What exactly are the masks suppose to do?
Exactly nothing... look at one Bio-Lab (BSL-3) lab that handles viruses and see if they wear..
Not long after SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in December 2019 as the cause of an alarming cluster of severe pneumonia cases in central China, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention correctly advised that the virus should be isolated and studied only in laboratories with advanced containment capabilities, meaning those with a biosafety level (BSL) of 3 or higher.
BSL-3 labs must follow all of the same practices as BSL-1 and BSL-2 labs. In addition, BSL-3 labs must incorporate stricter measures including:
Baseline medical testing and ongoing medical surveillance for all workers with potential exposure to infectious agents
Full body PPE such as wraparound gowns, scrub suits or coveralls
Respiratory protection may be required
All work with infectious agents must be performed in an appropriate BSC or other physical containment device
Access is restricted and controlled at all times
More stringent control of contaminated waste, equipment and lab clothing
A set of two separate, self-closing doors, separated from general building corridors
BSL-3 facilities must have more advanced containment methods, including specialized ventilation that directs air from clean areas towards areas where infectious agents are present, and does not allow air to recirculate unless it runs through a HEPA filter first. Windows must be sealed so that airborne particles cannot escape.
Calm the Karens.
....exactly.....!!! I see many sheep, opps, I meant people, wearing these face diapers, opps, sorry, masks, in their cars, and how many wear them outside, when the wind is almost always blowing...does this Chinese virus hang around in the wind, just waiting to fly up unsuspecting sheeps’ noses...?? this is all absurd...peope are getting arrested for not wearing their masks OUTSIDE, for Pete’s sake....!!!
They make Karen’s and Chad’s feel good
Aid in stopping you from spreading it. Protecting you FROM getting it, not so much.
Since you asked “what exactly are the masks supposed to do”..
Masks reduce spread of the virus by reducing excretions (spittle, coughs, sneezes, etc) and virus particles that you exhale - which are most often attached to “droplets” that masks can stop, as the droplets are considerably larger than the virus particle itself and larger than the ‘weave’ of most masks. Well made masks with good filters also help protect the wearer from getting exposed, especially to droplets. “Medical Grade” (eg: N95) masks reduce exposure significantly, whereas decent masks can reduce exposure a good (but less than N95 of course) amount.
I realize that’s all but sacrilegious heresy here on FR and many / most will (perhaps vehemently) disagree, but every country that has worn masks (Hong Kong, Czech Republic, China, ...) has reduced the spread of the virus significantly.
Masks are not an “assault on our freedom”, a “left wing plot for control” or a “training burka”. They are a commonsense, simple thing we can do to reduce spread of the virus. And if we reduce spread..we get our economy back quicker. Better economy, better chance Trump gets re-elected. Isn’t that what we all want?
They’re supposed to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Not eliminate, but reduce.
President Trump is absolutely right to both encourage mask use in situations where it makes sense (in indoor public places, but not outdoors and not in private) and eschew government mandates. We don’t need big government coming in to force everyone to make good decisions. What’s very helpful is individuals each deciding themselves to do the right thing.
“What exactly are the masks suppose to do?”
Make the women feel safer and give the politicians and bureaucrats something to harass you over.
‘What exactly are the masks suppose to do?’
keep perfectly healthy people from infecting other perfectly healthy people...
protect others from you being a carrier