Re:Brendan Eich on the Lex Fridman Podcast [video]
by BrendanEich on Monday February 15, 2021 @01:09PM
(#26145310)
Microdroplets, aerosol flows. This isn't a matter of stopping large droplets, where masks are more effective provided they don't nebulize. See also
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01658736
https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2493952/pdf/annrcse...
for surprising null or even slightly negative result of surgeons masking vs. surgery patient wound infections.
Assuming linear scaling or other naive-model benefits from masks runs into large-scale gen-pop experience, which has now been studied by enough RCTs to cast doubt on the assumption. Long-term WHO and CDC policy guidance was based on empirical science showing non-pharmaceutical interventions are not very effective against respiratory viruses.
The clean fit to a face is pertinent to zero exposure. This is a common test in the military: dawn your mask, cover the vents, and suck in. If you don't feel immense pressure on your face, if you can't shake your head and do it again then you're metaphorically dead. Part of this fit is having a mask that fits your face and being clean shaven.
I don't know that COVID protection needs to hit this mark, since this is designed for nerve agents and nuclear fallout. It seems like trapping quantities of the virus is good enough, since it takes some threshold of exposure to get someone infected.