Plague Diary 15 Masked Messages

The institution I work in scored boxes of these sturdy, multi-layer masks. The box is labeled exclusively in English, so the administration likely bought them over the Internet or some alumnus shipped them from the U.S. The good part is, I've got 100 of them and they fit my face well enough.

The WHO now says wear masks in regions where coronavirus infection is spreading, and researchers recommend how and when to re-use or discard different kinds of masks. The CDC has simple instructions for washing cloth masks, which indicates washing cloth masks is a thing, according to them.

I've experimented with ways to clean them. Ironing the disposable masks didn't work out - the thin synthetic surface melted quickly. By accident, a few of them made their way into the washing machine and came out intact. The masks right out of the box have a clinical, hospital smell, so washing and drying in the sun made wearing them more tolerable. I'll see how long they survive machine washing, and if they thin, I'll dispose of them. 

On Tuesday, I finally received my Abenomasuku, popped it in the washing machine and the thing frayed on the edges. As you can see, it's considerably smaller than the disposable masks I got.

The stylish cloth mask is three layers and large enough, but the elastics are a bit short, so I'll adjust them. The Japanese motif mask is the handiwork of a worker's collective in Noda City, Kamifuusen. The masks are about 500 yen a piece, and they have cute and manly ones, too.

The tiny Abenomask? I'll donate them to the nursery school around the corner. 

I'll be wearing my oshare cloth mask and my washed disposable masks when I do my errands at these places which are opening up.