Severity of coronavirus infection may be determined by face mask use, study suggests

Fox News ^ | September 9, 2020 | Amy McGorry

[GailA]

We are under state ordered masks if you want to shop what places are open, and of course doctors. IHop is using plastic cutlery, when their industrial dishwasher gets over sterilizing hot to clean the dishes you eat on. Hard to cut a pancake with thin plastic.

[GOPJ]

Thanks.

[Bull Man]

I hear pregnancy works this way too. /sarcasm

[GOPJ]

This perspective outlines a unique angle on why universal public masking during the COVID-19 pandemic should be one of the most important pillars of disease control. Our theory is based on the likelihood of masking reducing the viral inoculum to which the mask-wearer is exposed, leading to higher rates of mild or asymptomatic infection with COVID-19.

Since the body usually effectively fights viruses for a few days before symptoms start, and then starts the process of subcoming... it would seem that virus load would not be a factor since within days virus load overwhelms the body anyhow.

If virus load is a factor at the 'mask level' it's implying that the body can successfully fight one part of the disease and defeat that part before other parts run their normal course of destruction. Odd...

[GJones2]

>> “The truth is the aerosol sized drops DO get out and DO stay airborne for long periods of time.” <<
>> “Happily, the small droplets don’t seem enough to cause infection UNLESS you have sustained contact with the infected person in an enclosed space - such as a bus, subway, etc.” <<
>> “It requires sustained interaction, 10-30 minutes to create a measurable risk of transmission.” <<

I’m not as sure as you are that these things are proven, but “10-30” minutes is still a relatively short time in terms of the development of the disease. That sounds to me as if the initial “load” (quantity) of virus particles is an important factor in whether people get sick or in how sick they become (as this article apparently claims).

From my own tests I’m convinced that masks reduce how far quantities of air are propelled from coughs, which I think should result in more droplets falling to the floor without contacting people. If, as you say, aerosol-sized droplets are going to slip by and remain suspended in the air for long periods, anyway, it seems to me that practically anyone working in a store eight hours a day would be infected, because in most parts of the country someone with COVID-19 would occasionally enter that store and breathe tiny droplets into the air.

Yet most persons working in stores where masks are worn aren’t infected. On the other hand, persons do become infected who don’t ride buses or subways, or spend much time with others in very confined spaces. I’d prefer to believe that the risk of infection is small too, but so far I think it’s significant if large quantities of the virus are transferred from one person to another.

[GJones2]

I’ll add that it’s not that I’m sure of my own ideas about this disease. It’s just that while in doubt I prefer to wear a mask, which isn’t a great inconvenience for me because I’m retired and not out among persons very much.

[familyop]

"Since the body usually effectively fights viruses for a few days before symptoms start, and then starts the process of subcoming... it would seem that virus load would not be a factor since within days virus load overwhelms the body anyhow."

If a body is overwhelmed by SARS-COV-2, the body will die. Without immunity from previous infection or vaccination, antibodies and T-cell responses must increase enough and do so early enough to prevail against an introduced viral load in order to save the host. The smaller the viral load, the sooner that can happen.

[Kenny500c]

You are conflating droplets (which a mask would shield from) and aerosols, which are microscopic and airborne.

[GJones2]

>> “You are conflating droplets (which a mask would shield from) and aerosols, which are microscopic and airborne.” <<

I’ve discussed both. I think the quantity of virus particles that reach people matters, and that reducing the distance droplets are propelled helps diminish the risk.

[eXe]

I think these Branch Covidians will say anything and everything to keep us all masked up for eternity. It will end when WE say no more, take them off, and tell them what they can do with their masks.

[Kenny500c]

Yes, reduces but does not eliminate risk, most people believe if they wear a mask they are safe.