[Mom MD]

Here’s an experiment to illustrate the problem. Put on an N-95 mask (assuming you can do it properly and have passed a rigorous fit test) a gown and gloves. Now have someone smear the outside of your gear with chocolate syrup. Your task is to get the mask gown and gloves off and into a biohazard bag without getting any chocolate syrup on your skin or clothes. What do you think your chances are. It takes a lot of training and practice

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks, this puts this self protection in a clear view:

Here’s an experiment to illustrate the problem. Put on an N-95 mask (assuming you can do it properly and have passed a rigorous fit test) a gown and gloves. Now have someone smear the outside of your gear with chocolate syrup. Your task is to get the mask gown and gloves off and into a biohazard bag without getting any chocolate syrup on your skin or clothes. What do you think your chances are. It takes a lot of training and practice.

Good luck, and if you try this, we hope that you like chocolate.

[1_Rain_Drop]

"Here’s an experiment to illustrate the problem. Put on an N-95 mask (assuming you can do it properly and have passed a rigorous fit test) a gown and gloves. Now have someone smear the outside of your gear with chocolate syrup. Your task is to get the mask gown and gloves off and into a biohazard bag without getting any chocolate syrup on your skin or clothes. What do you think your chances are. It takes a lot of training and practice"

First thing I'd do is find a walk-in freezer, dance because no one's watching, let the frozen chocolate fall off and then take off the mask, gown & gloves. Problem would be that I'd probably be tempted to have a piece of chocolate.

[steve86]

“It takes a lot of training and patience” (to remove a mask without contaminating other surfaces including your mucous membranes).

It sure does and a perfect process would be essential in the case of, say, a nerve toxin (where you would have chemical filtration as well, not just mechanical), or Ebola, and essentially any amount would be fatal.

But in the case of a Cov, one that evidently targets lower respiratory cells, anything you can do to obstruct that “STRAIGHT SHOT” into the lungs without a mask, offers value. Justa-hairyape talks about 80% effectiveness in consumer hands. Probably about right and infinitely better than nothing. When combined with differences in individual resistance, differing virulence based on mutation state, and other factors like health status of the individual, a few particles getting through is not necessarily terminal. Anything you can do to reduce the viral load is helpful.