Is touting one has a sweet mask is that like saying you have a cool pair of Crocs?We wear them in all stores. When I do go to the office, I wear it around the building but not in my office.
It is a general courtesy to wear it in public; everyone should. Plus I have a couple of sweet Columbus Blue Jacket masks so I don't mind so much.
I spent a couple hours reading some 3m studies on the virus and mask efficiency. Seems research shows extremely small particles are easier to capture than slightly larger ones. Think of each strand of fiber in the mask being like a huge landing strip for the extremely small virus. Once it lands on one of these fibers, it sinks into it and can not easily be removed.I copied this:
The Covid-19 virus, is a virus....it is literally MICROSCOPIC. Any type of paper or cloth mask will not stop the virus from getting into you through your breathing when you inhale, or stop it from getting out of you if you are infected with it when you exhale. The virus is so small that it will pass right through any type cloth or paper mask.
For example, the N-95 mask that is routinely used in dusty, industrial environments is designed to filter out PARTICLES. The 95 means they should be able to filter out 95% of airborne particles (e.g. dust) down to about PM-2.5 (that is particles as small as 2.5 microns). Viruses are WAY smaller than 2.5 microns, and even if the virus itself has attached itself to a microscopic water droplet, it will still get through a mask.
The only way to really protect yourself would be to wear a full face piece, powered air purifying respirator with a HEPA cartridge (fit tested). Or by wearing an SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) like a scott air pack that the firemen use.
If you think I'm FOS do some homework. There is a lot of research (OSHA stuff) regarding workers who wear N-95 masks for prolonged periods while they are working as part of their jobs. Prolonged use causes a drop in oxygen concentration in the blood (hypoxia) and also causes carbon dioxide levels in the blood to increase (the mask restricts both breathing in oxygen, and expelling carbon dioxide when you breath out).
Don't want to burst anybody's bubble, and not calling anybody out. It is just that there is a lot more information regarding masks than is being pumped out to the masses. (By people who want to make $$$ selling masks ?)
Just curious for y'all:
When you go out in public, grocery, etc about what % of the folks are wearing masks that you would guess?
Also, state if you are rural, urban, suburbs, etc.
RURAL: Guestimate of 5%. I have noticed even employees are wearing them less and less.
BURBS: I'd say it's about 50%. at the Kroger store I normally use. You could even break it down by hours of the day. It seems like earlier in the day the mask wearing was slightly above 50% but in the later evening(after 6pm) it's under 50%.Just curious for y'all:
When you go out in public, grocery, etc about what % of the folks are wearing masks that you would guess?
Also, state if you are rural, urban, suburbs, etc.
RURAL: Guestimate of 5%. I have noticed even employees are wearing them less and less.
The whole point of the masks is to prevent those who are infected but don't know it from spreading the virus. Not the other way around.I spent a couple hours reading some 3m studies on the virus and mask efficiency. Seems research shows extremely small particles are easier to capture than slightly larger ones. Think of each strand of fiber in the mask being like a huge landing strip for the extremely small virus. Once it lands on one of these fibers, it sinks into it and can not easily be removed.
Then picture the slightly larger particles than the virus, they are caught on the air stream and bounce off the fibers and end up passing through the mask and get inhaled deep into the lungs potentially. Breathing through the nose instead of the mouth helps lodge these particles in your mucus fields to prevent from going deep into lungs.
One way they explained in the research is as air moves through the masks media of fibers, the air speed increases greatly and changes direction frequently. This speed and change of direction slams the virus or extremely small particles into and onto the mask fibers, capturing them and protecting the person. Over time , these fibers build up with material and no longer can continue to hold the extremely small virus bodies, so an avalanche could occur and particles reach the lungs if extended use in a viral laden environment occurs. So change mask often if you suspect it is loading up with virus.
As for the cloth masks, just there to block a huge viral shed from reaching others. It will not stop an initial infection.
Just curious for y'all:
When you go out in public, grocery, etc about what % of the folks are wearing masks that you would guess?
Also, state if you are rural, urban, suburbs, etc.
RURAL: Guestimate of 5%. I have noticed even employees are wearing them less and less.