[rbritton]

How's the actual mask use? The majority of people I see reuse the same one over and over, frequently touch it and adjust it, and then touch other things. I don't see how they're achieving much more than safety theater that way.

[knodi123]

Does that matter? I thought the point of having the entire public wear masks is to stop the wearer's breath from spreading germs, not stop the wearer from coming in contact with germs.

Obviously medical professionals or other people who come in close contact would be better off using medical-grade masks in a hygienic and consistent way- but for the majority of grocery shoppers and such, I thought the purpose was simply reducing your ability to spread the germs.

[rbritton]

How does it not matter? If their breath contains something that shouldn't be spread and they're actively touching the damp mask containing it and then touching other things, how does that not spread it?

[knodi123]

you said that if people touch their mask or adjust it, "I don't see how they're achieving much more than safety theater that way." Covid is primarily airborne. If you prevent your breath and your coughs and your speech from spreading the germ and making it airborne, you're accomplishing a lot. And I feel like "damp mask" is a bit of an exaggeration. A hell of a lot more than "safety theater".

[endogui]

Reuse of medical masks is fine if people are careful:

1. Store reused masks in a designated spot to avoid cross contamination.

2. Wash hands after putting on and taking off used masks.

3. Dispose of masks which get wet or N95 masks which get folded.

This care can be achieved by PSAs in countries with functional governments.

[rbritton]

That's fine from a theoretical standpoint, but the reality is far, far different. People in general do easy, token gestures. They're not following proper procedures for mask use.

[jakeogh]

Citation needed. Reusing a mask that is already loaded with exactly the stuff you don't want to breathe will cause the material to dry as soon as the user stops wetting it with their exhale, and then pass through on re-use because it's under the filter size, even for an N95 which practically nobody is using.

There are good reasons they are called disposable masks.

[bahwhatever]

Viruses don't live forever, and the current coronavirus is no exception. Current estimates for surfaces vary a bit, but I believe it's no more than 1-3 days for fabric. And of course, the decay is exponential. Finally, why would it matter if you inhale stuff you just exhaled? If you're already sick, it doesn't matter anyway. The mask is about you preventing others from getting sick; it only marginally protects you from other people.

[jakeogh]

The exhaled air does not go through the disposable fake mask.

Disposable masks that the majority of people are using are are not for reuse, and it says right on the box "not for viruses". The "oh but large particles they (aerosol experts) didn't think of that" thing is surreal to see people say with a covered face.

Yet those same masks are reused multiple times per day. Taken on and off. The multi-day exponential hand wave fails on reuse, the exhale re-hydrates the medium. Masks have a finite capacity before they are a net negative, and cloth IRL insanity is a growth medium.

The psychology of "wear a fake mask for others" is next level propaganda. It's right in line with the drastically more dangerous social contagion that person X knows better than person Y and therefore is righteous to force their ideas (medical procedures) on person Y.

Conditioning people to make medical decisions for others is too obvious, but here we are, fake masks and all.

It's a deadly religion, which repeats over and over in human history.

Line up. Right? https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2020/08/03/oakland-unive...

"There is no benefit and there may even be negative impact." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8583925/The-land-no...

http://v6y.net/maskop1

-Seriously-: Why not wear the masks forever?

[misanthropian00]

Every single claim you make here requires scientific evidence as in actual studies that demonstrate such effects. Are you seriously trying to argue that not wearing a mask at all is the optimal way to handle a highly infectious respiratory pathogen? You should be advocating increased availability of N95 or better rated masks instead. I believe the US has made a serious error in only allocating N95 masks to hospitals. The gamble is that surgical masks or cloth masks are enough, but they don't filter very well. Cloth masks are woven and have large holes everywhere making them only somewhat better than nothing. Surgical masks were never intended for serious filtration and don't even form a decent seal. BTW manufacturer claims or disclaimers are not evidence for anything in particular and are irrelevant.

[jakeogh]

"BTW manufacturer claims or disclaimers are not evidence for anything in particular and are irrelevant."

yet...

"Every single claim you make here requires scientific evidence as in actual studies that demonstrate such effects."

Boyle's Law: http://v6y.net/maskop2

Your turn, maybe you can start with "Reuse of medical masks is fine". This issue clearly is generating interest.

Can you say it? Why not wear the masks forever?