To Mask or Not to Mask

Pennsylvania House GOP ^ | 2 July A.D. 2020 | Rep. Mike Jones

[Old Yeller]

Our DemonRat governor in Kansas has declared an edict that we all must wear masks in public starting July 3rd.

[EvilCapitalist]

Except that won’t happen for long, because if Joe wins the democrats will raise taxes, and undoubtedly bring back all of the job killing regulations that President Trump cut.

[Wonder Warthog]

“You just made that up.”

No. I’m a scientist (PhD Chem) with a background in biowarfare instrumentation development. I actually understand this stuff. The generation of microaerosols is a critical part of understanding the subject.

Good layman’s summary of the science behind mask-wearing:

https://theconversation.com/masks-help-stop-the-spread-of-coronavirus-the-science-is-simple-and-im-one-of-100-experts-urging-governors-to-require-public-mask-wearing-138507

A second layman’s article on the science behind mask-wearing:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200504-coronavirus-what-is-the-best-kind-of-face-mask

Particle sizes stopped by masks:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252

Composition of saliva (the microdroplets generated by coughs and sneezes):

https://www.thejpd.org/article/S0022-3913(01)54032-9/fulltext

Size distribution of microdroplets generated by sneezing:

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2013.0560

More about droplets and aerosols:

https://first10em.com/aerosols-droplets-and-airborne-spread/

Still more about droplets and aerosols:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143281/

And still more about droplets and aerosols:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143281/

[2aProtectsTheRest]

Umm.. Ebola doesn't spread that way. You don't need a mask to safely stand next to someone who has Ebola. It only spreads via direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with: blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.

Bubonic plague spreads via infected insect (typically flea) bites. Septicemic plague spreads via infected fleas or by handling an infected animal. Only pneumonic plague is commonly spread via cough. Since they're respiratory droplets (>5-10μm in diameter), a mask would effectively reduce the risk of transmission from an infected person to an uninfected person.

The mask doesn't prevent you getting infected; it drastically reduces the risk that respiratory droplets released by you talking or coughing or sneezing make it to another person. And it doesn't filter the virus itself. The mask stops the respiratory droplets required for viral transmission.

Airborne transmission is distinct from transmission by respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets are large enough to fall to the ground rapidly after being produced (usually greater than 5 μm), as opposed to the smaller particles that carry airborne pathogens. Also, while respiratory droplets consist mostly of water, airborne particles are relatively dry, which damages many pathogens so that their ability to transmit infection is lessened or eliminated. Thus the number of pathogens that can be transmitted through an airborne route is limited.

[goorala]

I’ve never been sneezed or coughed on by an adult in my entire life. If you are being sneezed or coughed on, perhaps you should consider an alteration of your personal hygiene habits.

[goorala]

No you’re not. If you were, you would explain it yourself. Instead, you are a PhD in google.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I’ve never been sneezed or coughed on by an adult in my entire life. If you are being sneezed or coughed on, perhaps you should consider an alteration of your personal hygiene habits."

It isn't just coughing or sneezing that generates bioaerosols. Talking is quite sufficient. The vocal cords might almost be specifically designed to generate such aerosols.

"If you were, you would explain it yourself. Instead, you are a PhD in google."

Why should I invest the time, when others have collected the necessary info?? The difference is that I actually understand what the science parts are saying.

[fortheDeclaration]

Take your masks and shove them! Once they get us wearing masks, they will never remove the order.

[fortheDeclaration]

In Texas our gutless Governor is ordering it!

[Svartalfiar]

This is why every package of N95 masks at the Home Deport (and elsewhere) has the clear statement on the “use document” that comes with it which states it does not prevent the transmission of any disease.

You're way overthinking this. Here's a simple refutation:

Does a bandanna prevent any kind of disease transmission? (Obviously, not.) Then why is a bandana considered an acceptable face covering for all these mask-required orders?

[HartleyMBaldwin]

bttt