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Face Masks for Virus Protection

 Copyright © September 10, 2021 by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

4 Layer Mask with 2 Valves The Center for Disease Control (CDC) originally said that if you were 100% vaccinated, and if you had received 2 shots for CV-19, and if the specified amount of time had elapsed since your second shot, then you did not need to wear a face mask because you were now immune to CV-19.

However, the CDC's current official position is that everyone needs to wear a face mask when in public, including fully vaccinated individuals, in order to minimize the spread of CV-19 and related viruses.

In his speech on September 9, 2021 President Biden said that everyone should wear a face mask when in a public place, including fully vaccinated individuals, in order to minimize the spread of CV-19 and related viruses.

This implies that the double-shot vaccine does not protect people from the virus.

It also implies that face masks are more effective in protecting people from the virus when compared to getting two or more vaccinations.

If this is true then the type of face mask that is worn may have a significant impact on whether or not it actually reduces your risk of catching the virus.

The black mask in the picture is folded in half. It has 4 layers of different types of fabric. It has 2 exhalation valves with 1 valve on each side of the mask. It also has 2 ear loops, and it has a Velcro strap that extends around the back of the head. The Velcro strap is folded in half and most of the strap is hidden behind the face of the mask.

Discussion

  1. Size: The mask should comfortably and completely cover your nose and mouth. Different size masks are available for adults, teenagers, and children 2 years and older.

  2. Fit: The mask should fit snuggly against the sides of your face and there should be no air gaps between the mask and your skin.

  3. Wire: The mask should have an adjustable wire along the top edge of the mask so the wire can easily be bent around the top contour of your nose so that the mask fits snuggly against the top of your nose. If you wear eyeglasses and the nose wire is properly adjusted then this should prevent your eyeglasses from fogging.

  4. Layers: The mask should have two or more layers of tightly woven breathable fabric. In general, as the number of layers increase the effectiveness of the face mask also increases. In general, if each layer is made of a different type of protective material, the effectiveness of the face mask also increases. Therefore a face mask that contains three or four layers of different types of tightly woven breathable fabric would provide the wearer with the highest level of protection from catching the virus.

  5. Comfort: Some face masks have two ear loops and the mask is held in position with one elastic strap behind each ear. Some face masks have two elastic straps that extend around the back of your head. Different people have different opinions on which of these two designs they prefer.

  6. Slippage: The mask should stay in its correct position while you walking, moving, or talking. If the mask slides around on your face then it is too loose. The mask should stay in place by itself and it should not require you to continually adjust its position.

  7. Source: Most face masks are now made in China. Knock-off imitations of "name-brand" products can be made in any country, including China. Therefore a mask purchased over the internet that has a "3M" label may or may not be an mask that was actually made by the 3M Company. However, a 3M mask made in the U.S.A. will be of the quality that 3M has become known for. 3M N95 face masks can sometimes be purchased in the paint department at hardware stores, home improvement stores, and Walmart stores and the back of the package will clearly say "Made in U.S.A."

  8. Facial Hair (beards): If you have a beard then wear two masks. Wear a double-layer mask against your beard. Wear a second mask on top of the inner mask so that the second mask pushes the inner mask tightly against your beard and your face. However, to improve your level of protection shave your beard close to your skin, or completely shave off your entire beard, and then put on your face mask. (Note: In the not-to-distant future, the CDC and President Biden may declare that everyone who has any type of beard must immediately shave it all off or they will lose their job, and they will not be allowed to leave their home, and they will not be allowed to buy or sell anything, and they will be denied all types of medical care if they should get sick with anything even if it is not the virus.)
There are three basic types of masks:
  1. General Purpose Face Masks: These are currently recommended by the CDC because they allow for CO2 to enter and exit the mask but they help to keep exhaled virus particles inside the mask (if the person has the virus). However, they may not meet the necessary fluid barrier and filtration efficiencies required to protect a person who does not have the virus from bacteria and viruses. Their primary value is that they help reduce the spread of the virus by someone who already has the virus, regardless of whether or not the person may have any of the symptoms of the virus.

  2. Surgical Masks: These meet the minimum required standard for fluid barrier protection but they are not designed to protect the wearer from germs or viruses.

    3M Mask with Valve
  3. Respirators, such as the N95: (Picture of 3M N95 Mask with Center Air Valve on right) These filter out 95% of airborne particles if they are properly worn, and if they are properly fitted to the wearer's face. These masks provide more protection to the wearer from bacteria and viruses. However, these masks have a valve that allows expelled air from the lungs to pass through the valve without being forced through the protective layers of the mask. This means that if a person has the virus then they will spread the virus while they are wearing the mask. Therefore the CDC does not recommend these masks at this time. However, these masks are more comfortable to wear for an extended period of time and if you do not have any of the symptoms of the virus then these masks are preferred in an environment that has a high level of airborne particles, such as working in a wood shop (sawdust), or a metal shop (cutting and grinding), or a paint shop (paint particles), or when working with insulation materials. These masks will protect the wearer from these types of airborne particles and they will also protect the wearer from bacteria and viruses. These masks also allow the lungs to easily expel CO2 through the valve in the face mask without forcing the expelled air through the protective layers of the face mask.
Eyewear: Normal eyeglasses and/or protective eyewear or goggles may help to reduce the chance of the wearer catching the virus. Goggles should have an anti-fog coating and they should fit snuggly against the face while still being comfortable to wear.

Face Shields: Face shields are not recommended at this time because they do not filter the air flow into or out of a person's lungs. A face shield will only protect a person's face from liquids and/or from particles that are directed at the person's face and they will not prevent the person from inhaling a small part of the liquid vapors or particles.

Face Mask Recommendation: A face mask that has three or four layers of different types of tightly woven breathable fabric will provide the wearer with the highest level of protection from catching the virus. This type of mask also provides more protection to other people in the event that the wearer has the virus and the wearer may or may not have any of the symptoms of the virus.

Conclusion

May I humbly suggest that you resist the temptation to discriminate against anyone for any reason, including their race, gender, national origin, age, religion, or whether or not they have been vaccinated.

The CDC and President Biden have clearly said that vaccinations do not protect people from the virus. And they have also said that face masks do a better job of protecting people from the virus when compared to the multiple shot vaccinations.

The CDC and President Biden would have us believe that the increase in the spread of the virus is primarily due to unvaccinated people, and that the spread of the virus has absolutely nothing to do with the vaccine not protecting people as they originally promised it would.

Instead of hating people who have not been vaccinated, perhaps a better solution would be to wear a good face mask when in a public place. In my opinion, wearing a good face mask would reduce a person's chance of catching the virus. Simply hating people who have not be vaccinated will do nothing to prevent a person from catching the virus. The reason is simple. Even if every person in the entire world was double vaccinated, or triple vaccinated, the virus would still continue to spread because the vaccine does not work and the vaccine does not protect anyone from catching the virus. Unfortunately many of the people who have received one or more vaccinations do not wish to acknowledge this simple fact and they would prefer to continue to live in denial.

As I mentioned in one of my previous articles, there is a solution to the virus problem but it is a solution that most people will not accept. The Holy Bible says:

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 - "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (NIV)

Respectfully,
Grandpappy.

Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com

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