Catsnmeters
Gold Member
- Sep 19, 2022
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No, but saliva is not the primary path to infection. Masks do not filter out airborne virus. If you are infected, you will re-inhale the virus that is trapped in droplets by the mask, and you will increase your own viral load, which will make you sicker than if you had no mask at all.
How Does Coronavirus Spread?
How does COVID-19 spread? See all the ways coronavirus can be transmitted and how people can help flatten the curve.
www.webmd.com
Droplets or aerosols. This is the most common transmission. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, droplets or tiny particles called aerosols carry the virus into the air from their nose or mouth. Anyone who is within 6 feet of that person can breathe it into their lungs.
The only thing that will block a virus like C19 is a full face respirator, and they are very uncomfortable to wear. A true N95 like a 3M 8210 will help, but it also must be very tight fitting, and you should smoke test the fit. NO ear loop mask will do anything at all to block the virus, they are way too leaky.
Can you find a link that claims COVID viruses typically fly through the air on their own and are not suspended in a droplet or aerosol?
I agree they are not designed to protect the wearer. What they are designed to do is filter droplets and aerosols that contain the virus so they are not breathed in or able to contaminate surfaces.Surgical masks are worn to protect the patient from saliva drops from the surgeon during a surgery. They are not meant to protect the wearer.
Are the cheap masks and homemade cloth masks super effective in this capacity? No, but they do help.