masks (partly repeated later):
- In rooms, crowds, confined or risky spaces, I suggest a textile mask (washable) first and a KN95 type over it, both fastened behind the head, i.e. more snug/sealing and adjustable, leaving your ears for hearing instead for sailing. The textile mask helps to catch humidity and skin stuff, ensuring longer and safer functionality of the KN95, and it seals off spaces between skin and KN95 mask. Requires healthy breathing apparatus and circulation, though. If longer, find places to take brakes to replenish oxygen levels. If you have breathing difficulties, use KN95 type only, or at least simple medical or textile mask. Any is better than none and at least reduces amount of virus intake, if it happens.
- On exhale, feel air passing through at the edge of your mask? The same way stuff flying around can get in on inhale.
- The longer you wear the mask, the more exhaled humidity leaving your body, and skin secretions like sweat and fat collect in it. Humidity makes the fabric structures cling together, widening fabric pores, allowing larger aerosoles/particles to enter.
- I really wish Razer would push their Project Hazel mask. Professional medical equipment plus regular filter replacements needs a solid wallet. Then there are masks for painters, for work with dangerous gases, or with dust and debris.
shields:
protect what a mask can't cover, but only in direct line - to protect against aerosoles, it would have to be sealed off at the edges or integrated into a hazmat-type suit; large plastic bags/shrinkwrap/tape can become makeshift suits.
environmental conditions:
- temperatures
- humidity (the less, the better, but in very dry conditions, keep yourself hydrated)
- airborne particles (dust, abrasives, ash, pollen, ...)
exhaled aerosoles, potentially carrying the virus:
Larger drops, usually expelled forcefully by caughing/sneezing/yelling (take into consideration when reminding people not paying attention to protective measures, they can get angry and advance on you, shouting) up to ~60mph/100kmh, so no "oh I'll pull up my mask in time", it'll be too late. Wear it always when you're not in your private rooms or not outside in the open. Even on a seemingly empty floor the air can carry aerosoles emitted from people who passed through a while ago.
contact infection from surfaces or people:
Attention focus has shifted from direct physical contact to airborne infection, but despite it's playing a minor part it still is possible. By the way, [forgot what had to go here, sorry] |
