Post by IBDaMann on Aug 23, 2020 20:49:24 GMT
Standard facemasks are meant to protect against dust and construction particles, but they are incapable of stopping viruses. In fact, facemasks are so ineffective against viruses that it is dishonest to claim that they even "help."
First, let's look at some solid numbers, a comparison of two similarly dense populations: Sweden and Mississippi.
Bacterial Filtration Efficiency Ninety-Five (BFE95) is a measure of filtration effectiveness. Facemasks rated at BFE95 stop 95% of particles of 3-micron (3μm) diameter or larger. COVID-19 virus is only 120 nanometers (0.12μm), i.e. close to two orders of magnitude smaller. The openings in the mask are far too large to effectively block the virus to any helpful degree.
One claim is that viruses ride in droplets and aerosols which are obviously much larger than the virus riding within, and that masks "help" block those droplets and aerosols. Yes, this is true, however such moisture quickly evaporates and the viruses are free to float away right through the mask, and the facemask still offers neglible protection against all those viruses that are not riding within droplets or aerosols. The result is the same; facemasks are unable to be effective to any useful degree such that one can claim that they even "help."
First, let's look at some solid numbers, a comparison of two similarly dense populations: Sweden and Mississippi.
| Population Density | Total Population | |
| Mississippi | 63.7 People / Sq Mile | 3.1 Million |
| Sweden | 64 People / Sq Mile | 10.2 Million |
| Lockdown | Facemask Mandate | |
| Mississippi | Full Stay-at-Home Lockdown | $500 fine/6-months jail |
| Sweden | No Lockdown, Everything Open | No Mandate |
| COVID Cases per Million | Total COVID Cases | |
| Mississippi | 28,876 | 85,939 |
| Sweden | 8406 | 84,985 |
Bacterial Filtration Efficiency Ninety-Five (BFE95) is a measure of filtration effectiveness. Facemasks rated at BFE95 stop 95% of particles of 3-micron (3μm) diameter or larger. COVID-19 virus is only 120 nanometers (0.12μm), i.e. close to two orders of magnitude smaller. The openings in the mask are far too large to effectively block the virus to any helpful degree.
One claim is that viruses ride in droplets and aerosols which are obviously much larger than the virus riding within, and that masks "help" block those droplets and aerosols. Yes, this is true, however such moisture quickly evaporates and the viruses are free to float away right through the mask, and the facemask still offers neglible protection against all those viruses that are not riding within droplets or aerosols. The result is the same; facemasks are unable to be effective to any useful degree such that one can claim that they even "help."