by frizzen » Wed May 06, 2020 8:34 pm
Not an expert, just been trying to keep informed while stuck being 'essential'. Hope your vacations are going ok.
Virus is smaller than the holes in most masks filtering.
You aren't stopping an Airborne virus though, this one travels on Droplets that travel through the air. Remember seeing your breath on a cold day as it turns to fog? Those are the type droplets you're stopping.
The make-shift, dust mask, and surgical masks are more about keeping a contagious person from spreading as much, instead of protecting the wearer. Plus the soft masks can't even get a good seal even if the filter actually did that much. Think of it more as a Buffet sneeze-guard.
Some make shift mask are using certain materials as filters which come closer to filtering like the n95, i believe the blue shop towels came closest in performance. Doesn't have electrostatic charge or any of the other filtering awesomeness.
An N95 rated mask will stop the droplets the virus travels on.
A P-100 rated mask will stop the droplets the vires travels on.
A mask with an outflow valve is much more comfortable to wear, it seals better, is cooler, drier... doesn't protect anyone at all From You. But YOU are safer from them.
Most respirator cartriges use a pre-filter that's rated p100 to keep the filter media clean longer. These are awesome if you've got one. But they're heavy, hot, and suck to wear more than a couple hours. Fit matters! Do your positive & negative pressure checks putting on
If you need to reuse a disposable mask, while doing your decontamination put it in ziplock bag and seal, write wear date on bag. Don't open bag or reuse until after time elapsed will have killed virus!
Wash hands a LOT.
Don't touch stuff.
Your eyes are a great way to get it, grab some glasses or goggles too.
Stop touching that!
Pretend the world is coated in Anti-sieze, or Rusty Grease. Remember when scratching that minor eye itch turned into blindly getting to the bathroom using braille while in pain so you could wash that out of your eye? Like that, but it also wants to kill you, and everyone you love.
A mask is useless if it's under your nose.
A mask is useless if it's not on your mouth either.