Only N-95 and more restrictive masks offer protection to wearer.

[Prosper]

“Cloth masks “protect the environment from the wearer, whereas respirator N95 masks protect the wearer from the environment,” Dr. Natasha Fuksina, an internal medicine physician with Astra MD Health in Newark, New Jersey, explained to Healthline.“

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/face-masks-importance-battle-with-covid19#Cloth-face-masks-arent-respirators

Why didn’t the Wartime president Trump immediately commission emergency production of N-95 type masks. The fed was pumping hundreds of billions into the stock market to shore up the market so why couldn’t billions be pumped into immediately making every person in the USA the owner of many N-95 type masks.

[MacKasey]

1. Excellent question

Trump should be asked this question every day

If they wanted schools to open why didn't they think to provide N95 masks for everyone

[hlthe2b]

2. Not the full story... Studies have shown even cloth masks provide some (albeit limited) protection

wearer. Obviously an N95 is far superior, but yes, even face masks homemade from three layers of fabric afford some protection. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-0948_article (publication pre-released 07/22/2020)

Healthline is a medical news aggregator that summarizes for lay audience. But it is not updated based on continuing findings as studies are reported.

[OhNo-Really]

7. If everyone wears a mask there's less virus being spread

In medical care all need at least an N95. Doctors had to reuse theirs because of shortages because we don’t have a functioning federal government

In truth, the eyes are also infected by coronavirus so we should all wear face shields& masks or goggles & mask

[hlthe2b]

8. That's not the point of my post. As a primary HCW, of course I only would wear N95 in health setting

and nowhere did I suggest otherwise. I am countering the notion in the OP that suggests NO benefit is conferred to the wearer of a cloth mask. I likewise provided a link to a study (one of several just released that counters this notion that one wears a cloth mask ONLY to protect others. Not true, but promoting this viewpoint is sure to make the anti-maskers dig in their heels.

Yes, you are absolutely correct that we are failing to emphasize the importance of eye protection--even eyeglasses or sunglasses can help. The ace-2 receptors that bind the virus are plentiful in eye tissue so to ignore this route of exposure is foolish.

[Warpy]

9. Only 100% masking offers significant protection

in a time of N-95 mask scarcity, something likely to continue because the needs of hospitals and other health settings are simply not being met. Civilians are going to have to rely on fabric and surgical masks.

Worn by an infected person, the masks will stop all but the smallest droplets. Worn by an uninfected person, the WHO compliant fabric mask or a surgical mask will stop some of what's left. The idea here is to reduce viral load, the amount of exposure a healthy person faces. Keeping viral load low to reduce the possibility of severe disease is a model that applies to other viral illnesses. We don't yet know if it applies to Covid, but it's the best we've got.

Yes, the N-95 masks are the only ones that offer real protection, but those need to be reserved for people who are dealing with known cases of Covid.

Here is an article on the effectiveness of various types of masks with bonus gross video (second one down). https://www.sciencealert.com/this-home-experiment-shows-why-even-homemade-masks-can-help-stop-covid-19-spread

[hlthe2b]

10. That's not the point of my post. As a primary HCW, of course I only would wear N95 in health setting

and nowhere did I suggest otherwise nor did I suggest any mask other than N95 and similar technology provides sufficient protection in the highest risks settngs including my own. You missed the point of my post entirely.. I am countering the notion in the OP that suggests NO benefit is conferred to the wearer of a cloth mask. I likewise provided a link to a study (one of several just released that counters this notion that one wears a cloth mask ONLY to protect others. Not true, but promoting this viewpoint is sure to make the anti-maskers dig in their heels.

As I told the other poster they were correct that we are failing to emphasize the importance of eye protection--even eyeglasses or sunglasses can help. The ace-2 receptors that bind the virus are plentiful in eye tissue so to ignore this route of exposure is foolish.

[mzmolly]

3. Here's another take:

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent

I agree the President is a failure and an idiot, however.

[brush]

4. Surgical masks do offer some protection to the wearer. Not nearly as much as N95...

masks do, but something. If we had had a sentient president when the virus threat first flared up, he/she would've deploy the Defense Production Act to quickly have our nation's immense manufacturing capability product N95 masks for everyone, medical personnel the first priority of course.

And a sentient president would have lead by example by wearing one himself and insisting that all citizens wear them when in public. If that had happened in February or early March the virus would've been defeated by now and we'd all be going about our normal activities now.

trump screwed everything up, just as he has all his fucking life.

[Doodley]

5. If somebody coughs, does a cloth mask give more protection than not wearing one? Of course.

[OhNo-Really]

14. I used to wince when we were told to cough into our elbow.

I had a very public part time job for years. I never ever touched my face or eyes. I used paper towels for itches etc. I wore gloves. I didn’t wear my shoes into my home

I was very rarely sick

I also hosted Asian exchange students and asked why ppl in their countries wore masks

Always the same response

“It is polite to wear a mask to protect others”

So in Feb when were told to not wear a mask, I immediately started wearing a mask

I had a box used for art project protection

I endured the barbs from my family that I was being paranoid & dramatic.

But I knew “don’t wear a mask” was a big fat lie. A horrendous disservice to citizens.

And I understand that “there was a shortage” but there would have been fewer patients had all worn a mask ASAP as well.

Making masks isn’t rocket science. If the USA couldn’t immediately manufacture N85s for all, then we as a country are in a very deep well of vulnerability and must fix this immediately

[Atticus]

6. I am not a doctor, but that is not accurate. While cloth masks are not as effective as an N-95 mask

(which is not as effective as an N-99 mask), cloth masks DO offer SOME protection, i.e., they are considerably better than not wearing any mask.

I do not have a cite, but believe I read an expert 's assessment that a two-layer cloth mask stops 50 to 60 percent of virus-sized particles.

[Prosper]

11. The fit of a mask to wearer's face is the most important consideration. Filtration

Filtration properties are only relevant if masks have a fittment that blocks passage of air between mask and face. Trump is on record saying that maybe thousands lives would need to be sacrificed for the economy. People are never a concern to Trump.

[BigmanPigman]

13. Exactly.

I have a small head and I wear N95 masks. They are so tight I can't get my pinky between my skin and the mask. I am glad it is this tight since it means better protection. I only have 5 of them but have recycled only two since March when I got them. I am planning ahead and will be recycling them, continuing wearing gloves and I purchased goggles too. I rarely go out (self isolating) so they should last until we have a different POTUS (planning long term/reality based).

[OhNo-Really]

15. I added a "Queens Umbrella" to my Covid Ensemble

My gear

Plastic lined beanie

Swimming goggles

Face shield that I staple side to Elastic band to touch the side of my face

Surgical mask with TP insert on nose bridge to prevent face shield fogging

3 pair of gloves. I bleach & reuse

And

Topped off with a Transparent “Queens Umbrella” that reaches my shoulders
https://www.hammacher.com/product/her-majestys-umbrella

I can see, it’s only shoulder width, and is a strategic extra shield from air born droplets
I rest the interior on top of my head freeing my hands to shop. I love it!
I’ve only ventured out once since The end of February

A benefit of being elderly is not caring what others think Freedom

Be safe all. The consequences of lowerIng our guard are dire.

[alfie]

12. Cmpliance would be worse with N95 masks

They have to be fit tested by trained people. They fit very tight. I have read reports of them leaving users faces bruised. I was fit tested for one when I still worked (retired RN). I was unable to get my progressive lens glasses to sit right on my face with the mask on which really distorted my eye-sight. Not a good idea for someone measuring up medicines or anything else.

If we had been able to convince people from the start to all or most of us wearing just regular or home made masks we still could have gotten a handle of this outbreak much faster. This is especially true since many people were contagious before they knew they were infected. I have heard too many people say they aren't going to wear a mask if it is to just protect others. It is too late if they wait until they find out they are infected, or worse, if they remain asymptomatic and are never tested. Lots of infections were probably spread that way.

[OhNo-Really]

16. Ultimate selfishness to not protect orhers

I can’t wrap my head around such thinking

[Prosper]

17. That is right wing rule book.

[clarkd101]

18. Experience with N-95

You are right. I does protect. However on the other hand, I started having stomach issues with its use. I don't know whether it was this mask or any other issue inside my body.