whfowle Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque

Since there are so many opinions concerning the effectiveness of mask wearing, I did some research to see what I could find. The following was condensed from a "fact check" site. It seems to bear some credibility and answers some of my questions as to why a mask that only claims to stop particles of 0.3 microns while it is known that corona virus particles range in size from 0.06-0.14 microns.
The N95 mask effectively prevents viral spread. These masks, when properly fitted, seal closely to the face and filter out 95% of particles 0.3 microns or larger.
COVID 19 virus particle size is 125 nanometers (0.125 microns); the range is 0.06 microns to .14 microns,” the post said. “The N95 mask filters down to 0.3 microns. So, N95 masks block few, if any, virions (virus particles).
The COVID-19 particle is indeed around 0.1 microns in size, but it is always bonded to something larger.
“There is never a naked virus floating in the air or released by people,” said Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech who specializes in airborne transmission of viruses.
The virus attaches to water droplets or aerosols (i.e. really small droplets) that are generated by breathing, talking, coughing, etc. These consist of water, mucus protein, and other biological material and are all larger than 1 micron.
“Breathing and talking generate particles around 1 micron in size, which will be collected by N95 respirator filters with very high efficiency,” said Lisa Brosseau, a retired professor of environmental and occupational health sciences who spent her career researching respiratory protection.
The COVID-19 virus itself is indeed smaller than the N95 filter size, but the virus always travels attached to larger particles that are consistently snared by the filter. And even if the particles were smaller than the N95 filter size, the erratic motion of particles that size and the electrostatic attraction generated by the mask means they would be consistently caught as well.
So, does the mask prevent you from getting the virus? No, but it does provide some protection of others who exercise social distancing and wear their mask.

krmitchell55 Loc: Springdale, Arkansas

So how many actually wear an n95 mask?

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

And, is there any truth to the claim that normal exhalation would not contain virions at all; one needs to have a deep wet type of cough in order to force the particles from the lungs to project anything away from the face?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Even a cloth mask does seem to provide some protection to the wearer also. Virus is still attached to something when the body attempts to breath it in. In addition, our Governor had a doctor answer questions at one of his press conferences; the doctor had a known Covid patient cough in his face, but remains Covid-free - he credits his {cloth} mask for that.

Richard Engelmann Loc: Boulder, Colorado

I use an N95 respirators without an exhaust valve. I bought them cheap in bulk long befor the virus arrived, to use for sanding, sweeping, mowing, etc. It filters both my inhaled and exhaled breath, giving me and others the best possible protection. It is certainly hot and humid but I use it only for brief sorties into buildings.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Wear a mask!

sscnxy

!!!

NMY

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

Wear a mask.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Yep, I wear one whenever I'm in public near others, always....as a courtesy to them.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Unfortunately the attitude of the mid to young generations seems to be "sod granny let's party".

exakta56 Loc: Orford,New Hampshire

I simply will repeat what others have sagely expressed: wear a mask.

nospambob Loc: Edmond, Oklahoma

Ugly people, especially, should wear masks. All the time!

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Deleted comment.....

tgshoe Loc: North Texas

While I am not against anyone wearing a mask if they so choose, it provides minimal protection at best and leads to a false sense of security. As far as masks in general I will give you an example from personal experience. I am required to wear a company provided mask while at work. Inside the very mask they issued it has a label that says many things to include "does not protect against virus or biological contamination". So why would I be forced to wear something that does not protect against the very thing I am being forced to wear it for? N95 and N100 masks may in fact provide some protection against a virus but the virus is not only spread by you coming in contact with an airborne particle from someone else's breathing, it can also be spread by touch. So if the virus has to always be attached to something what happens when the aerosol from the cough/breathing lands on an object? We have been told this can survive for up to 3 days, depending on the material the surface is made from, so do you believe the water droplet is still there in 3 days? Of course not. So what happens when you touch that object with your hand and then touch your eye, mouth. ear, etc? Touch your toothbrush then brush your teeth? This is the false sense of security the mask, when the proper type of mask is used and used correctly, leads too. So why go to all this trouble for something, while seemingly highly contagious, is no more lethal than the flu? As far as supposed "fact check" sights be aware most if not all are there with agendas and are meant to merely counter information from the opposing opinion. Snopes for example is known to lean heavily left. One must examine the "facts" they are giving as well. Merely disputing someones opinion with some else's opinion is not "facts" just a counter opinion. This is all without even discussing the affects of prolonged limiting of oxygen that some masks can have. I use masks frequently in my profession and have never seen an N95 mask without a exhale valve. The valve is there so you can wear the mask for longer periods of time without rebreathing your own carbon dioxide you just exhaled. I also wonder why this would be on a photography forum but figured as long as it was I would give my opinion on the opinions given here.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

General Chit-Chat topic------DUH!