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Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

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Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I know they are aware of the concept. It's just that they are mandating masks, but barely mentioning the facial hair issue outside of a few publications that, lets face it, basically nobody reads. It just screams politics over actual safety.

given the hysteric reaction of the American public to mask mandates I don't want to know what happens if the government tells people to shave. It sure does smell of politics but not from the CDCs side, they just have to make guidelines under consideration of how the public reacts Within 10 minutes you'd probably have discrimination claims from angry hipsters, barbershops and a dozen different religious groups or some…

In the US requiring everyone to be clean shaven would be a clear infringement of the religious freedom rights of many people. It would be a non-starter from the get go.

Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#63
post #47

I really don’t see the point unless you’re immune compromised or at some other high risk. Omicron is the evolutionary result you wait for, better at spreading and less health impact so it significantly outcompetes other variants (it has, something like 95% of infections). Peak omicron is coming withina master of days or already passed across the US. It’s virulence is such that you can only delay not expect to forever…

This is spot on. I'm really hoping omicron will be the wave that finally helps achieve some level of "herd immunity". It's sad that we had the opportunity to do so via vaccination but failed to capitalize. However a variant with high transmission and low chance of severe symptoms is the next best thing

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Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#64
post #6

The 3M Aura N95s are pretty comfortable and cost a couple dollars each at Home Depot. They're also pretty good about directing your breath away from the top so your glasses won't fog up when wearing them.

I bought then for about $1 in a 240 pack on Amazon. Plus Amazon takes FSA debit cards, so it’s a hassle-free, tax-free purchase.

Do you trust Amazon’s supply chain?

Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#65
post #39

I really don’t see the point unless you’re immune compromised or at some other high risk. Omicron is the evolutionary result you wait for, better at spreading and less health impact so it significantly outcompetes other variants (it has, something like 95% of infections). Peak omicron is coming withina master of days or already passed across the US. It’s virulence is such that you can only delay not expect to forever…

Yeah I’ve stopped wearing a mask period. Omicron has made it pointless.

How does that make sense. N95s protect against all variants.

Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#66
post #58

Fit is critically important. There is no point in having an advanced filter material if the mask fit itself is leaking air everywhere. >"An N95 is more protective because it has a better face seal in general than a KN95 or a KF94," N95 does not require manufacturers to test for fit. However, the headband normally ensures a better face seal. KF94 has a fit-test requirement, but it's bar is low -- 11% leakage to pass t…

> if the mask [...] is easy to breathe in with, it probably is not filtering much

For the past 2 years, haven't pro-mask people been telling anti-mask people to stop pretending that masks are so hard to breathe with?

Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#68

Scientists spent several years trying to convince the powers that be that Covid spread was airborne. >In an open letter published today (July 6 2020), 239 scientists from 32 countries urge the World Health Organization and other bodies to address the potential for airborne transmission of the coronavirus. The authors write that a growing body of evidence suggests “beyond any reasonable doubt” that the virus spreads i…

Part of it is the pre-Omicron, it took more virus to typically infect people. So the more typical masks helped a lot. Now even a tiny bit can easily infect, so aerosol (as opposed to droplets) was not nearly as big an issue.

Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#69

It's mind blowing how 3 years into a pandemic, we're just having the conversation about N95 and mask fit vs kn95 vs cloth mask. What a huge miss in public health. Should have been done summer 2020. The most effective, cheapest solution was just to wear a properly fitted n95. Sure, vaccines good, retrovirals, yes, but this should have been done long ago. Given the airborne and aerosolized nature having a real mask wou…

I heard this conversation at the beginning too. We all expected this fizzle out before now.

Re: Ready for an N95? Here's how to find a high-quality one that fits you well

#70
post #61

Quoted post unavailable.

You can stop an airborne virus quite effectively with a correctly fitting mask with sufficient filtration.

It is indeed true that wearing a mask with high pressure drop for a long time can be bad for you. You could try to find one with lower pressure drop and try to mostly stay outside and not wear it so much. (Or you could wear a poorly fitting mask such that lots of air bypasses the mask, with worse results.)

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