> The "95" in N95 represents the filtration effectiveness. > So _any_ leakage means the mask fails in it purpose of filtration. What do you mean by that? The

> The "95" in N95 represents the filtration effectiveness. > So _any_ leakage means the mask fails in it purpose of filtration. What do you mean by that? The "95" is just a statement of its performance characteristics, which literally every well-engineered thing has quantified (and are always less than "perfect"). Now if you want an N95 to meet its specifications, it has to be tightly fitted. However it's a spectrum of effectiveness, and unless the fit is ridiculously bad, the protection factor is still going to be better than a cloth mask, e.g.: poorly well- cloth or fitted fitted No mask surgical mask N95 N95 Perfect |O-------------------------O---------------------------------------------------O--------------O--------O| Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.