The Bandana Face Mask
There is quite a controversy these days about whether or not to wear a face mask in public to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. The way you should think of this is not to protect yourself but to protect others from being infected by you. On the other hand there is a shortage of proper medical face masks which no sensible person would want to exacerbate.
Yesterday I saw this little video on YouTube that shows how to make a mask from a bandana and two elastic bands:
The instructions are so simple that I even managed to make one myself, though it’s not as neat as the one in the video.

The thing about all the folding is that it puts several layers in between your nose/mouth and the outside world. It’s important to use quite large elastic bands too, otherwise it will pull on your ears.
It’s quite comfortable so from now on I think I will wear one whenever it seems appropriate. The only disadvantage I’ve found so far is that it results in the audio quality on my video lectures being somewhat degraded…
Follow @telescoper
April 22, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Last week I applied for a loan at my local bank. I had to wear my face mask…it was uncomfortable.
April 22, 2020 at 3:00 pm
You own a bandana?
I have used a scarf myself.
April 22, 2020 at 3:01 pm
I have two..
April 22, 2020 at 3:06 pm
Wow.
April 22, 2020 at 3:26 pm
You need to add a folded or twice folded paper towel inside to reach the same level of filtration as a surgical mask of grade I or even II.
April 22, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Can you still breathe if that lot is added to a home-made mask?
April 22, 2020 at 5:37 pm
According to my physician, it still let you breathe almost normally when added to a tissue mask. The more folds the worse of course.
April 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm
I can see the elastic bands but where is the banana?
April 22, 2020 at 4:02 pm
I think it may be less effective if you deploy a banana in this way.
April 23, 2020 at 11:19 am
Does microwaving them work? (Genuine question.)