this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2024
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Catching water particles, which carries the virus.
N95 masks do a really good job (something like 80% reduction in transmission), but most people wear those typical surgical masks (or worse, a single-layer cloth mask with almost no protection) that merely reduces transmission by something like half. If you're wearing a mask the whole day, it'll get saturated and become far less effective. So, 50% fewer particles best case (average for a full day is likely way worse) doesn't sound like a good tradeoff to me.
That said, if I'm going to an area with at-risk people, I'll use the best mask available while I'm there. But for all-day usage, no, it's not going to be that effective on net.
so it slows the spread by...preventing transmission of the virus
fucking fabulous job, my dude
It doesn't prevent transmission, it reduces transmission. You'll have similar total numbers of infected people, it just flattens the curve so people get sick slower.
I totally agree that wearing masks has its place, but it's not going to meaningfully reduce the spread, it's already endemic so you're likely going to get it regardless.
It's not only about reducing the number of new infections, it's also about reducing the severity of infections.
If the total number of people still get infected by you transmitting half as many particles, they each only took in half as many particles. Their bodies have a greater chance of killing that lesser number of viruses before a serious reactions occurs compared to the greater number. So, even if the same number of people were to get sick, theyd get less sick. This is extra important for those who are immunocompromised because it will more easily mean the difference between pretty severe and hospitalized than for someone who is not immunocompromised (for whom the difference would be medium to minor)
And