Re:The neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV2
by UncleOxidant on Wednesday March 04, 2020 @01:58PM
(#22486695)
Yes, the virus itself is small enough to get through, but typically the virus comes in a water droplet (as in being coughed or sneezed out) and those will be mostly stopped by an N95 mask.
Re:The neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV2
by jeffmcmahan on Wednesday March 04, 2020 @02:17PM
(#22486930)
Hmm. Based on what I read, particles smaller than 0.3 microns have a widely "wandering" path of travel through the mask fibers on account of Brownian motion. My understanding was that 0.3 micron particles are the size that the N95 mask is least effective at blocking. Smaller particles are blocked more effectively, not less, until you get down to a scale so small that you pretty well exclude live biological material.
Not my original source, but discusses the same thing: https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/376179O/nanotechnology-a...
This is to say, 95% filtration is the worst the mask will perform, with particles of any size, as it relates to coronavirus.
You need an ASTM Level 2 or higher surgical mask to block coronavirus from completely penetrating the mask.
That said, any mask is better than no mask, first because it prevents you touching your mouth and nose with potentially infected hands, and second because coronavirus travels in water droplets which can be stopped by the mask from going straight into your mouth or nose.