'Some Covid Masks Are Better Than Others. I'm The Mask Nerd'; Omicron, A Covid Long Hauler's View

[appalachiablue]

- Current Top Mask Picks & Kids Masks, Mar 21, 2021. (*Also SEE CDC Website for approved masks, Below).
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- 'Some Covid masks are better than others. I know – I’m the Mask Nerd.' Opinion, Aaron Collins, The Guardian, Dec. 27, 2021. Cloth or surgical masks just don’t cut it – respirators are far more effective, and they’re comfortable too. Aaron Collins is a engineer who tests and reviews masks. - Ed.

As a mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science, I often wondered why months into the pandemic we were still using cloth masks. People used similar coverings during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1919, more than 100 years ago. I knew better mask technology existed, and people needed to know about it. So I embarked on a year-long mission to test, document, and review the best masks I could find. This eventually entailed building a mini aerosol laboratory in my bathroom, with scientific instruments capable of measuring particles 1/50,000th the width of a human hair. I have a public database for my results. And a Youtube channel. Over time I began to be known as the Mask Nerd.

With the Omicron variant spreading around the world, the most common question I get is still the most basic: what kind of mask should I be wearing?

If possible, not a cloth or surgical one. These masks are moderately effective at capturing particles coming out of your own mouth – what we engineering nerds call “source control”. But they offer little protection against incoming particles. We call this part – how well the mask protects the wearer – respiratory protection. A typical cloth mask, while better than nothing, only provides around 30-60% protection to the wearer. Surgical masks, while better at 40-80%, lack a tight fit to the face, resulting in large amounts of leakage around the mask.

Much, much better masks exist. These are sometimes called high-filtration masks, or by the technical name of a filtering facepiece respirator. Such high-performance masks provide significant protection to the wearer at levels that are between five and 10 times that of a cloth mask, while also providing significant protection to others. In fact, simply wearing a high-filtration mask can buy you significant time if exposed to infectious individuals. Analysis and studies suggest that with cloth or surgical masks, the risk of infection may increase within minutes of being around others with either no mask or low-performing masks.

However with the use of well fitting, high-filtration masks, this same level of exposure would now take hours to become dangerous. It should be noted that being around a contagious person always carries some risk. One might assume based on the technical name, “respirator”, that these would be some Darth Vader-style headpiece.. I’s quite the opposite. These masks feature a high-tech material called electrostatically charged meltblown polypropylene (a mouthful). It features tightly spaced micron-sized fibres – about 1/50th the diameter of a human hair – that have an electrostatic charge applied to them to catch even smaller particles. This material can filter particles that are a just a few nanometres in size.

The most amazing thing, though, is that while providing nearly 99% protection from typical Covid respiratory aerosols, these materials also provide breathability that surpasses that of a typical three-layer cloth mask...
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/27/best-masks-covid-tests-cloth-surgical-respirators
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*CDC Website: Lists and Info.: high quality, approved mask brands and models. Read and research:

- NIOSH-approved N95 Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators. Updated July 22, 2021:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/N95list1.html

- Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval. Updated December 17, 2021. Manufacturers Listed from A to Z – 3M: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/counterfeitResp.html

- Types of Masks and Respirators. Updated Sept. 23, 2021. Summary of Recent Changes. Added section on considerations for children:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html
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* The Guardian, 'Don’t dismiss Omicron as ‘mild’. Take it from a Covid LONG-HAULER.' JD Davids, Dec. 23, 2021. Throughout the pandemic, Covid infection – from asymptomatic to severe – has led to long Covid in millions. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/23/omicron-covid-19-long-hauler

[NJCher]

1. I think my insurance company

Just sent me one of the high filtration respiratory types. It fits tight and I can breathe well with it.

On the inside it looks like the polypropylene material they are talking about.

[Sherman A1]

2. That is what insurance companies should be doing

Sending out protective gear with clear instructions on the use. Seems like a no brainer to me.

[Hortensis]

7. Insurance companies never have sold medical equipment, though.

Their product's financial and doesn't require warehouses and shipping materials for goods.

Same for our doctors; it might be handy for us to buy a face mask while in to get our throat checked, but for whatever reason they haven't set up to sell retail goods either.

[left-of-center2012]

3. That CDC link doesn't seem to work

At least for me

[appalachiablue]

4. TY! Fixed & added more CDC Links on Masks above.

[YP_Yooper]

5. I love the science behind it

As chemical engineer, I've read the same analysis with others. The other aspect that's important is viral load due to exposure, or “infectious dose”. Aerosols naturally have far fewer viruses than the larger droplets, so even if it's not 100%, if you can reduce your exposure by using an effective mask, hopefully you can limit the number of viruses you breath in so it's under the number that would make you sick.

[IbogaProject]

6. Kn95 not as good as others

I read the Guardian article. The Kn95 is not as good as others, as self reported.

KF-94 is the Korean one regulated by their FDA, those are good, don't be fooled by lower #.

And my extra tip sanitizer doesn't kill much virus & are more toxic.
Soap epically be soap with a good 20 second hand wash will clear much more off your hands.

Put your toilet kid down every flush and if out w open toilets cover your nose & mouth when you flush. Virus spread from toilet flushes. SARS spread that way, COViD less so, but any reduction if other virus & bacteria will increase your immune reserves.