I did my own research on masks and came away convinced they do indeed make sense for now. None will block a virus particle but that’s not the point, what’s different about covid-19 from the flu and other viruses is it lives and spreads mainly from the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) instead of from the lower (bronchi and lungs). That’s why even normal speech will cause aerosol particles containing the virus to spew out, and any kind of face covering will block those aerosols.
So the scientific reason makes sense, and that’s why it’s fine to wear the mask off whenever you’re within 6 ft. of others, and to take it off the rest of time. I wish they’d have explained this, people will be more apt to comply if they understand the “why”.
There’s only a couple problems with that. A) Loads of people are wearing them with exhalation relief valves which renders them worthless for that intended purpose.
B) the bulk of transmission is fomite, the particles are picked up and transferred via hand and people unused to masks are constantly touching and adjusting and pulling up and down masks which of themselves are a nice warm moist repository for the virus’.
I did my own research on masks and came away convinced they do indeed make sense for now. None will block a virus particle but that’s not the point, what’s different about covid-19 from the flu and other viruses is it lives and spreads mainly from the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) instead of from the lower (bronchi and lungs). That’s why even normal speech will cause aerosol particles containing the virus to spew out, and any kind of face covering will block those aerosols.
So the scientific reason makes sense, and that’s why it’s fine to wear the mask off whenever you’re within 6 ft. of others, and to take it off the rest of time. I wish they’d have explained this, people will be more apt to comply if they understand the “why”.
Except for the fact people keep taking them on and off and touching their faces. I thought we were to wash our hands and not touch our faces. The continual up and down of the mask totally defeats the purpose. Especially if you pull it down, touch something, and then pull it back up. I’m still going to roll my eyes.