2 ms·

Masks are the only thing that might stop aerosols, which remain airborne for a long period of time.

• Izkata 6y ago
  How? As aerosols you need an N95 mask to actually filter them out: * The virus is small enough that they go right through regular cloth masks; the theory on these was that the cloth masks would catch the too-large-to-pass-through droplets and the virus would get stuck inside the droplet. * Aerosols are as light as and easily carried by the air, which is why they hang in the air for a long period. Because they're so easily carried by the air, any mask that your breath can escape the sides of, such as a surgical mask, will carry the aerosolized virus out the sides without catching it. It's the same phenomena that stops butterflies from hitting car windows [0]. The larger droplets are like the denser bugs that aren't carried safely away by the air, those will get caught by these masks. Really, ventilation is the best way to deal with aerosols. Open a window and get them out of the room entirely. [0] https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/631854/how-can-a-butterfly-dodge-the-windshield-of-a-fast-moving-car https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/631854/how-can-a...