3 ms·

Valved masker here. If everyone used a valved mask, wouldn’t it reduce transmission rate moreso than everyone wearing valveless masks?

• inakarmacoma 6y ago
  No, why would that be the case. One protects in two directions. The other projects in one direction.
• olliej 6y ago
  No it would make it worse. Valves masks intentionally do not filter air you breathe out, so if you’re a carrier you’re fairly close to being mask less. Masks are better at preventing outgoing transmission than incoming so you’ve deliberately ruined the thing that a mask should be most effective as.
  • postalrat 6y ago
    Face shields don't either yet those are used as PPE. I don't think anyone is saying vented masks are ideal. Though they are probably better than most simple cotton masks, they aren't as good as an unvented N95.
    • olliej 6y ago
      yes, because a face shield exists to protect eyes from spray, rather than inhaling passive particles/saliva droplets. A face shield without a mask is worse than just a mask.
    • manojlds 6y ago
      Face shields are to protect eyes. Face shields without masks are useless.
• nikolay 6y ago
  You assume masks filter out 100%. Most people wear masks with less than 50% filtration and some wearing single layer polyester actually aerosolized droplets and make them worse than not wearing anything. People believe that aerosols and droplets behave the same way - a droplet may splash into a face shield, but aerosols don't behave the same way and won't hit the shield at all.