jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Too many choices! The main purpose of the mask is to keep your germs away from other people. Of course, a mask does help to keep germs from other people out of your system, to a certain extent. The problem I see with masks is that some people seem to think that putting anything on their faces is perfect protection. I see all sorts of masks for sale, but are any of them effective in dealing with Covid-19? As the comic below points out, a mask with an outlet valve entirely defeats the main purpose of a mask.

Be aware that singing is particularly bad as a group activity right now. That "stuff" sprays from your mouth much farther than six feet. The same applies to sporting events or any activity where a lot of people are getting excited - an orgy, for example.

And remember to stay away from people. There was a huge increase in infections a few days after Memorial Day.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

Good point. I have a variety of masks, some with the offending vent. However, it still aids not spreading when combined with social distancing.

Why all these masks come from China really bothers me. Why the President didn't order the USA manufacturers to make enough masks that they could be purchased by ALL Americans from their homes or in Drug Stores, Grocery Stores, etc. really bothers me. This could have and should have created jobs in the USA.

But, back to the OP. There are masks that fit snugly without gaps or bulges. There are masks that fit comfortably without falling off your nose or face. My best mask purchase, from China, was with an internal activated charcoal filter (replaceable), cutouts for the ears to help hold the mask in place and velcro straps that wrap around the neck. If you look for them, they are usually listed as something for mountain bike riders.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

These are very sensitive issues and one needs to go no farther than seeking information from "professionals" in the health field for answers. The Mayo Clinic for instance has this advice: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449

Stay well folks!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I made a bunch of masks with double cloth and a removable HEPA filter. They wash well.

As for making masks, you bring up a good point. Why aren't we making millions a week? 3M is the major maker, so that's one limitation, but with this system, they get all the profit. It's the same with test kits. Where are they? It's been half a year, and the United States of America can't produce life-saving test kits and masks?

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Ford had started an assembly line to keep workers working, and masks pouring out the door,
Then there was a campaign contribution.
Trump shut down Ford, and spent huuuge amounts of money for GM to start making masks,
Still waiting.
And it's still business. The business of business is business.
There are many accounting and tax advantages to doing work offshore, and not in-house.
We reward our Corps to NOT buy American. It pays to buy Chinese.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

I have one of those masks with the exhaust valve but I heard about the problem with them a couple months ago. So I covered the valve on the inside of the mask with some duck tape, I mean duct tape, so it won't exhaust through the valve.

sergio

N 95 should be reserved for the health workers is a criminal nonsense. There are simple items easy to make.
Wake up America and start making them.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

I am in the high risk group but have a wife that has to continue to work so I've searched and bought a few masks. Some turned out to be overpriced crap and some turned out to be excellent masks at a really good price. The best I've found were on Etsy. They are triple layer cotton with a filter pocket (cheap filters for sale there too) and have adjustable length elastic straps, and a metal piece to bend over the bridge of the nose. They fit snugly with no gaps and were only around $5. Several colors were available.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

The president arranged for production of millions of masks. They are available in the pharmacy area of my food store. Ten for $10.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Both are available as needed.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Unfortunately, a mask with a vent will provide zero protection to others. The vent defeats any attempt to prevent you from "spreading" every time you exhale.

crushr13 Loc: Sacramento, CA

The worst thing for me was, if I was going to wear a mask, get ones with stuff on them I want to show, kind of like a T-shirt for your face. But with all of the other garbage that happened about the same time, when I'd find ones I liked, it would take many weeks to get them. And you don't find that out until the order is placed. I want to do my part, but I can't get the necessary health stuff (masks) I was told to get and use. I ordered masks for my two favorite sports teams (Los Angeles Dodgers and San Jose Sharks) in April, and once ordered, got word I would not see them until mid-July. Shoot, the country is reopening NOW, and I may not need them anymore at that time. But then again, I will at least have some the next time we get a major health issue where they may be required. We have had 2 major flu epidemics the last 3 years before novel coronavirus. So...

(With all of the nonsense going on right now, do we now, and did we ever really need the masks? Or was it all really just a power play to get us to be scared in preparation for the coming election? What a joke now. it is all looking like a power play on us. Masks and social distancing contradicts the Black Lives Matter actions. Both are important and have merits. But which is really threatening to kill us or hurt us right now? Looking like neither, with all that is happening. What a joke of our leadership in this country, on BOTH sides of the aisle.)

tomad Loc: North Carolina

This is what gets me. "...The country is reopening NOW, and I may not need them (masks) any more...". I just can't understand how an intelligent society doesn't understand by now. YOU NEED A MASK NOW MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS REOPENING AND THE VIRUS IS SPIKING AGAIN BECAUSE OF THAT REOPENING! Read some news. Many states and many metro areas have been on a steady increase in cases as testing increases and we have not even see the end of the first wave. Some states and cities like where I live are getting worse by the day BECAUSE of the gradual reopening since Memorial day and because incredibly ignorant people refuse to wear a mask to stop the spread! It's just unbelievable that so many people care so little for their friends, family, and neighbors that they can't even be bothered to wear a mask when in public. It's not a lot to ask. Good grief, one would think we asked you for a kidney or something!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Is that "needed" or "wanted"? The powers-that-be say I don't need an N95, so I can't have one. I know two nurses, and they do not have access to N95 masks.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes! We are a country of stupid, selfish, greedy people.