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Comment by meiji163 | Hacker News Reader

What is the bottom line on masks and COVID-19? I am really out of the loop, since the toxicity of the debate was exhausting. The last I heard was that transmission is mostly via aerosolized viral particles, so most masks are essentially useless except N95 or higher grade.

Anyone have resources I can check out? thanks

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Yes respirators are better than cloth. Both make sense when getting close to strangers, like in a bus, train or airplane. They don't make sense outside where people density is low. Effectiveness most probably tanks immensely once you get into a room with bad air exchange were infectors spend longer time. These contraptions can't stop viral particles from saturated air going through the microscopic and macroscopic holes.

The reality no one wants to admit is that there is ample evidence for both "sides" of the argument.

"I've convinced myself that this {is, is not} a good idea, now everybody has to agree with because I'm RIGHT!"

I cannot wear a mask, it fucks up my breathing badly. Neither side of the debate has room or time for me or those like me. I stayed out of the neighboring county for most of last year because of their mask mandate.

Another thing about masks is that they're specially effective if the infected person is wearing one. Even if it's not perfect, it reduces the number of droplets and the distance the virus can travel.

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