Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Warpy

(111,174 posts)
9. Only 100% masking offers significant protection
Thu Jul 30, 2020, 08:22 PM
Jul 2020

in a time of N-95 mask scarcity, something likely to continue because the needs of hospitals and other health settings are simply not being met. Civilians are going to have to rely on fabric and surgical masks.

Worn by an infected person, the masks will stop all but the smallest droplets. Worn by an uninfected person, the WHO compliant fabric mask or a surgical mask will stop some of what's left. The idea here is to reduce viral load, the amount of exposure a healthy person faces. Keeping viral load low to reduce the possibility of severe disease is a model that applies to other viral illnesses. We don't yet know if it applies to Covid, but it's the best we've got.

Yes, the N-95 masks are the only ones that offer real protection, but those need to be reserved for people who are dealing with known cases of Covid.

Here is an article on the effectiveness of various types of masks with bonus gross video (second one down). https://www.sciencealert.com/this-home-experiment-shows-why-even-homemade-masks-can-help-stop-covid-19-spread

Excellent question MacKasey Jul 2020 #1
Not the full story... Studies have shown even cloth masks provide some (albeit limited) protection hlthe2b Jul 2020 #2
If everyone wears a mask there's less virus being spread OhNo-Really Jul 2020 #7
That's not the point of my post. As a primary HCW, of course I only would wear N95 in health setting hlthe2b Jul 2020 #8
Only 100% masking offers significant protection Warpy Jul 2020 #9
That's not the point of my post. As a primary HCW, of course I only would wear N95 in health setting hlthe2b Jul 2020 #10
Here's another take: mzmolly Jul 2020 #3
Surgical masks do offer some protection to the wearer. Not nearly as much as N95... brush Jul 2020 #4
If somebody coughs, does a cloth mask give more protection than not wearing one? Of course. Doodley Jul 2020 #5
I used to wince when we were told to cough into our elbow. OhNo-Really Jul 2020 #14
I am not a doctor, but that is not accurate. While cloth masks are not as effective as an N-95 mask Atticus Jul 2020 #6
The fit of a mask to wearer's face is the most important consideration. Filtration Prosper Jul 2020 #11
Exactly. BigmanPigman Jul 2020 #13
I added a "Queens Umbrella" to my Covid Ensemble OhNo-Really Jul 2020 #15
Cmpliance would be worse with N95 masks alfie Jul 2020 #12
Ultimate selfishness to not protect orhers OhNo-Really Jul 2020 #16
That is right wing rule book. Prosper Aug 2020 #17
Experience with N-95 clarkd101 Aug 2020 #18
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Health»Only N-95 and more restri...»Reply #9