Local_NG_Idiot wrote:ItsDanger wrote:I typed cloth masks bioaerosols in your link. 3rd result had this conclusion:
"Common fabric materials and cloth masks showed a wide variation in penetration values for polydisperse (40–90%) as well as monodisperse aerosol particles in the 20–1000 nm range (40–97%) at 5.5 cm s−1 face velocity. The penetration levels obtained for fabric materials against both polydisperse and monodisperse aerosols were much higher than the value for the control N95 respirator filter media but were in the range found for some surgical masks in previous studies. Penetrations of monodisperse aerosol particles slightly increased at 16.5 cm s−1 face velocity, while polydisperse aerosols showed no significant effect except one fabric mask with an increase. The penetration values obtained for common fabric materials indicate that only marginal respiratory protection can be expected for submicron particles taking into consideration face seal leakage."
So, not dissimilar to surgical masks. No one argues that they do not reduce probability.13th Man wrote:But Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading, said, “If an aerosol droplet hits the weave of the mask fabric rather than the hole it is clearly arrested. And lessening the aerosol dose chips away at the R0 [reproduction number] and helps to slow the epidemic . . . They are not a cure but they address the longer flatter epidemic curve everyone is trying to achieve.”
Glad to see both of you site studies where the facts lead to the conclusion that cloth masks do 'more good than harm' and should be worn in public to lower the probability of infection and therefore help in flattening the curve.
You know, the very opposite of what 13th Man had made claims to.
Negative. My statement still holds merit on cloth masks. What about the part where I highlighted,
"Commenting on these findings, Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said, “There is only very limited evidence of the benefits of wearing face masks by the general public, no evidence that wearing them in crowded places helps at all, and no evidence at all yet related to covid-19 . . . The authors also acknowledge that mass face mask wearing by the public would likely cause shortages among people who genuinely need protective equipment—healthcare workers on the front line in our hospitals.”
Note that these limited findings also do not address negative side effects of mask wearing and other contributing factors to increase the risk of infections such as improper usage of cloth masks in terms of handling and as well insufficient washing of the masks after every use. These are some legitimate concerns that Teresa Tam had brought up in the past.