Current Events > Neck gaiters/fleece actually worse than not wearing a mask for COVID-19

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/neck-gaiters-may-actually-increase-covid-19-transmission-study-finds-183034882.html

sorry bois, it's hospital attire or nothin

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The researchers explain how these masks may actually spread more of the virus than not wearing one at all. We noticed that speaking through some masks (particularly the neck fleece) seemed to disperse the largest droplets into a multitude of smaller droplets ... which explains the apparent increase in droplet count relative to no mask in that case, they write. These small droplets could prove extremely dangerous in terms of transmission. Considering that smaller particles are airborne longer than large droplets (larger droplets sink faster), the use of such a mask might be counterproductive, they add.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, says the study is an important one for Americans to consider. People really dont understand that not all face coverings are equal, and that there are some that are going to be more or less effective, says Adalja. And I think that when youre making these decisions, its important to have data behind them.

Given the rate of droplet transmission from neck fleeces and bandannas, he suggests that Americans move away from both coverings immediately. I do think they should be abandoned, especially given that gaiters were shown to increase transmission, says Adalja. Not every mask is going to be equivalent. ... I think that many people are just wearing these face coverings to check a box and not realizing that in order to serve a purpose they need to be effective.

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