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That's true though, isn't it? A mask will not prevent you from getting the virus, since covering your own mouth from others coughing doesn't really help you. If

That's true though, isn't it? A mask will not prevent you from getting the virus, since covering your own mouth from others coughing doesn't really help you. If you are sick though, it protects others.

catalogia 7y ago
It's misleading. Even improvised masks will reduce the chance of asymptomatic carriers spreading the disease, thus reducing the chance of the general public catching it. Note the "general public" language in the tweet. Even if there is a way to parse that tweet that renders it technically correct, it's still phrased in a way that is certain to mislead a lot of people.
amerkhalid 7y ago
It still reduces particles you inhale. Sure virus is smaller than holes in your average mask but usually virus will be floating in fluid. Those should get stopped by mask. Personally, I have been using these cheap masks for over a decade whenever I have to clean any dusty place like a garage. If I don't wear one, I am almost guaranteed a a bad allergic reaction. If I do wear one while cleaning, I might sneeze a bit but usually not need Benadryl and pass out for rest of the day. I imagine same principle applies when it comes to COVID19.
tzs 7y ago
> A mask will not prevent you from getting the virus, since covering your own mouth from others coughing doesn't really help you. If you are sick though, it protects others. What is the mechanism for this? At first, I'd expect it to be the other way around--if I'm wearing a mask and cough the mask is going to bear the full force of my cough. All of the cough is hitting the mask, and the cough is moving at its fastest speed. If I'm not wearing a mask and you are, my cough is going to be spread out some when it reaches you and slowed by air resistance, so your mask should only have to deal with a fraction of my cough and at lower velocity. Thus, I'd expect your mask to have a much easier task than mine. Is it that the drops of moisture (and phlegm and whatever else might be in a cough) are bigger at the point of emission and break apart as they disperse, and so they have a harder time going through a mask at my end than at your end? If that is the case, I still have to wonder what happens on subsequent coughs. I cough, producing big drops that the mask stops. Still, the viruses in the drops have to go somewhere when the mask absorbs the droplets, right? Does my mask end up moistened with virus-contaminated water? Will my subsequent coughs as they blast air through the mask then be able to knock small virus laden droplets off my mask?
- GhostVII 7y ago
  My understanding is that, as you said, the purpose of the mask is to stop droplets from coughs and sneezes from getting to other people and surfaces. However if others cough on you when you are wearing a mask, the rest of your face is still exposed so you are not fully protected, and you can still be infected by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face. Surgical masks are also not sealed off, so you can breath in aerosol from other people's coughs even with the mask. Certainly masks will help to some degree, as they will filter out some particles and protect you if someone directly coughs into the mask, but I don't think they are effective compared to things like hand washing. I am not a doctor, not medical advice.

catalogia 7y ago

It's misleading. Even improvised masks will reduce the chance of asymptomatic carriers spreading the disease, thus reducing the chance of the general public catching it. Note the "general public" language in the tweet. Even if there is a way to parse that tweet that renders it technically correct, it's still phrased in a way that is certain to mislead a lot of people.

amerkhalid 7y ago

It still reduces particles you inhale. Sure virus is smaller than holes in your average mask but usually virus will be floating in fluid. Those should get stopped by mask. Personally, I have been using these cheap masks for over a decade whenever I have to clean any dusty place like a garage. If I don't wear one, I am almost guaranteed a a bad allergic reaction. If I do wear one while cleaning, I might sneeze a bit but usually not need Benadryl and pass out for rest of the day. I imagine same principle applies when it comes to COVID19.

tzs 7y ago

> A mask will not prevent you from getting the virus, since covering your own mouth from others coughing doesn't really help you. If you are sick though, it protects others. What is the mechanism for this? At first, I'd expect it to be the other way around--if I'm wearing a mask and cough the mask is going to bear the full force of my cough. All of the cough is hitting the mask, and the cough is moving at its fastest speed. If I'm not wearing a mask and you are, my cough is going to be spread out some when it reaches you and slowed by air resistance, so your mask should only have to deal with a fraction of my cough and at lower velocity. Thus, I'd expect your mask to have a much easier task than mine. Is it that the drops of moisture (and phlegm and whatever else might be in a cough) are bigger at the point of emission and break apart as they disperse, and so they have a harder time going through a mask at my end than at your end? If that is the case, I still have to wonder what happens on subsequent coughs. I cough, producing big drops that the mask stops. Still, the viruses in the drops have to go somewhere when the mask absorbs the droplets, right? Does my mask end up moistened with virus-contaminated water? Will my subsequent coughs as they blast air through the mask then be able to knock small virus laden droplets off my mask?

GhostVII 7y ago
My understanding is that, as you said, the purpose of the mask is to stop droplets from coughs and sneezes from getting to other people and surfaces. However if others cough on you when you are wearing a mask, the rest of your face is still exposed so you are not fully protected, and you can still be infected by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face. Surgical masks are also not sealed off, so you can breath in aerosol from other people's coughs even with the mask. Certainly masks will help to some degree, as they will filter out some particles and protect you if someone directly coughs into the mask, but I don't think they are effective compared to things like hand washing. I am not a doctor, not medical advice.