[code4money]

"Compared with a baseline of 1-foot separation with no masks employed, particle count was reduced by 84% at 3 feet of separation and 97% at 6 feet. A modest decrease in particle count was observed when only the receiver was masked. The most substantial exposure reduction occurred when the aerosol source was masked (or both parties were masked). When both the source and target were masked, particle count was reduced by more than 99.5% of baseline, regardless of separation distance or which type of mask was employed."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00256...

[GeekyBear]

We no longer believe that Covid is spread by large droplets that will fall to the ground within six feet of being sneezed or coughed out. Cloth masks catch those droplets just fine.

We now know that Covid is spread by minute particles so small that they float on the air for hours. Cloth masks do not filter the air you breathe from particles of that size.

You would need an n95 mask or better to do that job.

Remember that mask wearing almost completely did away with last year's Flu season while we simultaneously had a huge Covid surge.

[orhmeh09]

What if we gave N95 masks to everyone? Several countries have mandated N95 or FFP/equivalent masks. America can afford it.

[spookthesunset]

> You would need an n95 mask or better to do that job.

And not just that but you have to wear it properly. This means if you have a beard, you better shave it.

[GeekyBear]

Indeed. If you need to filter out tiny particles from the air you breathe, you can't allow unfiltered air to leak in and out through the sides of the mask.

>Studies that have been done show that if an individual might get infected within 15 minutes in a room, by time and concentration of the virus in the room, add a face cloth covering you only get about five more minutes of protection.

On the other hand if you use the n95 respirators and fit them tight to your face, you can actually spend 25 hours in that same room and still be protected.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/do-masks...

[tehjoker]

There's even speculation that low quality masks create selective pressure for higher binding affinity to ACE2. We should all be wearing N95s...

[tazjin]

All the pro-mask studies are like this: Some simulated situation that doesn't take into account whether spread actually happens like that in real life.

They can simulate blowing stuff through various types of filter material all they want, it doesn't change that none of the epidemiological curves reacted to mask mandates anywhere.

They do work great as an ideological symbol though, thanks to the topic's polarisation.