The virus itself is too small to be stopped by an N95 mask.
An N95 mask stops 95% of 0.3 micron particles. But the virus itself is far smaller. Healthcare workers exposed to SARS-CoV got the disease even wearing N95s.
ARRGH, NO, STOP, THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM. Sorry for the caps, but this stuff is important, and you are spreading exactly the kind of misinformation that the linked article complains about.
The study you link absolutely does not say that masks do not work. Here's what it ACTUALLY SAYS:
> N95 masks fulfill the filtering efficiency criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are approved for protection against droplet and airborne transmission of 95% of particles greater than 0.3 microns in size. N95 masks, which must be fit tested, are believed to offer protection against the contact and droplet spread of the coronavirus. At a minimum, N95 masks should be used for all known or suspected cases of 2019-nCoV, as well as for any asymptomatic “open airway’’ cases, e.g.: interventional pulmonology procedures
Basically: masks work. They don't work perfectly. You should use them if you are at risk.
Your nonsense about the virus itself being small is irrelevant. Respiratory transfer doesn't happen by virus molecules flying through the air, it happens on water droplets. The masks stop droplets. That's what they're for.
(They also prevent you from touching your nose and mouth, which is another preventative mechanism.)
Masks stop droplets, and reduce the spread by coughs and sneezes.
If everyone on your bus who's coughing is wearing a mask - even a simple 'surgical' mask not an N95 one - that means less chances of getting infected from them.
The article you shared directly contradicts your claim.
> N95 masks fulfill the filtering efficiency criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are approved for protection against droplet and airborne transmission of 95% of particles greater than 0.3 microns in size. N95 masks, which must be fit tested, are believed to offer protection against the contact and droplet spread of the coronavirus. At a minimum, N95 masks should be used for all known or suspected cases of 2019-nCoV, as well as for any asymptomatic “open airway’’ cases...
The study you link absolutely does not say that masks do not work. Here's what it ACTUALLY SAYS:
> N95 masks fulfill the filtering efficiency criteria of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and are approved for protection against droplet and airborne transmission of 95% of particles greater than 0.3 microns in size. N95 masks, which must be fit tested, are believed to offer protection against the contact and droplet spread of the coronavirus. At a minimum, N95 masks should be used for all known or suspected cases of 2019-nCoV, as well as for any asymptomatic “open airway’’ cases, e.g.: interventional pulmonology procedures
Basically: masks work. They don't work perfectly. You should use them if you are at risk.
Your nonsense about the virus itself being small is irrelevant. Respiratory transfer doesn't happen by virus molecules flying through the air, it happens on water droplets. The masks stop droplets. That's what they're for.
(They also prevent you from touching your nose and mouth, which is another preventative mechanism.)