to annoy our newly appointed hygiene saints and experts who claim that not wearing a mask will get everyone killed.
@Joe – that you think mask wearing is pointless, despite all scientific evidence to the contrary, shows your dreadful intellect. You are a disgusting waste of oxygen. Please go to hell.
@Jason – I have a PhD in Biochemistry. Where did you get your scientific knowledge? Youtube university?
@Joe – I am a full professor of biochemistry at an R1 state flagship.
@Jason – And all of the eloquence and dignity to prove it eh?
@Joe – yeah homeboy
Companies are realizing that a majority of people want mask wearing to be mandatory and in order to increase business they are starting to require it. The anti-mask group is a loud but small % of the population.
And as more and more people have family/friends suffering from the virus they are realizing it is a tough virus for some people. Sadly you don’t know if it will hit you bad until after you have had it. I’ve lost 2 people already, 4 others had slight symptoms for a week or so, and another person is having a rough multi-week battle at home (so far).
Masks are quite effective at lowering the transmission rate, where are you getting your information? Even cloths masks if used by everybody are enough to bring the transmission rate R0 close to 1. This kind fo post does everyone a diservice.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7191274/
Masks Don’t Work: A Review of Science Relevant to COVID-19 Social Policy. https://www.rcreader.com/commentary/masks-dont-work-covid-a-review-of-science-relevant-to-covide-19-social-policy
@Gary Cornell – I will quote your own article:
“Medical masks did not significantly protect against viral, bacterial, droplet or other infection outcomes. However, the summary odds ratio for masks was less than one, which suggests a low level of protection.”
and also:
“Medical masks were not effective, and cloth masks even less effective”
So there you go. Wearing a medical mask is effective, marginally. Cloth masks, in what few studies have been done, have not been shown to be effective at all.
@Bob B:
1) The writer of that letter is conflating aerosol particles with water droplets. Water droplets appear to be a bigger player in virus spread
2) This is an opinion page of a local paper rather than a peer-reviewed article. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the author has reviewed other studies and is not including those that do show the efficacy of mask wearing.
3) The author may be a Ph.D (Albeit in Physics and not a Bio-related field)but he seems not be totally on the up and up per his Wiki page: “Denis Rancourt is a former professor of physics at the University of Ottawa. Rancourt is a recognized scientist but is more widely known for his confrontations with his former employer, the University of Ottawa, over issues involving his grade inflation and “academic squatting,” the act of arbitrarily changing the topic of a course without departmental permission.”
@Bob B again:
4) Most of the studies that were shown looked at whether one person wearing a masks prevents them from getting it, whereas the mandatory mask order is to prevent the wearer from spreading it, not contracting it. As the saying goes “my mask protects you, your mask protects me”
Again – from the WSJ (not an “AOC-lovin libtard” rag these days) – https://www.wsj.com/articles/face-masks-really-do-matter-the-scientific-evidence-is-growing-11595083298
@Bob B – excuse us if we don’t trust the “River Cities Reader” as the leading authority on mask science. SMH.
@Joe – one person not wearing a mask – no that’s not going to get people killed. One person times a few billion with that attitude – yes, a lot will get killed.
@Bob B – while my post w/link gets posted – can I assume you’d be fine then, on your next visit to the ER, if no orderlies/nurses/doctors/surgeons bother to wear a mask while attending to you?
Looking forward to your response.
Further Comment: From New England Journal of Medicine: Universal Masking in Hospitals: … “We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.” https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372 . About 150,000 people die worldwide everyday and in USA “covid” deaths are primarily elderly people in Nursing homes/ long term facilities.. Why treat Marriott hotels like being in a hospital where you expect sick patients?
Is this policy for just USA or worldwide?
@david – worldwide
I take it this policy is in addition to local requirements. Meaning that Marriott was already requiring this an their properties where local and state authorities were requiring masks?
I think this is a cheap shot from Marriott leadership to get publicity at no cost from the company. How about some summer promo instead? Let’s face it – Bonvoy is the only major hotel chain without a promo running. This is why after 1,000 nights with SPG+Marriott I am staying with Hyatt this summer.
@ Gary Cornell
The same authors you cited published another article back in 2015:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25903751/
I have copied the summary of results below. Note that “Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97%” . This means that the cloth masks protected against particle penetration by mere 3%. Note that this still when a mask is properly fitted.
Either way International Journal of Nursing Studies were the first paper was published has impact factor of 3.8 – not very high at all for a medical journal. And editors do love to see their impact factors to go up…
——————————
Results: The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI statistically significantly higher in the cloth mask arm (relative risk (RR)=13.00, 95% CI 1.69 to 100.07) compared with the medical mask arm. Cloth masks also had significantly higher rates of ILI compared with the control arm. An analysis by mask use showed ILI (RR=6.64, 95% CI 1.45 to 28.65) and laboratory-confirmed virus (RR=1.72, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.94) were significantly higher in the cloth masks group compared with the medical masks group. Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.
The real question is whether or not they are going to require staff to wear masks. I checked into a Hilton Home2 today, first hotel I’ve been to since the pandemic started. My wife and I were the only people wearing masks, not a single staff member, not a single other guest was wearing a mask. After coming from the airport where the compliance was almost complete this was shocking. The plane ride was the part of this trip was the part I was mistakenly the most worried about.
@Alex_77W Great observation. This reeks of empty promises made in order to keep from spending money on marketing. Just this morning I was pricing hotel rooms for my next stay and I was going out of my way to try and give the business to Marriott, but it was impossible. Once I figured in the value of the summer bonuses from the other chains, the Marriott brands were not competitive, not even close. Now I won’t bother again.
I won’t offer a non-expert opinion on the value of masks. I see the quotes above do an excellent job letting the readers decide for themselves. Much more informative than what we get on the evening news, or from memes on Facebook.
if required to use in public areas of the hotel. I assume the breakfast will be served inside each guest room since the face mask requirement is impossible to follow in the restaurant when you need to expose your mouth in order to eat or drink.
And then when people pull it down on your cheek or neck the virus is moving to your exposed neck instead making it it easy access.
That’s why you always should remove the mask completely when eating or drinking
Gary,
Got a simple soapy solution for ya that I use.
1. Find a nearby dollar general/dollar tree or walmart
2. Spend 1 to 3 dollars on a bottle of shampoo/bodywash whatever in a smell you like.
There now you don’t need to worry about unhygenic tubs.
To bring the price down buy a pack of travel shampoo bottles from dollar store and fill them up at home. Or just leave 3 dollar shampoo when you leave idk.
@A_B
That would defeat the purpose of staying at a hotel wouldn’t it? Might as well stay at an airbnb.
Jason telling people to “go to hell” gets you no credibility in my book. Learn to have a discussion without insults and name calling and maybe people will listen to you.
@Joe
I don’t think so, just packing or buying my own shampoo is not a big inconvenience.
And since most mini-bottled hotel shampoo is in some cruddy gender neutral scent I find buying my own to be a superior option.
Of course for my travels I’m a Hampton/Fairfield guy, maybe more fancy hotels have better smells.