5 ms·
I have a box of N95s, bought a year ago for unrelated reasons. Does the same advice still applies for these masks? I fear that handling them increases my risk
by zzleeper 6y ago
I have a box of N95s, bought a year ago for unrelated reasons.
Does the same advice still applies for these masks? I fear that handling them increases my risk more than keeping them until I'm back home.
- TeMPOraL 6y agoN95s, properly fitted, can actually significantly reduce your exposure risk to outside pathogens, so don't futz with those. Cloth/homemade masks do not meaningfully stop incoming viral particles, but will prevent your saliva from going ballistic whenever you speak; those are meant to protect others from you, in particular if you're asymptomatic and thus don't even know it.
- dr_zoidberg 6y agoA properly fitted N95 shouldn't be removed unless you're ready to take it off completely and throw away. Seen a lot of people basically ruin those by repeteadly putting on/off, touching the filter, placing them under the chin, etc. What's more, deciding to wear an N95 should be done if you're sure you're going to be on a high exposure area, and/or wear said mask for extended periods of time (think in hours, 4 to 8 hours). If you're not a healthcare, or essential worker in a high risk situation, you should consider donating your N95s. Edit: last paragraph, read as "in general", not particularly directed to P, but partly to GP.