“Masks” vs “Filtering Facepiece Respirators” Whaaaaat?
Face coverings are not all created equal
While any face covering is better than none, some are significantly better than
The basic stuff
How to reduce aerosol inhalation?
Reduce the concentration of particles in shared air
Reduce the time spent in that air
Face coverings can help
“Face coverings” include:
“FFR”: Filtering Facepiece Respirator (like N95’s)
"Masks": cloth face coverings and surgical masks
An N95 FFR, even if not fit-tested, offers more benefits than any “Mask”
(based on the CDC's (questionable) 15-minute guideline. More transmissible variants require adjustments)
“Thus the public should not rely on typical cloth or surgical masks to offer them much time beyond 15 minutes in a shared space with potential sources, even if others are also wearing masks.”
Wearing a non–fit-tested respirator allows about an hour of time inside a shared space even if no one else is wearing a mask or respirator.”
Hierarchy of disease control, from most to least effective:
Vaccinations
Limit people in shared airspace
Limit time in shared airspace
Ventilation/Filtration of shared air
Respirators like N95 FFRs
Cloth and surgical masks