| Scientific research has not found much evidence for transmission by touch, known in the literature as fomite transmission: "The principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying infectious virus." -https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3... You see this in the guidance by major health organizations. For instance the WHO clearly says: "Current evidence suggests that the main way the virus spreads is by respiratory droplets among people who are in close contact with each other." It probably can happen. But contact tracing hasn't found much evidence for it: the majority of infections can be explained by close contact from an infected person. Re: masks, surgical masks and cloth mask far from 100% effective against small particles, with filtering efficiencies of 50% or less common though the fabric. Filtration is even less when you take into account air that bypasses the mask (the reason why your glasses fog up is because of air that isn't being filtered). Also, very large numbers of people use them incorrectly, eg by leaving the nose uncovered, and leaving gaps. I don't think this is a matter of education: people know what correct wear is, and don't do it because it's much easier to breath if you defeat the mask's filtration. Most people aren't wearing masks around family and friends anyway. |