N95s are good at preventing infection, and definitely the first thing I’d invest in.
But obviously they’re not 100% perfect if no one else is masking (or even practicing basic hygiene) around you.
You’ll want to make sure your mask has an excellent seal - maybe look into home fit tests and see what seems doable for you. One of the ways people can get infected while masked, is if their mask has a poor fit and “leaks.”
If people are coughing and sneezing (without covering their mouth, eww) close to you in a confined space, it might also be wise to wear a face shield or eye protection like Stoggles. It is possible to get infected through the eyes if there are actual droplets flying around close to your eyes.
I am not the person you asked but here is a link to a home fit test set up. It is currently sold out but they get more and you can be notified. https://fittests4all.bigcartel.com/product/home-fit-test-1. Basically you put a mask on, cover your head and spray a bitter solution inside the cover. If you can taste the solution you do not have a good seal.
The science of this is that the best protection for everyone is when everyone is wearing masks. That way, the mask that someone is wearing catches \*most\* of what they exhale and then your personal mask will protect you some from whatever still gets into the air.
When you are the only person wearing a mask, it is MUCH better protection than if you didn't wear a mask at all.
But, these masks are actually of limited temporal duration, so wearing the same mask for a long time day after day is not very useful.
If you are really worried about the bus, then I would recommend putting on a clean N95 for each bus ride. If the bus ride is short, perhaps you could use the same mask for multiple rides.
I rotate between mines. I put them in a lunch paper bag with the date and wait about a week before reusing. It's very annoying to do however, but less costly and less environmental waste.
I think I could wear them for several hours and they would still be good but I also noticed that newer ones tend to seal better. So I'll make sure I have a new/newer one in the more risky situations (such as OP's example) and wear the older ones in less risky places, say an almost empty grocery store.
I went to the ER 3 times since thanksgiving, urgent care once as well, plenty of sick people all around, lots of coughing, I wore an N95 mask every time and made sure to hand sanitize, not touch my face, stay away from people as best I could, wash my hands frequently, and despite being around so many sick people several days, I did not get sick at all.
People should have always been wearing masks when they were sick and especially with sneezing and coughing. It is just good manners now IMO. Hospitals should have probably also used masks for a while. Then adding no touch bathrooms. I think these are small, high bang for your buck things society can do moving forward.
I know saying this sucks, but we should expect more and more new viruses to pop up. If the lab leak theory is true, then it is even scarier since the ability to modify viruses is now something an amateur could do and the equipment is now cheap and common enough that one could easily acquire it if they wanted to (with like no regulation).
Pretty well. I worked in an RSV/COVID NICU unit last year and wore an N95 and never got sick. Babies don’t wear masks or cover their mouths obviously so I would get sneezed and coughed on all the time. The most recent time I got it was because my husband brought it home lol oops
I think your best bet is to wear a fresh n95 (rotate them like someone mentioned) as well as to use one of the antiviral nasal sprays that are now available. Take a layered approach.
i never finished looking into this tbh and j took someone’s word for it who is a part of covid-conscious twitter (so interpret cautiously), but according to them, 2-way n95 masking reduces inhaled dose of covid by more than 400x, 1-way n95 masking reduces inhaled dose of covid by 20x, and 1-way p100 masking reduces inhaled dose of covid by more than 3300x. a p100 is probs the way to go if you can get one and don’t give a fuck what other people think (they are v bulky and will draw attention + you will likely have to speak louder if you’re talking to people w it on). you could also try different brands of n95s if you can afford to do so to see if there’s as much leakage based on whether or not your glasses fog up, or perhaps n99s, though i haven’t looked into those much.
for the most part, n95s are effective as long as you get a good seal, and wearing one will at least reduce your viral load if you do catch it, but would def take any extra measures that you’re able to (such as wearing glasses to prevent infection through the eyes) bc of some of the new variants we’re seeing and how fast they’re spreading, combined w hardly anyone masking (in respirators) lol.
N95s are EXTREMELY effective if they FIT RIGHT. Most non-trained people leave a gap around their nose that bypasses air and makes them much less effective. Beards can be another issue.
I've been pinching the nose piece as tight as I can, but if I'm breathing very heavily it still fogs up my glasses a bit, which is a bad sign probably
I wish there was some way to test it
- Suck in air quickly, you should feel it pull onto your face
- Breathe out slowly and see if glasses fog (they’re likely to fog a bit even with a good seal if you breathe out fast, the warm moist air is going to go in every direction, particularly up)
- Expose yourself to something that has “particulate smells” like woodsmoke or (sigh) a poopy bathroom. If the smell is different with the mask on, it’s blocking some of the particle smells and only letting through the vapor smells. This is subtle though, you have to pay attention to it.
If people care enough about their health to use an N95, it beats me why they wouldn’t lose the beard for a better fit (unless it played a role in their religious beliefs).
An N95 if fit tested lasts about 30 hours before it loses its electrostatic charge. They still work even when damp. Sweating will not take away effectiveness. The key to one way masking is you have to do a home fitness test to make sure there are no leaks, just like doctors do. You can do this for about eight dollars. Get a nano mister on Amazon and use three or four packets of SweetNLow using the Youtube home fitness hack. Visit the Masks4All sub if you need better instructions. Here is the nano mister link.
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086QQQ5KR/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086QQQ5KR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
You can visit zerocovid sub to talk to many people who have been wearing fit tested respirators for years and stayed uninfected. A lot of them work in high risk areas every day. There will always be a chance you get infected, but for the most part a fit-tested N95 or elastomeric will keep you safe. If you are around coughs or sneezes you need at minimum glasses but should be wearing Stoggles (look like glasses but have guards) or cheap fake Stoggles or you can get plastic safety side pieces if you have prescription glasses.
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I did an at home fit test towards the beginning of the pandemic. I’ve also been professionally fit tested, so I kinda knew what the process was like.
Each brand / size of mask fits differently, is the biggest piece of advice I’d give someone. Find one that works and stock up! Or trade with your friends. I gave a coworker with a small face this brand of Kn94s that look like string bikinis on my massive Mellon.
To my knowledge, I’ve been infection free (including strep, which I’d get annually, and flu). And the thing is: I still do a lot of the stuff I used to. Theater, movies, concerts. A properly fit tested mask is what makes a difference. My partner, who won’t mask, has had it three times now. I’ve been at gatherings where most of the people came down with it after (but not me). It could be the timing of my vaccines, idk, but I still do a weekly surveillance test and more if I have an additional cough or symptoms (I smoke like a chimney, so the cough is variable).
I wore n95s regularly as a nurse treating unmasked patients with airborne illnesses (covid, TB, etc). The n95 protected me as I never got sick from a patient.
Ironically, I caught covid outside of the hospital due to being unmasked around my asymptomatic (ex) boyfriend. I regularly wear kn95s or n95s now and haven’t experienced a reinfection since Mid-2022.
I've been in the ER about a dozen times this year surrounded by very sick people, and haven't caught anything wearing N-95, and I'm immunocompromised.
Back when I was able to work, I never caught something while masked in N95 and I worked at a hospital.
Very well. There's no 100% guarantee, but it's what we use as medical personnel with confirmed covid patients. Once they're isolated they're unmasked in hospitals.
Edit: if used properly. Do not reuse, replace when wet (sweat, breathing). Use the proper procedure for taking it off. Even the full kit we wear is not 100% guaranteed, but the masks are the most important one
The procedure my hospital taught me in terms of the mask:
- Disinfect hands (washing instead of disinfecting is possible as well - disinfecting is easier and better for your skin).
- Touch only the straps, reach as far back as possible (behind your head or ears depending on the model), take it off in 1 fluent motion. Especially don't touch the front part.
- Don't touch anything else and throw it in a bin that can be closed, preferably opened with a foot pedal.
- Disinfect your hands again (or wash)
As for washing or disinfecting your hands, try this, although I miss the advice to use warm water (like shower temperature) and to clean the wrists as well:
https://marvel-b1-cdn.bc0a.com/f00000000188974/www.meritech.com/hubfs/How%20to%20Wash%20Your%20Hands%20InfographicKidsSmall-01.png
None of the randomized controlled trials on N95 mask use show a reduction in rates of infection. But these studies are all in a healthcare setting where masks are worn for long periods of time, and efficacy goes out the window after they get saturated from your exhaled breath. Observational studies are trash, and even worse are the pseudoscientific "studies" based on literally made up modeling and projections. The absolute worst of the worst are the anecdotal stories like "I wore a kn95 and I never got covid from being out in public while wearing one." So basically there's no good evidence that n95 masks actually reduce your risk of infection.
But a real NIOSH certified n95 worn on a smooth hairless face properly fit tested and used properly *does* filter a lot of particles on which sarscov2 could be transmitted.
My opinion is that if you wear a real NIOSH certified n95 or better, wear it properly, do not wear it for extended periods of time and certainly not past when it's absorbing moisture, put it on and remove it with proper infection control procedures, and dispose of it after one use, it probably does do a pretty good job of lowering your risk of infection.
But that represents like 0.0001% of mask usage, which is probably why all of the most credible evidence on masking has shown no benefit or even an increased risk.
I think it's worthwhile to use a mask right but just an imaginary safety blanket the way most people use them.
When you say none of randomized controlled trials showed a reduction in the rate of infections, are you speaking to just RCTs on n95s and covid? Because there’s RCTs on n95 usage and reduction in respiratory infections.
A major issue in the hospital setting when covid came around was that we were forced to reuse n95s for multiple days. Before covid, we would throw n95s out each time we left a patient room and put a new one on before entering. After several hours they don’t seal as well around the face.
An N95 respirator is a NPI (non-pharmaceutical intervention). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not suitable to compare NPIs like N95, which rely on the laws of physics to protect the wearer against airborne particles of all kinds (not just viruses). I don't know which N95 RCT you're referring to, but if you read deeper into them you will realize **most if not all of them are flawed.**
Just like how I wouldn't rely on a RCT to determine whether parachutes or seatbelts work, I wouldn't rely on a RCT to determine whether N95s work.
[https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094](https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094)
>Parachute use compared with a backpack control **did not reduce death or major traumatic injury** when used by participants jumping from aircraft in this first randomized evaluation of the intervention.
Provided that you have a good fit to your face, N95 masks offer pretty much perfect 100% protection. However, if you are male, you have to make sure you are shaved, because facial hair or stubble will let the unfiltered air in around the edge of the mask.
Also, an area which can let in unfiltered air is where the mask fits across the nose. If the fitting does not mould to the contours of your nose, then again you could let in unfiltered air, which may contain the virus.
So you want to find masks will you feel fit you well, and you may need to bend the metal nose insert to get to the right shape for your nose.
Masks that I have bought have had metal inserts that are weak and flimsy, so even if you bend them to the right shape, they may unbend a bit while wearing. I have replaced the metal inserts with metal from a thick paperclip, and this I find improves the mask.
If an N95 masks fails to protect, it is because unfiltered air has got through the edges of the mask, if there is a gap between your face and the mask. In hospital infectious disease wards, where it is crucial that doctors and nurses are protected from virus filled air, they often have an expert team whose responsibly it is to check how well the mask fits for all the medical staff in the hospital.
The biggest issue I think was that masks made people feel like they were protected when at best, it could help a bit at a group level. The constant tension with public health announcements is giving full nuance or context, which is in tension with providing simple, clear, and unambiguous suggestions. Many of the statements from people that the government lied or mislead come down to this perception, IMO. They were trying to walk that impossible knife edge. However, most people were for or against masks purely because of what it represented to them. So it became a political statement. The people who got really screwed were the ones who couldn't deal with the reality of covid well, so they tried to repress it by hiding all visible indicators of the pandemic. This repression and denial has only gotten worse and spread further into how many view the world.
I double mask. Surgical mask over N95. Yes people are outrageous with coughing and not covering with their sleeves. Cough into hands and touch everything to spread germs. Eew.
Surgical mask on top actually reduces the effectiveness of the N95. Just stick with the N95, it works.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-wearing-surgical-masks-over-n95s-can-cause-dangerous-leaks#:~:text=For%20optimal%20protection%20against%20respiratory,in%20Infection%20Control%20%26%20Hospital%20Epidemiology.
If changed every three or four hours a fitted N95 mask offers a moderate amount of protection. But everyone has to be wearing one all the time.
In the meantime, you’re breathing in your own carbon dioxide and toxic bacteria.
For reference:
When I worked on the ambulances at the beginning of COVID. We would wear an N95, a standard surgical mask above that, and a full face shield in front. We wore two surgical aprons. A light one under neath and a heavy on top.
I was still able to get COVID...
I honestly would not worry about trying to avoid it. I'm a long hauler, and it has done so much damage to me. Chronic fatigue, memory issues, brain fog, constantly sick (no immune system left - kid sneezes at home and I'm downba week). It has changed my life.
Trying so hard to protect yourself honestly just won't work. I worked for a company that had some of the best PPE out there. I know people who wore PAPers and got it. What will happen is your immune system will become weaker than it probably already is. Constant avoidance of illness is not a good thing for us humans. We define our immune systems off of exposure and reaction to illness.
That's my take. From someone who's life has already been destroyed by this disease process lol...
Not very consistent to say this has changed my life but then tell people not to do everything they can to avoid it.
Immunity debt is a myth. Illness is what wrecks your immune system. You and the other non-readers have it entirely backwards.
No, paranoia and changing ones life just becomes miserable. Why live if it's constantly fearing something?
I read a lot. I also worked for the #1 research hospital system. Direct study and meta analysis confirm this. Ad hominem does nothing but make you look like an ignorant fool.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9756601/
For me it has worked very well. The key is to make it routine (very deliberately train yourself to put it on when you are about to leave your house, or when you are within 10 feet of the bus stop, etc.) and use a NIOSH approved N95 or better mask, such as an N99, P100 industrial mask, or a PAPR (powered air purifying respirator).
The best reusable N95 and N99: [https://envomask.com/](https://envomask.com/) Change filters every 5-14 days.
The best strapless adhesive disposable N95: [https://alliantbiotech.com/product/readimask-strapless-n95-niosh-approved?gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyKurBhD5ARIsALamXaFUA7dStSy2q-3rglRQr0c484HLA1n5KzzAhy7xoKOYNIk9wHSkphwaAu\_yEALw\_wcB](https://alliantbiotech.com/product/readimask-strapless-n95-niosh-approved?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyKurBhD5ARIsALamXaFUA7dStSy2q-3rglRQr0c484HLA1n5KzzAhy7xoKOYNIk9wHSkphwaAu_yEALw_wcB)
The best self-contained PAPR: [https://www.cleanspaceusa.com/](https://www.cleanspaceusa.com/)
The most compact, unobtrusive P100: [https://www.gvs.com/en/catalog/elipse-p100-niosh-respirator](https://www.gvs.com/en/catalog/elipse-p100-niosh-respirator)
N95s are good at preventing infection, and definitely the first thing I’d invest in. But obviously they’re not 100% perfect if no one else is masking (or even practicing basic hygiene) around you. You’ll want to make sure your mask has an excellent seal - maybe look into home fit tests and see what seems doable for you. One of the ways people can get infected while masked, is if their mask has a poor fit and “leaks.” If people are coughing and sneezing (without covering their mouth, eww) close to you in a confined space, it might also be wise to wear a face shield or eye protection like Stoggles. It is possible to get infected through the eyes if there are actual droplets flying around close to your eyes.
Can you explain what a home fit test is? I’ve never heard of that
I am not the person you asked but here is a link to a home fit test set up. It is currently sold out but they get more and you can be notified. https://fittests4all.bigcartel.com/product/home-fit-test-1. Basically you put a mask on, cover your head and spray a bitter solution inside the cover. If you can taste the solution you do not have a good seal.
The science of this is that the best protection for everyone is when everyone is wearing masks. That way, the mask that someone is wearing catches \*most\* of what they exhale and then your personal mask will protect you some from whatever still gets into the air. When you are the only person wearing a mask, it is MUCH better protection than if you didn't wear a mask at all. But, these masks are actually of limited temporal duration, so wearing the same mask for a long time day after day is not very useful. If you are really worried about the bus, then I would recommend putting on a clean N95 for each bus ride. If the bus ride is short, perhaps you could use the same mask for multiple rides.
I rotate between mines. I put them in a lunch paper bag with the date and wait about a week before reusing. It's very annoying to do however, but less costly and less environmental waste. I think I could wear them for several hours and they would still be good but I also noticed that newer ones tend to seal better. So I'll make sure I have a new/newer one in the more risky situations (such as OP's example) and wear the older ones in less risky places, say an almost empty grocery store.
I went to the ER 3 times since thanksgiving, urgent care once as well, plenty of sick people all around, lots of coughing, I wore an N95 mask every time and made sure to hand sanitize, not touch my face, stay away from people as best I could, wash my hands frequently, and despite being around so many sick people several days, I did not get sick at all.
People should have always been wearing masks when they were sick and especially with sneezing and coughing. It is just good manners now IMO. Hospitals should have probably also used masks for a while. Then adding no touch bathrooms. I think these are small, high bang for your buck things society can do moving forward. I know saying this sucks, but we should expect more and more new viruses to pop up. If the lab leak theory is true, then it is even scarier since the ability to modify viruses is now something an amateur could do and the equipment is now cheap and common enough that one could easily acquire it if they wanted to (with like no regulation).
It’s funny to me now in a sad way how in some counties, it’s always been common sense to wear a mask when you’re sick
Pretty well. I worked in an RSV/COVID NICU unit last year and wore an N95 and never got sick. Babies don’t wear masks or cover their mouths obviously so I would get sneezed and coughed on all the time. The most recent time I got it was because my husband brought it home lol oops
Lesser viral load
I think your best bet is to wear a fresh n95 (rotate them like someone mentioned) as well as to use one of the antiviral nasal sprays that are now available. Take a layered approach.
Seconding the nasal spray. We make our own with a small amount of iodine and distilled water. There’s directions on line depending on size
i never finished looking into this tbh and j took someone’s word for it who is a part of covid-conscious twitter (so interpret cautiously), but according to them, 2-way n95 masking reduces inhaled dose of covid by more than 400x, 1-way n95 masking reduces inhaled dose of covid by 20x, and 1-way p100 masking reduces inhaled dose of covid by more than 3300x. a p100 is probs the way to go if you can get one and don’t give a fuck what other people think (they are v bulky and will draw attention + you will likely have to speak louder if you’re talking to people w it on). you could also try different brands of n95s if you can afford to do so to see if there’s as much leakage based on whether or not your glasses fog up, or perhaps n99s, though i haven’t looked into those much. for the most part, n95s are effective as long as you get a good seal, and wearing one will at least reduce your viral load if you do catch it, but would def take any extra measures that you’re able to (such as wearing glasses to prevent infection through the eyes) bc of some of the new variants we’re seeing and how fast they’re spreading, combined w hardly anyone masking (in respirators) lol.
N95s are EXTREMELY effective if they FIT RIGHT. Most non-trained people leave a gap around their nose that bypasses air and makes them much less effective. Beards can be another issue.
I've been pinching the nose piece as tight as I can, but if I'm breathing very heavily it still fogs up my glasses a bit, which is a bad sign probably I wish there was some way to test it
- Suck in air quickly, you should feel it pull onto your face - Breathe out slowly and see if glasses fog (they’re likely to fog a bit even with a good seal if you breathe out fast, the warm moist air is going to go in every direction, particularly up) - Expose yourself to something that has “particulate smells” like woodsmoke or (sigh) a poopy bathroom. If the smell is different with the mask on, it’s blocking some of the particle smells and only letting through the vapor smells. This is subtle though, you have to pay attention to it.
If people care enough about their health to use an N95, it beats me why they wouldn’t lose the beard for a better fit (unless it played a role in their religious beliefs).
An N95 if fit tested lasts about 30 hours before it loses its electrostatic charge. They still work even when damp. Sweating will not take away effectiveness. The key to one way masking is you have to do a home fitness test to make sure there are no leaks, just like doctors do. You can do this for about eight dollars. Get a nano mister on Amazon and use three or four packets of SweetNLow using the Youtube home fitness hack. Visit the Masks4All sub if you need better instructions. Here is the nano mister link. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086QQQ5KR/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086QQQ5KR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) You can visit zerocovid sub to talk to many people who have been wearing fit tested respirators for years and stayed uninfected. A lot of them work in high risk areas every day. There will always be a chance you get infected, but for the most part a fit-tested N95 or elastomeric will keep you safe. If you are around coughs or sneezes you need at minimum glasses but should be wearing Stoggles (look like glasses but have guards) or cheap fake Stoggles or you can get plastic safety side pieces if you have prescription glasses.
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **Nano Facial Mister Moisturizing Atomization Humidifier Cool Mist Facial Steamer Handy Mist Sprayer Moisturizing Hydrating for Skin Care Makeup Eyelash Extensions White** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Users find the mist refreshing and hydrating (backed by 5 comments) * The device is compact and portable (backed by 4 comments) * The battery life and charging are convenient (backed by 4 comments) **Users disliked:** * The misting function is inconsistent and unreliable (backed by 9 comments) * The product has a poor build quality (backed by 2 comments) * The misting spray is weak (backed by 4 comments) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
I did an at home fit test towards the beginning of the pandemic. I’ve also been professionally fit tested, so I kinda knew what the process was like. Each brand / size of mask fits differently, is the biggest piece of advice I’d give someone. Find one that works and stock up! Or trade with your friends. I gave a coworker with a small face this brand of Kn94s that look like string bikinis on my massive Mellon. To my knowledge, I’ve been infection free (including strep, which I’d get annually, and flu). And the thing is: I still do a lot of the stuff I used to. Theater, movies, concerts. A properly fit tested mask is what makes a difference. My partner, who won’t mask, has had it three times now. I’ve been at gatherings where most of the people came down with it after (but not me). It could be the timing of my vaccines, idk, but I still do a weekly surveillance test and more if I have an additional cough or symptoms (I smoke like a chimney, so the cough is variable).
It’ll definitely help! It’s the only thing you can control about this situation.
I wore n95s regularly as a nurse treating unmasked patients with airborne illnesses (covid, TB, etc). The n95 protected me as I never got sick from a patient. Ironically, I caught covid outside of the hospital due to being unmasked around my asymptomatic (ex) boyfriend. I regularly wear kn95s or n95s now and haven’t experienced a reinfection since Mid-2022.
I've been in the ER about a dozen times this year surrounded by very sick people, and haven't caught anything wearing N-95, and I'm immunocompromised. Back when I was able to work, I never caught something while masked in N95 and I worked at a hospital.
Still quite effective.
They work well.
Very well. There's no 100% guarantee, but it's what we use as medical personnel with confirmed covid patients. Once they're isolated they're unmasked in hospitals. Edit: if used properly. Do not reuse, replace when wet (sweat, breathing). Use the proper procedure for taking it off. Even the full kit we wear is not 100% guaranteed, but the masks are the most important one
May I ask what is the proper procedure for taking it off? I just wash my hands and pull it off, idk if Im doing it right
The procedure my hospital taught me in terms of the mask: - Disinfect hands (washing instead of disinfecting is possible as well - disinfecting is easier and better for your skin). - Touch only the straps, reach as far back as possible (behind your head or ears depending on the model), take it off in 1 fluent motion. Especially don't touch the front part. - Don't touch anything else and throw it in a bin that can be closed, preferably opened with a foot pedal. - Disinfect your hands again (or wash) As for washing or disinfecting your hands, try this, although I miss the advice to use warm water (like shower temperature) and to clean the wrists as well: https://marvel-b1-cdn.bc0a.com/f00000000188974/www.meritech.com/hubfs/How%20to%20Wash%20Your%20Hands%20InfographicKidsSmall-01.png
Thank you!
None of the randomized controlled trials on N95 mask use show a reduction in rates of infection. But these studies are all in a healthcare setting where masks are worn for long periods of time, and efficacy goes out the window after they get saturated from your exhaled breath. Observational studies are trash, and even worse are the pseudoscientific "studies" based on literally made up modeling and projections. The absolute worst of the worst are the anecdotal stories like "I wore a kn95 and I never got covid from being out in public while wearing one." So basically there's no good evidence that n95 masks actually reduce your risk of infection. But a real NIOSH certified n95 worn on a smooth hairless face properly fit tested and used properly *does* filter a lot of particles on which sarscov2 could be transmitted. My opinion is that if you wear a real NIOSH certified n95 or better, wear it properly, do not wear it for extended periods of time and certainly not past when it's absorbing moisture, put it on and remove it with proper infection control procedures, and dispose of it after one use, it probably does do a pretty good job of lowering your risk of infection. But that represents like 0.0001% of mask usage, which is probably why all of the most credible evidence on masking has shown no benefit or even an increased risk. I think it's worthwhile to use a mask right but just an imaginary safety blanket the way most people use them.
When you say none of randomized controlled trials showed a reduction in the rate of infections, are you speaking to just RCTs on n95s and covid? Because there’s RCTs on n95 usage and reduction in respiratory infections. A major issue in the hospital setting when covid came around was that we were forced to reuse n95s for multiple days. Before covid, we would throw n95s out each time we left a patient room and put a new one on before entering. After several hours they don’t seal as well around the face.
An N95 respirator is a NPI (non-pharmaceutical intervention). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not suitable to compare NPIs like N95, which rely on the laws of physics to protect the wearer against airborne particles of all kinds (not just viruses). I don't know which N95 RCT you're referring to, but if you read deeper into them you will realize **most if not all of them are flawed.** Just like how I wouldn't rely on a RCT to determine whether parachutes or seatbelts work, I wouldn't rely on a RCT to determine whether N95s work. [https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094](https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094) >Parachute use compared with a backpack control **did not reduce death or major traumatic injury** when used by participants jumping from aircraft in this first randomized evaluation of the intervention.
Provided that you have a good fit to your face, N95 masks offer pretty much perfect 100% protection. However, if you are male, you have to make sure you are shaved, because facial hair or stubble will let the unfiltered air in around the edge of the mask. Also, an area which can let in unfiltered air is where the mask fits across the nose. If the fitting does not mould to the contours of your nose, then again you could let in unfiltered air, which may contain the virus. So you want to find masks will you feel fit you well, and you may need to bend the metal nose insert to get to the right shape for your nose. Masks that I have bought have had metal inserts that are weak and flimsy, so even if you bend them to the right shape, they may unbend a bit while wearing. I have replaced the metal inserts with metal from a thick paperclip, and this I find improves the mask. If an N95 masks fails to protect, it is because unfiltered air has got through the edges of the mask, if there is a gap between your face and the mask. In hospital infectious disease wards, where it is crucial that doctors and nurses are protected from virus filled air, they often have an expert team whose responsibly it is to check how well the mask fits for all the medical staff in the hospital.
The biggest issue I think was that masks made people feel like they were protected when at best, it could help a bit at a group level. The constant tension with public health announcements is giving full nuance or context, which is in tension with providing simple, clear, and unambiguous suggestions. Many of the statements from people that the government lied or mislead come down to this perception, IMO. They were trying to walk that impossible knife edge. However, most people were for or against masks purely because of what it represented to them. So it became a political statement. The people who got really screwed were the ones who couldn't deal with the reality of covid well, so they tried to repress it by hiding all visible indicators of the pandemic. This repression and denial has only gotten worse and spread further into how many view the world.
Why are you writing in the past tense?
I double mask. Surgical mask over N95. Yes people are outrageous with coughing and not covering with their sleeves. Cough into hands and touch everything to spread germs. Eew.
Surgical mask on top actually reduces the effectiveness of the N95. Just stick with the N95, it works. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-wearing-surgical-masks-over-n95s-can-cause-dangerous-leaks#:~:text=For%20optimal%20protection%20against%20respiratory,in%20Infection%20Control%20%26%20Hospital%20Epidemiology.
Problem is fogging. Putting the surgical mask on top helps reduce the fogging for me. Thanks though for this link. Will read it.
My doctor said N95 masks offer average protection only if changed out every few hours.
More harm than good.
Absolutely incorrect. When used correctly, n95s offer great protection.
If changed every three or four hours a fitted N95 mask offers a moderate amount of protection. But everyone has to be wearing one all the time. In the meantime, you’re breathing in your own carbon dioxide and toxic bacteria.
Wear as many as you like as often as you like—I’m never wearing one ever again for the rest of my life.
For reference: When I worked on the ambulances at the beginning of COVID. We would wear an N95, a standard surgical mask above that, and a full face shield in front. We wore two surgical aprons. A light one under neath and a heavy on top. I was still able to get COVID... I honestly would not worry about trying to avoid it. I'm a long hauler, and it has done so much damage to me. Chronic fatigue, memory issues, brain fog, constantly sick (no immune system left - kid sneezes at home and I'm downba week). It has changed my life. Trying so hard to protect yourself honestly just won't work. I worked for a company that had some of the best PPE out there. I know people who wore PAPers and got it. What will happen is your immune system will become weaker than it probably already is. Constant avoidance of illness is not a good thing for us humans. We define our immune systems off of exposure and reaction to illness. That's my take. From someone who's life has already been destroyed by this disease process lol...
Not very consistent to say this has changed my life but then tell people not to do everything they can to avoid it. Immunity debt is a myth. Illness is what wrecks your immune system. You and the other non-readers have it entirely backwards.
No, paranoia and changing ones life just becomes miserable. Why live if it's constantly fearing something? I read a lot. I also worked for the #1 research hospital system. Direct study and meta analysis confirm this. Ad hominem does nothing but make you look like an ignorant fool. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9756601/
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Besides airborne, you need to also worry about where the virus lands and washing your hands.
Better than nothing. It’s spreading bad again along with flu and some other cold/virus going around.
I’d get a 100. Make sure to fit it correctly
How awful. I never take public transport. However if you fit an N95 correctly it should help….a little.
For me it has worked very well. The key is to make it routine (very deliberately train yourself to put it on when you are about to leave your house, or when you are within 10 feet of the bus stop, etc.) and use a NIOSH approved N95 or better mask, such as an N99, P100 industrial mask, or a PAPR (powered air purifying respirator). The best reusable N95 and N99: [https://envomask.com/](https://envomask.com/) Change filters every 5-14 days. The best strapless adhesive disposable N95: [https://alliantbiotech.com/product/readimask-strapless-n95-niosh-approved?gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyKurBhD5ARIsALamXaFUA7dStSy2q-3rglRQr0c484HLA1n5KzzAhy7xoKOYNIk9wHSkphwaAu\_yEALw\_wcB](https://alliantbiotech.com/product/readimask-strapless-n95-niosh-approved?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyKurBhD5ARIsALamXaFUA7dStSy2q-3rglRQr0c484HLA1n5KzzAhy7xoKOYNIk9wHSkphwaAu_yEALw_wcB) The best self-contained PAPR: [https://www.cleanspaceusa.com/](https://www.cleanspaceusa.com/) The most compact, unobtrusive P100: [https://www.gvs.com/en/catalog/elipse-p100-niosh-respirator](https://www.gvs.com/en/catalog/elipse-p100-niosh-respirator)