04-04-2020, 02:44 AM
True. It is now the recommendation that a surgical mask be worn over the traditional N95 mask. This helps with the longevity of the N95 mask as it can be worn the rest of the day this way. You cannot wear a surgical mask over a duckbill N95 mask. Ruins the seal.
Surgical masks themselves protect up to about 50% of environmental pathogens, so I read. So it is doing something, just not 100%. Given the life span of the virus on cloth vs solid surfaces (seems to last longer on smooth nonporous surfaces), I would think that you can "refresh"a mask by letting it sit for a day or three.
If it "works" as noted above (i.e. the mask was exposed and caught most of the dirty stuff), you should not continue to use it that day or repeatedly immediately thereafter. You will be spreading the virus. You need to let it alone for a few days, let the virus die, then you can use it.
Brings up an interesting question. Can you lysol spray a surgical mask? I bet you can and it will "refresh" it that much sooner. You cannot do this with an N95 mask given the multiple layers that go into making the mask. Getting it wet will start to ruin/degrade certain layers, thus making the mask ineffective.
Surgical masks themselves protect up to about 50% of environmental pathogens, so I read. So it is doing something, just not 100%. Given the life span of the virus on cloth vs solid surfaces (seems to last longer on smooth nonporous surfaces), I would think that you can "refresh"a mask by letting it sit for a day or three.
If it "works" as noted above (i.e. the mask was exposed and caught most of the dirty stuff), you should not continue to use it that day or repeatedly immediately thereafter. You will be spreading the virus. You need to let it alone for a few days, let the virus die, then you can use it.
Brings up an interesting question. Can you lysol spray a surgical mask? I bet you can and it will "refresh" it that much sooner. You cannot do this with an N95 mask given the multiple layers that go into making the mask. Getting it wet will start to ruin/degrade certain layers, thus making the mask ineffective.