Re:California’s coronavirus strain looks increasingly dangerous
by tzs on Wednesday February 24, 2021 @02:54PM
(#26254822)
If you have someone you live in close enough contact with that you are already going to be sharing any respiratory illnesses, you can do a simple experiment.
Have them stand across the room from you, without wearing a mask, and have them cough at you. Then have them move a step closer and do it again. Note where you can first feel the cough.
Then repeat but with them wearing a mask. You should find that they have to get much closer.
Second experiment. Having them at the place they ended up after the first experiment, have them cough at you without their mask on. Not subjectively how much cough seems to have reached you. Now have them put on their mask, and repeatedly cough at you until you feel the same total amount of cough has reached you. You should find that it takes many more coughs on their part.
For a virus that is expelled when you expel air and then sinks rather than lingering indefinitely anything that reduces the horizontal range of someone's expulsions, such as the above experiments demonstrate masks do, must decrease the number of viruses you will get from someone who is spreading it when you pass by them.
Have them stand across the room from you, without wearing a mask, and have them cough at you. Then have them move a step closer and do it again. Note where you can first feel the cough.
Then repeat but with them wearing a mask. You should find that they have to get much closer.
Second experiment. Having them at the place they ended up after the first experiment, have them cough at you without their mask on. Not subjectively how much cough seems to have reached you. Now have them put on their mask, and repeatedly cough at you until you feel the same total amount of cough has reached you. You should find that it takes many more coughs on their part.
For a virus that is expelled when you expel air and then sinks rather than lingering indefinitely anything that reduces the horizontal range of someone's expulsions, such as the above experiments demonstrate masks do, must decrease the number of viruses you will get from someone who is spreading it when you pass by them.