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I think your assessment of the efficacy of masks is a bit facile. From what I understand, most airborne viral particles will tend to float on aerosolized matte

by jjeaff 2y ago

I think your assessment of the efficacy of masks is a bit facile. From what I understand, most airborne viral particles will tend to float on aerosolized matter, much of which is over 2.5 microns. Filtration is a statistics game and so is catching a virus. The more particle exposure you get, the more likely you are to get infected. The more mask material you have between you and the particles carrying the virus, the fewer reach your body.

RecycledEle 2y ago
I agree that some particulate matter in the air that is larger than 2.5 microns contains viruses, as does some that is smaller. Please provide some data as to how many virus particles we inhale in particles larger than 2.5 microns and in particles smaller than 2.5 microns. I am not aware of anyone having that data, therefore COVID-19 masks seem like guesswork without sufficient science to back them up. “When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarely, in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science.” ― Lord Kelvin
lotsofpulp 2y ago
As far as I understand, if one is in the same physical distances with the same frequency to others with a mask (a cheap one, not an N95 that is properly put on), then the mask does not make much difference for the healthy person, but it does for the person expelling viruses. But people are also expelling viruses while you have no symptoms, so lots of people who appear healthy are expelling viruses, and since they appear healthy, they are probably not going to wear masks. For example, if you fly a lot in cramped air cabins, then wearing a cheap mask is not going to do much. What would do something is if every single person wore a mask all the time, since that would capture all the people who appear healthy but are shedding viruses, but that is obviously not realistic. And if you hang out with a toddler that goes to daycare, no amount of masking makes any difference.

by jjeaff 2y ago

RecycledEle 2y ago

I agree that some particulate matter in the air that is larger than 2.5 microns contains viruses, as does some that is smaller. Please provide some data as to how many virus particles we inhale in particles larger than 2.5 microns and in particles smaller than 2.5 microns. I am not aware of anyone having that data, therefore COVID-19 masks seem like guesswork without sufficient science to back them up. “When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarely, in your thoughts advanced to the stage of science.” ― Lord Kelvin

lotsofpulp 2y ago

As far as I understand, if one is in the same physical distances with the same frequency to others with a mask (a cheap one, not an N95 that is properly put on), then the mask does not make much difference for the healthy person, but it does for the person expelling viruses. But people are also expelling viruses while you have no symptoms, so lots of people who appear healthy are expelling viruses, and since they appear healthy, they are probably not going to wear masks. For example, if you fly a lot in cramped air cabins, then wearing a cheap mask is not going to do much. What would do something is if every single person wore a mask all the time, since that would capture all the people who appear healthy but are shedding viruses, but that is obviously not realistic. And if you hang out with a toddler that goes to daycare, no amount of masking makes any difference.