Masks – 90SS Ep. 11

During the COVID -19 pandemic, one thing is more clear than ever, and that to slow the spread of COVID-19, people need to wear masks in public spaces, and when meeting with strangers. But many people do not know that different types of masks are used for different purposes, and that you should wear the mask that is best suited to your environment. For example, if you are a hospital worker, you should be wearing a N95 respirator mask because the technology inside of the N95 mask filters out 95% of the particles in the air, big or small and the mask is 95% effective. The respirator mask has the most amount of filters, which is why this is the mask that makes it hard to breathe. Some companies have solved this issue by adding an exhalation valve, that makes it easier to exhale. It should be noted that these N95 respirator masks should only be reserved for healthcare workers dealing with the pandemic. For normal citizens, a regular N95 (NOT an N95 respirator) or a surgical mask will do a good enough job keeping out virus particles. Healthcare workers are subjected to the most exposure to COVID-19, which is why they require the highest and most effective masks. Although the surgical mask is more loose fitting, and has leakage, it has been cleared by the FDA to be worn out in public. The last, potentially least effective kind of mask is just to pull your shirt up. Your shirt does not provide you with any filtration, and it is likely that COVID-19 particles can still get through your shirt and into your body. The other extreme end is to use a heavy blanket to cover your nose and mouth, but the problem with these kinds of homemade masks is that while it blocks big and small particles, it also blocks clean air from getting to your nose, making it really hard to breathe. So although surgical and N95 masks can be expensive, they are the most effective in preventing the spread of Coronavirus because of the added filters that pick up on flying particles.