"That's not what their research showed. Their researched showed that a detectable level of infectious virus was present on the outer layer of a surgical mask on day 7 (∼0·1% of the original inoculum). " It is difficult to write about when not presenting the original studies - thanks for getting it. If I was telling somebody about it I would say "So these guys did a study and a small portion of infectious virus was still found on their masks. Your mask could also have some infectious virus on it." BTW - it is shocking to hear about after all the other stuff I've read. You think you are protecting yourself (The N95 mask inventor said air-dry for 3 to 4 days), and then you hear new information. On the other hand is 1% of the virus remaining still a huge threat? I guess it depends on how much was there to begin with. Also, an N95 mask doesn't filter all of the virus anyway - just reducing the load. (I'm trying to make myself feel better for only drying my masks for 4 days!) Although I wash or sanitize my hands before and after donning and after doffing, so there's that!
Agreed on the reduced threat if 1% of the virus is remaining.
It’s a matter of reducing risk. It’s very challenging to eliminate risk. There’s going to be risk, in all sorts of things we do. Heck, the flu has risks of death associated with it.
But we all make an evaluation on risk and how much we can live with. A lot of the time, we do it without even thinking about it.
I’m hopeful one good outcome of awareness of COVID-19 is a reduction in flu. Hand washing should be a helpful practice. The same for people working while sick.