Mask Logic

No one likes wearing a mask. They make it harder to breath, they make your glasses fog up, and they cover facial expressions. With that said, many businesses won't even let you in the door without one. Our CDC recommends a cloth mask for the general public. But, the chart on the left shows that a cloth mask provides zero protection against a virus particle. An N95 mask gives much better protection. So, why is the CDC recommending a cloth mask? This is where mask logic comes into play. It has to do with reducing the number of virus particles leaked into the air. A carrier who coughs while wearing a cloth mask can still release up to 90% of the virus into the air, but the mask also reduces the velocity of the cough, thus reducing the area of contamination. A non-infected person wearing a cloth mask would further reduce the chance of transmission by 60%. These numbers are not reassuring to anyone who is trying to stay safe. The final part of the formula is social distancing. With each person wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance apart, the transmission probability rate drops into the single digits. I would still feel safer wearing a N95 certified mask, especially with the number of people I see who are not wearing a mask and not social distancing. Some people won't follow recommendations from someone in a position of authority, no matter how much logic is behind it.

The riots have subsided for now, at least in Minneapolis. With the pandemic and millions of people out of work and school, it was a riot waiting for an excuse to happen. The ideas being discussed in the aftermath are interesting to follow. Catch phrases like "defund the police" and "(insert color here) lives matter" and "I can't breath!" sum up the frustration. Pandemic and protests will be the legacy of 2020.