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Is one-way masking effective?
With the federal mask mandate for airplanes, airports and public transport abruptly ending last week, the question of “is one-way masking effective?” arises. One-way masking is when one individual is masked yet others are not. Many may find themselves in this situation while the justice department appeals the decision. While the data is clear that masking is most effective when everyone partakes (as discussed in my previous post), there is still some benefit to masking even if those around you are not masked. The degree of effectiveness however depends on what kind of mask the wearer is wearing, the ventilation and air filtration in the space being occupied, physical distancing, the community transmission levels in the area one is traveling from or traveling to, duration of exposure etc.
I previously discussed the best masks to protect against highly transmissible variants such as omicron, which are also the best masks to wear if those around you are not masked. NIOSH-certified N95 masks are still the most effective, but the masks discussed here including KF94s and KN95s are great alternatives if one is unable to get an NIOSH-certified N95. Earlier this year a study showed that consistent use of a face mask indoors was associated with lower chance of becoming infected with SAR-COV2 and respirators with the highest filtration capacity offered the most protection. The details of this study were discussed in my previous post.
Studies have shown that wearing an N95, KN95 or KF94 can reduce risk of transmission to 1% over one hour of exposure if everyone is wearing one, but there is still benefit to wearing one even if others are not. If you are the only one masking and you opt to wear a well-fitted N95, risk of transmission from someone who is infected and unmasked is decreased to 20% over the course of a one hour exposure. This same study found that if the masked person is wearing a surgical mask however, there is a 90% risk of being infected after 30 minutes of being 5 feet apart. The evidence is again clear that the type of mask and the fit of the mask matters.
Despite the recent ruling ending the mandate, I hope to see the majority of people continuing to mask on planes/public transportation and other crowded areas. I know I will continue to mask to protect the most vulnerable including children who cannot be vaccinated (anyone under age 5) and immunocompromised individuals who don’t receive the full benefit of protection from vaccination alone. Other things to consider are masking will prevent travel disruptions due to getting sick, decrease staff shortages on flights and other modes of transportation (we are already seeing more flight cancellations due to COVID-19 in employees), and will further protect YOU.
Andrejko KL, Pry JM, Myers JF, et al. Effectiveness of Face Mask or Respirator Use in Indoor Public Settings for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection — California, February–December 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:212–216. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7106e1external icon.
Bagheri G, Thiede B, Hejazi B, et al. An upper bound on one-to-one exposure to infectious human respiratory particles. PNAS. 118(49). December 2, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2110117118
Brosseau LM. Fit testing respirators for public health medical emergencies. J Occup Environ Hyg 2010 Sep 30;7(11):628-32
Lindsley WG, Blachere FM, Beezhold DH, et al. A comparison of performance metrics for cloth masks as source control devices for simulated cough and exhalation aerosols. Aerosol Sci Technol 2021 Oct 3;55(10):1125-42
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Best Seattle Coffee Shops (and more)
Seattle is truly a coffee shop lover haven given it’s reputation for sourcing the best coffee beans and harboring some of the most esteemed coffee brands. While I am in no way a coffee bean connoisseur and basically just judge coffee based on how it tastes to me, I am more interested in the overall coffee shop experience. When I evaluate a coffee shop, I’m taking into account the ambiance, the energy, the beverage options (and taste of course), the customer service and the manner in which the shop is run. My focus is to assess the space and see if it inspires creativity, allows for moments of respite and conversations with friends (good people watching is also a bonus). Here’s my Seattle itinerary and Best Seattle Coffee shops based on that criteria:
Day One
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency and were in town for a medical conference nearby at the Washington Convention Center. All the coffee shops we visited were within walking distance (except for a bonus one we stopped at on our way to Mount Rainier). We spent the first day walking around the downtown area and Pike Place. Armistice is about a 5 minute walk from Pike Place. The coffee shop has a botanical vibe with succulents and plants peppered through the shop. I got a vanilla latte and I would rate it the best vanilla latte I had flavorwise (in general, my go-to order is a vanilla almond milk latte or mocha almond milk latte).
After we grabbed our lattes and spent some time soaking up the energy of the coffee shop, we set out to explore more of Pike Place. We ended up getting lunch at Maximilien located within Pike Place and snagging an outdoor seat on their rooftop. The restaurant has a romantic and formal ambience with French cuisine, but the rooftop felt a little more casual. The view from the rooftop is an absolute must-incredible views of Puget sound and Elliot Bay await!
After lunch, we continued our quest to locate the best Seattle coffee shops and ventured to a nearby coffee shop, Storyville, also located in Pike Place. This place really has it all. Starting with its inconspicuous location, hidden away on the second level of Pike Place, it’s alluring from the start. The staff there is noticeably friendly and welcoming, even apologizing for the long wait and compensating us with a free baked item! You know what else is free? MUGS-if it’s your first time there, they will give you one of their signature mugs. The vibe of the coffee shop is also welcoming and has a high coziness factor complete with a fire place. The mocha almond milk latte was my favorite of the entire trip!
That evening, we attended an event for the medical conference I was in Seattle for, which was held at the Museum of Pop and Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. These two museums were a main highlight of our trip. The glass sculptures created by the artist, Chihuly are absolutely breathtaking. The pictures speak for themselves.
Day Two
The next morning, we rented a car and drove to Mount Rainier. Before our drive, we stopped at our next coffee shop on the best Seattle coffee shops list, Mr. West Cafe Bar. This place is located a block away from the Hyatt Regency where we were staying. Every morning, there was a pretty long line outside the shop, but it seemed to move quick. They also have excellent food menu items, which I didn’t get to try. In addition to being a coffee shop and eating establishment, they sell planters and gardening gear, giving the place an earthy vibe. I had a vanilla almond milk latte here and it met my standards.
We set out on our drive to Mount Rainier, which took about two hours. We did not anticipate what awaited us at the park entrance. When we arrived, we were told at the entrance that a blizzard was coming and we were required to have tire chains on our tires! Apparently, this is a requirement to get into the park between the months of November and March whether you actually need to use the tire chains or not. We were directed back about 6 miles to a shop where we could rent the tire chains. I’m glad we got to visit this shop as it provided my bonus coffee shop for this list! Although it’s not in downtown Seattle, I felt the need to support this gem of an establishment.
Paradise Village is a Ukrainian restaurant attached to a hotel that has Ukrainian cuisine, but also offers brunch menu options such as crepes and waffles. I had a scrumptious banana nutella crepe paired with a green tea. The ambiance is very cute and has a cabin-like feel to it. We rented our tire chains and headed back to the park. Sadly, we did not get to go all the way up Mount Rainier as some of the roads were closed given the impending blizzard. We walked a few simple trails to just explore and get a feel for the place, but it started snowing while we were there. Being completely new to this tire chain business, we decided it would be best to cut our time there short and head back to Seattle.
That evening, we were lucky to procure reservations at the famous Shiro’s sushi. The reservation however was only open for omakase, which we didn’t mind because we love omakase. I will say this was hands down the best sushi experiencve I have had and I’ve eaten A LOT of sushi. I really liked the omakase dishes, each course was delectable and unique from the prior course.
Day Three
The next day started off with brunch at Ben Paris where I had the baked eggs. The food was great and the ambiance was also a plus. I then spent the day attending my medical conference (because that’s what I was there for after all). After a day of conferencing, I went to the next place on my best Seattle coffee shops list, Monorail Espresso. I passed by this spot a few times when out and about in Seattle and there was always a long line, but this day, I got lucky and went at the right time. Coffee art seems like the norm here in Seattle and every coffee beverage I had donned some cool design and this one was no different. I had the vanilla almond milk latte and was satisfied.
Day Four
On our last day in Seattle, we walked a little further out of from our vicinity and went to the Portage Bay Cafe in South Lake Union. This place had lots of reviews for excellent brunch and being that I’m definitely a brunch girl, I had to check it out. I ordered the rancher’s breakfast, which is perfect for when you don’t know whether to get a sweet or savory menu item as it comes with eggs, a choice of bacon or sausage AND french toast. They have a french toast bar where you can go and garnish your french toast with fruit, whipped cream and other condiments.
After our meal, we walked a few blocks to the Peet’s Coffee located inside a Capital One, which was our final coffee shop on our best Seattle coffee shops tour. I ordered one of my usuals, the vanilla almond milk latte and explored the two-story workspace. This seems like a great place to come and work if you’re trying to be productive. The design and layout are conducive to creating a quiet work environment.
Our last stop on our Seattle trip was to the Nest rooftop bar of the Thompson hotel. Reservations are advised here as it is difficult to get in especially on a weekend. We reserved a week day time for around 5 pm and I’m so glad we did. Seattle may not be the ideal city for rooftop weather, but we were lucky we had a good weather day (or a few good weather hours) to enjoy this beautiful space.
There it is! The Best Seattle Coffee Shops (and more) guide. As someone who much prefers sunny, warm weather, I was a little concerned about the reputation of Seattle as a cold, rainy place, but I’m glad I got to visit and experience all the city has to offer. While the weather may be dreary most of the time, the city is radiant with a diverse culture and restaurant scene and of course an unmatched love of coffee!
