Thought of the Day - September 11 - Masks Re-Revisted

Most of the world now understands the benefit of masks. They lower the viral load (both sent and received) and thus decrease the chance of infection and its severity. Also, most of the misinformation, designed to protect supplies for the medical system, is behind us (Thought of the Day - June 22 - Masks Revisited). Thus it is time to take a quick look at the masks themselves.

Remember a wearing a mask is way better than no mask but use the best you can, especially when physical distancing will be compromised:

Remember fit is as important as type. An N95 dust mask from Home Depot that does not fit your face may be less effective than a homemade mask. If you looking for a homemade multi-use mask ensure it is large enough, has a nose wire and adjustable straps for a tight fit and consider using a mask frame for comfort and increased breathing area.

Recent studies have also been showing that face shields are not effective. While of course there are certain settings where they add value, as they do protect the eyes and stop you from touching your face, but without a mask underneath they are of limited benefit; in fact, they are worse than an ill-fitting mask as they really have no filtering capability. Moreover, they trap air, making required mask-wearing more uncomfortable and exacerbating issues such as "mask-ney" skin blemishes.

Happy Masking!

Cheers

Cliff