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Do this test I challenged my whole family at thanksgiving which is full of rabid antimaskers.

First set a burning candle 2 meters away the recommended CDC distance that’s just over 6 feet for scientifically illiterate Mericans. Now from that distance blow the candle out. The average person with normal lung capacity will be able to blowout with ease. Now take a single layer of cotton I used the thin nearly see.through napkins we had been using and put it over your nose and mouth tie behind the ears. Now blow I mean BLOW as hard as you can from the same 2 meters I guarantee you won’t be able to do it I won 200 bucks on the spot from two uncles who were convinced they had manly enough lungs to do it. Now keep moving closer half a meter at a time till you can blow that candle out. My two uncles who both are massive men had to get within 30cm to blow it out. The goal of the mask was never repeat after ne NEVER to filter incoming particles for that you need a biological rated P100 filter system. The goal which this.simple test shows is to keep your breath and airflow and consequently all your mouth funk close to your face and not in the air. This test accurately shows that even a simple cloth keeps personal airflow at 30cm or less and without ay 2+ meters that’s just physics and easily proven. Its a straw man argument to whine about particles and size the cloth was never ment to stop them and was never ment to protect the wearer it keeps their funk on their face nothing more nothing less. Personally I wear a biological weapons rated 40mm NATO rated filter mask with eye protection when out and I know with third party testing proof that the filters are keeping bacteria and viruses out. The mask in 2014 was $350 and filters were $140 a pair in 2014 you get what you pay for. I know I’m a walking immune as long as my filters are not clogged up they are so tight even “clear” air eventually plugs them after 8 hours of use. For a trip to the store or bank I just walk by people knowing I’m 99.997% safe from them and thats good enough for me.

Yours is another sad example of what is wrong with the approach of our so-called “leaders”. Esp. the Governors and the CDC. They appear to be worthless and have left the people ignorant.

Here’s how masks work, used properly:

On the supply side (infectious person exhaling, sneezing, etc.) the virions are in mucous droplets large enough for even a decent quality surgical mask to catch almost all of them. There are some good vids on YouTube utilizing high speed high resolution cameras to demonstrate this. Cloth masks vary — the better ones are pretty good. Non-valved N95’s and better are actually overkill for this, but also see below.

Further, the mask provides a warm moist environment so the mask fibers can soak up droplets more effectively, like a slightly moistened cloth rag for cleanup, rather than a dry one.

Successful infection depends on several factors, but keep in mind that one’s innate immune system will generally prevent infections by “small” numbers of virions. Large numbers will tend to overrun the innate immune system. The larger the numbers of virions that get past the innate system, the more severe the infection is likely to be. Thus, so-called “viral load” is a big deal, and minimizing it is important. Masks do not stop all virions, but, properly used they DO reduce the viral load one is likely to encounter if going to, say, the grocery store. So, people who talk about masks not “stopping” a virus are correct in a sense, but badly educated. The idea is to reduce the number of virions one might encounter in, say, a few hours in stores. Call it slowing the rate of inhalation of virions if you wish. Keep that rate low, and most people will not get sick, and the number with serious or fatal cases will be reduced. This is not a black and white or “precise” sort of thing, but as a general trend it IS in effect. It is VERY basic virology and epidemiology.

For protection against incoming virions, because even with everyone wearing masks properly, a Wal-Mart that happens to have a large number of spreaders in it is going to have a significant level of virions about, and more vulnerable folks and those taking care of vulnerable folks are at some risk... ...That’s when non-valved N95’s are needed.

N95’s are VERY effective in trapping small / dry virions in the air because they utilize permanently (unless abused) charged polyester fibers. (This charge is sometimes known as an “electret” effect: It is used a bit differently in about a zillion electret condenser microphones.) Anyway, essentially these fibers’ static charge grabs particles as they go by. Smaller particles are actually nabbed more effectively than large particles because the small ones have less momentum to surface area ratio. (Other layers of the N95 mask target larger particles or droplets conventionally.)

There are other aspects to this: Masks help keep one from touching their nose (polite way of putting it) and then another surface, or vice versa. And so on. But your main argument is about the size of the virions, and, I’m sorry, you have been left in ignorance and told a bunch of bunk.

Who in the Gov’t is educating the people about this?

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(Crickets.)

Now, what IS true is that masks used without good attention to mask etiquette, handled without sanitizing one’s hands, not sterilized if reused, not worn / formed to minimize leakage, and so on, can themselves be a source of infection or can be poorly effective. Again, I have seen a few vids on You Tube put up by private individuals or groups addressing these points, but I’ve not seen one worthwhile PSA on TV or the Web educating people that masks must be used with good attention to detail to work well. Nor does there seem to be ANY advertised information put out by States, the CDC, etc., regarding mask quality or certification, and so on. Instead we just get heavy-handed mandates and what I call namby-pamby ads that we should wear masks to show our love for others.

Worst of all, for those at risk or those like me caring for an elderly parent, who must “get out” sometimes, certified quality N95’s are STILL virtually impossible to purchase. Yes, the filter media is a bit hard to make, but, Good God, this is the country that freakin’ buried the industrially powerful Axis in WW2.

WHAT THE (very hot place - sorry, JimRob)!!!!!!!!!

Rant off — the rant itself is NOT directed at you. And I hope the information helps. Ok? :-)