Comments on: Surgical masks prevent infection

By: Paul from Canada

Paul from Canada — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 16:38:10 +0000

I think you are probably right, but some of it will be the filtering effect also.

Now the current Corona virus seems to be airborne in and of itself, but most airborne diseases are associated with sneezed or coughed aerosol droplets, and it the mask keeps you from actually breathing them in/ingesting them (i.e. by getting caught in the mask).

Much the same way hand washing and other hygiene methods don’t eliminate all of the infectious material, just reduces the total amount of it to the point where your body can deal with this smaller virus or bacterial load.

Also, it probably acts as a subconscious signal that the wearer is sick, and people keep a slightly greater distance, but overall, I think you are right. If it is in your mouth and or other mucous membranes, and you can’t touch your mouth, you won’t get it on your hands,and thus won’t put it on the doorknob, phone handset, hands of the person you shake hands with etc. etc.

By: Joe

Joe — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 09:27:32 +0000

Masks may be filtering aerosols

By: Kirk

Kirk — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 20:43:21 +0000

I’ve always wondered about the real source for the masks working… Obviously, the cloth ain’t filtering particles as you breathe, but… I would lay money that the real reason they work is because they keep people from putting their booger hooks near their mouth.

Which is why the surgical masks work as well as the N95 ones. It ain’t the filtering, it’s the prevention of finger-banging your mouth-hole.