What happens to a virus particle after it gets stopped by a mask? Can it be inhaled? Can it get loose on a subsequent exhalation?
Do masks stop bacteria? Is a warm, moist environment good for bacterial growth?
If the virion is grabbed by an electret fiber, it is there permanently (and will degrade to harmless). This assumes one does not place the mask in a fluid or gas or strong “decharge” electric field that depolarizes the fibers, or wash it vigorously, blast it with compressed air, etc.
N95’s properly used* and handled (”mask etiquette”) will also greatly reduce bacterial loading of the wearer. Bacterial growth is not an issue with proper use.*
*The N95 mask DOES have to be sterilized after use, or replaced, as some virions will accumulate on the outer surfaces. Sanitizing of hands and anything else that might be handled that the mask comes in contact with is also essential. Since I have a vulnerable person I care for to protect, let’s say I go into a store. The procedure is (to be slightly modified if rainy, etc.) :
Sanitize hands. (Could happen at end of a prior stop.) (I use a small spray bottle.) Put bottle into pocket after making sure it was wetted too.
Credit card to be used goes in unused secure pocket.
Remove glasses. Remove “fresh” / sterilized mask from plastic bag. (I use a 1 gal. food storage bag.)
Don mask without touching inner surface. Add sterile surgical mask as dust prefilter. Replace glasses. Don baseball cap. (Hey, it’s winter!)
Exit vehicle touching left hand only to door latch / handle, right hand does not touch vehicle further at all until my return.
Acquire cart and sanitize likely to be touched surfaces. (This is more for the next user than me, since all stores around here have stopped sanitizing carts themselves. But most supply sanitizing wipes, etc.)
Get goodies. Maintain social distancing, esp. around those with no masks or improperly wearing them. Check out. Credit card used goes back in pocket, not back in wallet.
Walk to car. Sanitize hands, open car, key goes inside car 1st. Place purchases in rear of car. Sanitize any car door outer handles touched, re-sanitize hands @ same time, hop in car w/o touching anything. Remove cap & glasses. Remove masks contacting only the straps and drop in bag, seal. Re-sanitize hands. Replace glasses. Curse China and drive home.
(If multiple stops close together, leave mask on between stops. Reduces mask handling risks. May or may not reduce cursing.)
Once home, quarantine or sterilize purchases, sanitize hands etc., after handling new purchases. Sterilize masks as needed or discard. Sanitize credit card.
I probably left out a step or two. When making these trips, I just think pretty much the same way I do if fishing with catfish stink bait, except for not using gloves for COVID mitigation. It is not quite autopilot by now, but close. (Said fishing is good training - it makes this stuff almost (almost!) come naturally.
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Surgical masks must be sterilized or discarded after use. Cloth masks must be washed, sterilized, or discarded after use.
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Is it a PITA? Absolutely! Time consuming? Definitely. But if I get COVID-19, the risk of me giving it to my Mom before I realize I have it is just too great, and the odds of a bad outcome are then just too high. Plus some others I’m around would be at moderate risks (including myself.)
These mitigations reduce viral load and therefor risk of a successful infection. But they do not reduce it to zero.