Masks perform two tasks:
The protection of others: This is the primary one. To minimize the water droplets you expel as you cough, sneeze, talk, or just plain breathe from becoming airborne. I hear all the time from people, that they feel fine and they aren't infected. Unless you have been tested with a rapid test and received the result just before you make that statement, or you have been isolated, you have no way of knowing whether you have it or you don't. That's why this disease is so insidious. You can have it and not know it for days or weeks before you start to show symptoms. More and more children are positive and are infecting their families and other kids.
Protecting the wearer: The only mask that protects the wearer is the N95. It has to fit correctly to seal around the nose and mouth. Cannot be worn with a beard. All other masks, bandannas, gators, etc. allow some unfiltered air to be breathed in around the edges.
Slow motion videos absolutely demonstrate how these work. And show what happens when a mask is not worn.
If two people who are wearing masks interact, studies have shown that the likelihood of transmission is vastly reduced. Especially if they maintain social distancing.
Yes, microdroplets can remain airborne for long periods of time. And their spread in a poorly ventilated room goes beyond six feet. But, there seems to be a threshold for the quantity of virus particles needed to reach the point where the virus can multiply and overpower the immune system. If you walk through a space where such a cloud exists, and you're wearing a mask, most likely you won't contract COVID-19. If you stay in the room for 15 minutes or longer, the odds go way up for it being able to get a foot hold in the nose and mouth and multiply.
Face shields ONLY protect the wearer from getting any spray in the eyes. It does not protect from inhaling droplets. The air comes around the sides of the shield just fine when you inhale.
Masks are a pretty simple and proven effective measure to protect your family, friends, neighbors, community and yourself from spreading and contracting COVID-19. Combined with washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap, and using hand sanitizer when you can't wash, it's pretty darn effective. Not 100 percent. But close.
I like this cartoon:
If everyone does their part, at the very least we can slow down the spread so that we don't overwhelm our hospitals with cases.
You don't want to get a severe case of this virus. You can be hospitalized for weeks in an ICU. You will owe hundreds of thousands dollars for your care. 10 percent of current hospitalizations are for people 18 and younger!
Caveat: I am not a doctor nor a medical person, nor do I play one on TV. But my wife works at a medical center in charge of employee health.
