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>corona virus is around 0.16 microns

But virus particles aren't floating around in the air infecting people, it's spread mostly through respiratory droplets. Not saying that a surgical mask will protect you, but it's not because the virus is too small.

virus particles really are in the air infecting people.

> N95 can only filter particles greater than 0.3 microns and the corona virus is around 0.16 microns.

The virus spreads in much larger drops of fluid.

I'm pretty sure N95 just tells you how many particles are filtered, and the sizes and for which size ranges it is more or less effective depend on the specific piece. Also, droplets are bigger than the naked virus particles and will get caught by the filter.