They are hyping how bad the masks are, so that the supply can get to the doctors in China who really need them now. There is a world-wide shortage of masks.
From a 2009 old WHO document with regards to tuberculosus outbreak and mask use.
Excerpt:
Length of usage depends on many factors. Moderator Paul Jensen, PhD, PE, CIH, of the CDC, says: “I generally use two N95 or FFP2 respirators (with exhaust valves) per week. I use one in the morning and another one in the afternoon. I wrap each one in a paper towel and allow them to dry over night. Occasionally, the cheap, blue rubber bands will break in less than one week.
“As a general rule, a respirator may be used every day for one week, provided that it has not been damaged or soiled. If used less often it may last longer.”
From other research I have found:
The N95 mask, if worn properly (one study of 800 people showed only 20% were worn properly) will filter out 95% of particles over 0.3 microns in size. In a cough, 96% of the virus particles are greater than 0.5 microns in size, so the mask will get most of them.
The smaller than 0.3 micron particles however can build up in the air as they can stay suspended, and float long distances. But they have a hard time determing how long those suspended particles stay viable. Primarily the sampling techniques. The samples show that most of them aren’t viable - but it might be how they are sampled (and that destroys the virus).
They catch them on paper filters. But paper (and clothing, tissues, etc.) dry out the virus after only about 10 to 15 minutes, and they aren’t viable.
Studies done with a flu virus.
The above WHO document talks about gross contamination, etc. Even a mask that appears clean may be covered with the virus. So you need to treat it as contaminated. I bought a UV light do destroy the virus on objects such as my phone, masks, clothing, etc.
I would think that after a few hours the fibers in the mask would also dry out the virus and destroy it.
this sounds like one could keep their shoes and coat outside for half and hour and then it’d be ok to bring it back in?
With this virus living for weeks, how is it that overnight in a paper towel gets them healthy? Never mind him moving the mask in the air as he's taking it off and sending virus particles flying. By the time he's wrapped the mask up and then opened it, one would imagine there are particles on the face side of it.