Most Common COVID Masks Only Filter About 10% of Exhaled Aerosol Droplets

https://scitechdaily.com/most-common-covid-masks-only-filter-about-10-of-exhaled-aerosol-droplets/

https://nypost.com/2021/08/22/study-finds-n95-masks-more-effective-than-surgical-cloth-masks/

Heavy duty N95 and KN95 masks are best at warding of COVID-19, while commonly worn surgical and cloth face coverings filter only about 10 percent of exhaled aerosols, according to a new study.


“The results show that a standard surgical and three-ply cloth masks … filter at apparent efficiencies of only 12.4% and 9.8%, respectively,” according to the University of Waterloo study’s conclusion.


But KN95 and N95 masks afford “substantially higher apparent filtration efficiencies (60% and 46% for R95 and KN95 masks, respectively) than the more commonly used cloth (10%) and surgical masks (12%), and therefore are still the recommended choice in mitigating airborne disease transmission indoors,” reads a summary of the study, published July 21.

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We told you so.

The blue surgical and cloth masks are virtually worthless. Put them on kids and they are more likely more bad than good.

So... the study is in. Unless you are going N95 or better, the masks are near useless with a 90% failure to protect rate.

 

So, what you are saying is that the droplets might not go as far and infect as many people as no mask. Now we know
we need to get more serious about mask construction if we want to get a handle on this and we need to make
minimum standards for masks in the future.

Never make the perfect the enemy of the good.

 

10% is not good. 10% on a child is worse than good.

You cannot put an N95 on a child as it is "vented". They won't even allow them on airplanes... I know, they made me switch to a blue mask.

 

I had a Dr appointment this morning and they clamp a little oxygen meter to your finger and for the second time my O was low and slow to reach a point the nurse accepted. I wore a cloth mask.

 

It's time to start wearing helmets in cars.... with masks.

 

And vaccine IDs. Can't vote without one.

 

I admit I'm a little surprised at the very low effectiveness. I was hoping it would be closer to 50%. 10% explains a lot of why the virus raged with mask mandates the same as places with no mask mandates. It's 10% protection is certainly not enough to demand mask mandates in schools where children obviously aren't even remotely close to wearing them correctly.

 

Masks provide psychological benefits to many experiencing Covid anxiety. Its like a therapy dog you wear on your face!

 

From the video notice the distance the aerosol travels with and without a mask

 

This one is probably about as effective. Maybe moreso than the cloth face diapers.

 

They're 99% effective at virtue signaling.

 

Put one on your butt and fart and see how effective they are.

 

Do you use an N95 or better? @557 has talked about them extensively. I still don't understand why Fauci and/or the CDC aren't recommending that style. Maybe it's cost prohibitive for the average person?

The cloth ones are required for ALL hospital/doctor visits (in IL) and they make you take whatever you have on, off, and give you one of those cheapies.

I was in the ER recently and the nurse that checked me in had on a helmet. I can't recall what she said the name of it is but I do remember her saying that the battery will allow continuous use for 4 hours. It looked like a white motorcycle helmet except the shield was not movable.

 

I think the bolded part nails it.

Even more cost prohibitive if you dispose of them and wear a new one, since that is what is recommended. $25-40 for 20 of them - so between $1.00-$2.00 a pop. That cost adds up for poor people, if they'd doing it correctly.

So now that we know that maybe there's a 10% reduction in the odds of you catching COVID via airborne particles by wearing your convenience store cloth face diaper, and even an N95 masks does nothing if you're out licking doorknobs, the effectiveness of masks is something LESS THAN 10%.

Which makes them virtually pointless.

 

Does anyone actually believe that masks are worn correctly? From bare noses to protected chins and necks to the outright rebels that won't wear one period the rules are bent, mangled and in some cases followed. What would we learn if we had photographers following our Congressional leadership around for a day or two, including Dr. Fauchi? I wear one to see my Dr. because it is required and there are other offices where they are worn but the bulk of my travels are into choose for yourself places and most people opt out. I go with the flow.

People who won't fall in line have moved on from killing Grandma to now killing the children.

 

Many US manufacturers of N95 masks are going bankrupt because people and state/local government won’t buy domestic N95’s. I just checked my favorite medical supply company and you can get 100 US made N95’s delivered for $155.

Germany has been supplying at risk citizens with N95 quality masks since last winter.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.th...roups-in-germany-can-get-free-ff2p-masks/?amp

This is a pretty good balanced article on the predicament US manufacturers are in.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehil...akers-say-theyre-in-danger-of-going-broke?amp

 

No, you just need to wear 10 masks, that's all.

 

Yep.

If this study is correct, and your basic masks - 50 for $4 or your "washable" cloth masks are only 10% effective, that's the BEST they can do. When you factor in that COVID also spreads from surface contact, effectiveness being reduced by improper replacement of masks, improper wearing of masks, etc., their effectiveness will be close to 0%.

 

A number of studies show cloth masks are worse than no mask.

 

I wasn't even factoring in the negative health impacts of masks. Or the fact that their improper use can result in the mask becoming a COVID breeding ground. Or a breeding ground for other diseases like staph. Or the fact that it stunts children's development.

Masks are literally worthless.

 

Correct. And while N95s do have better filtering capabilities, they still ultimately can't filter out viruses and are still ultimately not going to "do the trick" either.

 

Not what he said. Read his post again.

Masks do not filter out viruses. Viruses are far too small.

 

I'm not. When the pores of these masks are 3 or more microns in diameter, and COVID is about 0.1 microns in diameter, COVID is going to go right through those pores with ease. Even aerosols can get through such pores with ease.

Yup, masks do no good (and actually can and do harm when worn in this sort of extended and careless manner).

 

Bingo. Masks are for people who wish to put themselves into a fear prison of their own making. Masks are meant for the short term use of filtering out dust, pollen, sand, and other small particulate; they are NOT meant for the long term use of "filtering out" viruses.

 

The distance traveled is irrelevant. Once it is in the air, it is in the air.