When it comes to wearing a surgical mask in public, for a while there I felt like that Japanese soldier who didn't get the news that the war was over and so maintained a war footing by himself on some Pacific island for decades.
Since Covid hit in April 2020 I've masked up with an N-95 mask in any indoor setting I'm in — no exceptions.
Lately I've noticed masking by others to be increasing.
Alas, nearly 100% of the time these masks are theater, as worn not nearly as protective as their wearers believe.
Masks that loop over the ears — while much easier to put on and take off than those with elastic straps that go behind the head — always have openings along the sides and/or bottom no matter how carefully they're fitted.
In contrast, when you exhale through a properly fitting mask, there should be 0 air exiting via the sides/top/bottom.
It's impossible to create that kind of tight fit with a behind-the-ear mask, in particular those without a moldable area over the nose.
That's why that type of mask isn't worn in the OR.
If you're going to mask up, get some N-95s from Amazon.
Above and below, my choice.
Unlike the case at the height of the epidemic, when these masks were very hard to find and super-expensive, nowadays they're cheap: 20 for $15.16.
I haven't had a cold or the flu in years, which I attribute at least in part to my mask romance.
No comments:
Post a Comment