Masks - single use or multi-use?

[Carm]

I have yet to go out with my 3M mask with p100 pink filters on it.. I can’t wait for looks I get with that on.
Attic and wood working mask with replaceable filters. Better seal than the behind ear/head things

[RgrF]

DewGuy wrote:
I guess what I'm getting at, is, if you wear one of the non-N95 commercially made masks, and it theoretically works, gets contaminated with the airborne virus, and then you continue to wear it, are you going to be putting yourself at a higher risk?

Again maybe. If the mask has indeed captured anything it will transfer to you when you handle the exterior portion of that mask. In a case like that you might be safer without but this is all evolving knowledge and information, tune into science sites rather than your local chat room or forum for up to date data.

[RAMd®d]

I don't think huffing Lysol is a smart idea.

You're probably better off putting the mask aside, maybe in a container, and letting it sit for a few days to a week. Keep each newly used mask separate from the others.

Have a stock that you can rotate.

Remove them from the back and don't handle the front.

Wash or sanitize hands, regardless after handling masks.

I'm going mask-less.

I'll see if I pay a price.

[DewGuy]

Since the only guidance the CDC is giving is use a cloth face cover and to not use a mask meant for a health care worker. I'm going without.

Selections from CDC's How to Protect Yourself & Others

• Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
  .
  
• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
  

[d4]

You don’t need a mask, said the people wearing masks.

[Sarcany]

From the Ars story I cited elsewhere, cotton face masks seem to protect people about 3% of the time. Thicker masks made from sweatshirt or towel materials blocked more, up to 20% and even 40%.

Surgical masks are good for maybe a 40% reduction in cases, and in at least one study did block aerosols from coughing.

Cotton masks should be washed in hot water and dried on high-heat to stand any chance of disinfecting them after use. I've seen recommendations to use bleach as well.

...I'm toying with the idea of lining a cotton mask with a DIY filter... Anyone got any good info on the efficacy of the "coffee filter" mask?

[PeterB]

Repost: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspect...sound-data (originally from here: http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?2...sg-2469181)

"Kellogg,21 seeking a reason for the failure of cloth masks required for the public in stopping the 1918 influenza pandemic, found that the number of cloth layers needed to achieve acceptable efficiency made them difficult to breathe through and caused leakage around the mask. We found no well-designed studies of cloth masks as source control in household or healthcare settings."

If it didn't stop Enza from coming in through your window, it's not likely it's gonna do much for Corona...

[DewGuy]

This is all just a placebo and they know it. If it wasn't they would be providing proper guidance, not just vague statements like "cloth face cover".

[rgG]

Maybe they are actually trying to prevent the asymptomatic people from infecting others?

[DeusxMac]

DewGuy wrote:
• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.

When they were selling the 3M respirator masks in boxes of 20 at Home Depot, they weren't "meant for a healthcare worker"...