Masking may not be a thing of the past anymore, especially if these three scenarios apply to you, says an infectious diseases physician.
We still wear masks anytime we go to crowded indoor places (grocery store, concert, movies, planes, etc.). The advice about masking on the days/weeks leading up to a big trip is also very good. You don’t want to waste money you spent for a vacation if you get sick right before your trip.
Putting on a mask won’t stop you from getting sick, it stops you from spreading your own germs…
It does if you wear an N95 or similarly rated mask.
Even a shitty fabric mask will reduce the risk substantially, if worn correctly.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htm
N95 works both ways.
Even a cheapo surgical mask reduces the amount of germs incoming more than nothing at all even if that type of mask is more effective at keeping them to yourself.
That’s not true. The protection works both ways, and it’s hard to see how anyone could logically argue otherwise. If it stops virons getting out, it also stops them getting in.
You do have a lot more protection if everyone around you is also wearing a mask because if you’re stopping, say, 90% of virons and they’re stopping 90% of virons, then both of you will only be exposed to 1% of the virons around (instead of 10% for one-way masking).
Its more effective at the source than the destination but it helps either way. Of course nothing is 100% protection but its all about effectiveness vs cost vs convenience. For me the question is why not wear a mask. I find it a little less annoying than wearing a hat overall.
Here in Korea I’m already seeing more people with masks outside.
This is the new normal. I mask up whenever I go out and I force Emmy employees to mask when they aren’t in their offices. I’ve never had Covid and I never will!
