Tag Archives: oceania

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The new type of face mask being used to protect against COVID-19 in South Korea

A new kind of face mask that allows wearers to keep their nose covered while eating and drinking is being used by diners in South Korea.

The mask, called 'Kosk', is intended to allow people to protect their nostrils from the threat of airborne viruses such as COVID-19 when they need to eat or drink.

The Kosk can be worn like a typical face mask, which cover both the nose and the mouth, but has the added feature that it can be folded up so that it sits only over the wearer's nose.

READ MORE: Warning not to eat or drink up to 30 minutes before taking a saliva RAT

The unusual type of mask, which has been designed by South Korean company Atman, has gone viral online and has received mixed responses.

The Kosk is for sale online from American-South Korean e-commerce company coupang, with a pack of 10 selling for the equivalent of around $11.42.

The product has received a five-star rating from 118 reviews on the website.

It has had varied responses on social media, with critics and skeptics commenting things like, "Is this a joke?", and comparing the mask to "teapots made from chocolate".

READ MORE: Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes

https://twitter.com/museun_happen/status/1487347001037496322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Others have welcomed the invention, saying they "love it".

But what does an epidemiologist think?

Professor Catherine Bennett, Chair in Epidemiology within Deakin's Institute for Health Transformation, commented the invention was a "strange idea".

She said wearing the Kosk would be "better than nothing", but that the wearer was of course still vulnerable to picking up the virus through their mouth.

Professor Bennett said the Kosk might reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 for someone who breathed mainly through their nose, but that she would expect people eating and talking would be breathing through their mouth.

"It probably makes a marginal difference," she said.

The professor noted the Kosk would likely stop the issue of people putting their masks in public places, but said it would likely also create the issue of people being less likely to remember to cover their mouths quickly after they finished eating.

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'Out yourself', Barnaby Joyce tells minister who allegedly sent text about PM to Berejiklian

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has called on the Liberal cabinet minister who allegedly called Scott Morrison a "complete psycho" in a leaked text to former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to come forward.

Speaking in Tamworth today, Mr Joyce said "like 3000 people" knew who the minister was.

"I would suggest that if you know anything about this, don't wait to be outed, out yourself," he said. "And give an explanation."

READ MORE: PM accuses his own party of playing 'childish games'

Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce in Parliament in October.

"Maybe it was a bad day in the office, I don't know. That's a better way to do it."

When asked today if someone in "his own team" was trying to undermine him, Mr Morrison earlier replied "no".

Mr Morrison said was "not fussed" by the texts, and said the person who allegedly sent them had not come forward and confessed.

He spoke kindly of Ms Berejiklian.

"I welcome her very kind comments that she made yesterday and that very much reflects the strong working relationship we've had," he said.

"The scuttlebutt that runs around Canberra, who cares?

"What people say in text messages and on Twitter, frankly, doesn't matter."

READ MORE: Morrison responds to explosive text message leak

Scott Morrison heard of the insults at a Press Club event yesterday.

Speaking earlier today, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese noted the text messages were purportedly sent during the bushfire crisis in the summer of 2019/20.

"These are extraordinary text messages from the people who know Scott Morrison the best," he said.

"These are people who have observed him.

"If people who are Liberal Cabinet Ministers think that, Australians will make their own judgement."