Good info., but I disagree slightly about the homemade masks: A “crafty” person can make a tight fitting (good seal) mask using dense heavy flannel or other suitable material* as the filter material, sufficient to filter out most of most odors* — which is certainly enough to reduce virus inhalation considerably. Then you need some bendable metal (parallel pieces of solid copper wire will work in a pinch), soft closed cell foam strips, silicone adhesive, something for the straps, a sewing machine (preferably), etc...)
*An “odor test” is suggested. A minute after passing gas in a small closed room is great - as a test - hahaha - (H2S is a very small molecule), as is LOW concentration ammonia [as from a household cleaner), but most any “fragrance” molecules are considerably smaller than a viable virus particle. Since short term sense of smell in normal individuals is approximately logarithmic, if you cut the smell by “half”, you cut the throughput by roughly a factor of 10. Take a deep (nasal, of course!) breath to test. Test with the mask on, then remove and see how much stronger the odor is. (This puts you on the conservative side of decreasing odor concentration during your test, and the tendency to acclimate to moderate odors..) Pretesting earlier** with no mask to determine if you can create a fairly stable “odor environment” for a few minutes is also suggested.
**Take a little time to “de-acclimate” B4 running the test with the mask.
Yeah, I know. Having to do this routine stinks. As does wearing masks in the 1st place. (Sorry - couldn’t resist.)
Note that such a mask may restrict one’s breathing a bit. I find it ok for normal activities, but I would not want to run a race with it on. Persons with respiratory issues proceed with caution! Ditto for N95’s, of course. Hot weather & an effective mask is also problematic.
The CO2 issue with moist any effective mask can be minimized by taking moderate rate deep breaths.
All mask handling precautions still apply, of course. Depending on construction quality, delicate or hand washing should be practical. I air dry in the sun, but only as long as needed, as UV is hard on the foam elastic, etc.
Disclaimer: The above is merely my own experience, and is not “professional” advice. YMMV.
I simply don’t understand all the whining going on about wearing a mask. Fauci, Adams and on down, “Masks are dangerous in the hands of someone not in the medical field.” Non-medical I gots muh rights person and wimps, “I touch my face more with a mask than without.”
Strange, I touch my face less. Sure, it is a bit harder to breathe when up moving strenuously but isn’t such a burden that I’d take it off in the middle of Wally World (not that I’ve been to Wally World lately).