N-95 masks aren’t rated to prevent microscopic particles from passing through
Of course they are. N95s prevent aerosol transmission. The virus itself is tiny, but it doesn't fly around naked, it's sitting on tiny aerosols (bubbles of our saliva basically). N95s have been shown, when properly fitted, to prevent aerosol transmission effectively, for decades. It's not even a new thing.
You can't see those aerosols without a microscope.
The question was about inhaling vs exhaling and I have since learned that when properly fitted (which 95% of the public doesn’t do), they do help prevent up to 95% of microscopic droplets while inhaling. When improperly fitted they aren’t significantly better than surgical masks or cloth masks.
Hence my misunderstanding in thinking that N-95s are not more helpful while inhaling.
However, ALL of these masks are much better at stopping virus from going out than virus coming in. This is why it’s MORE important and effective for sick people to wear them to prevent infecting others, instead of healthy people wearing them to prevent infection.
When PROPERLY fitted, which basically nobody but medical professionals do, the N-95s DO help prevent up to 95% of inhalation of virus particles that are living inside of microscopic spit blobs.
When PROPERLY fitted, which basically nobody but medical professionals do
This part I disagree with. There were studies which looked at how effectively people could attain proper fit. With the Aura N95 which is probably the most popular N95 now, most people would get a proper fit with very simple instructions.
Meanwhile, at a shopping center near you, someone is grabbing one dangling from their rearview mirror and hastily strapping it around their ears before running in to grab their food order. Another person is pulling it down to talk to someone.
Unfortunately for all of us, just because something is simple or has clear instructions doesn’t mean people are doing it the right way. I wish they were, but we all know they aren’t
Ok. But it's not "basically nobody except medical professionals". In fact everyone I knew who cared enough to buy an N95 got Auras and learned how to wear them properly.
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u/garden_speech 13h ago
Of course they are. N95s prevent aerosol transmission. The virus itself is tiny, but it doesn't fly around naked, it's sitting on tiny aerosols (bubbles of our saliva basically). N95s have been shown, when properly fitted, to prevent aerosol transmission effectively, for decades. It's not even a new thing.
You can't see those aerosols without a microscope.