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Wearing mask discourages you from touching your face with your hands.

If someone sneezes at you, even most simple mask will stop at least 50% of viruses. If someone was far away and only a small load reached you, that may be enough to keep you safe.

> (And if YOU are infected you should not be out anyway)

The big problem is to know when you're infected. Mask keeps others safe if you're not aware that you're infected.

Some reports say that you start distributing viruses pretty much immediately after getting it yourself. Even if all contacts (which is far from guaranteed) get traced and you get checked and/or isolated in a day or two, you'd be already spreading viruses for that timeframe.



> Wearing mask discourages you from touching your face with your hands

Good point!

> If someone sneezes at you, even most simple mask will stop at least 50% of viruses

sounds plausible, but any reference for that figure?


That's what is posted in our local media. I'm not sure if it comes from local gov agencies or WHO or something else.

FFP2 / N95 respirators - 90-something percent, medical "blue" masks - 80 percent, home-made piece-of-cloth style ~ 50%.

Wearing sunglasses is encouraged too. Both to stop the load if someone sneezes at you and discourage from touching your eyes.


N95 - 95% at least.

Medical mask - 96,4%.

Home made mask - 60-96% (depends on cloth and sewing).

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_t...


Maybe you and I have different medical masks in mind? I was talking about masks like this:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0080/6830/0851/products/6_...

https://www.123rf.com/photo_138981777_stock-vector-person-we...

https://phonetub.com/products/100-disposable-face-surgical-m...

The main problem with blue masks and home made is that they tend to get wet from breath and their effectiveness go down the drain.




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