Changes

{{Cquote|What does this imply for the ability of masks to impede COVID-19 transmission? The virus itself is only about 0.1 µm in diameter. But because viruses don’t leave the body on their own, a mask doesn’t need to block particles that small to be effective. More relevant are the pathogen-transporting droplets and aerosols, which range from about 0.2 µm to hundreds of micrometres across. (An average human hair has a diameter of about 80 µm.) The majority are 1–10 µm in diameter and can linger in the air a long time, says Jose-Luis Jimenez, an environmental chemist at the University of Colorado Boulder. “That is where the action is.”

{{Cquote|What does this imply for the ability of masks to impede COVID-19 transmission? The virus itself is only about 0.1 µm in diameter. But because viruses don’t leave the body on their own, a mask doesn’t need to block particles that small to be effective. More relevant are the pathogen-transporting droplets and aerosols, which range from about 0.2 µm to hundreds of micrometres across. (An average human hair has a diameter of about 80 µm.) The majority are 1–10 µm in diameter and can linger in the air a long time, says Jose-Luis Jimenez, an environmental chemist at the University of Colorado Boulder. “That is where the action is.”

In a review of observational studies, an international research team estimates that surgical and comparable cloth masks are 67% effective in protecting the wearer."<ref>[https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8]</ref>}}

In a review of observational studies, an international research team estimates that surgical and comparable cloth masks are 67% effective in protecting the wearer."<ref>[https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8 Face masks: what the data say], Nature.com</ref>}}

Healthline.com: "Researchers found that when a cough was simulated, the double mask blocked 85.4 percent of the aerosol particles. This is compared to 51.4 percent and 56.1 percent for the cloth and surgical mask, respectively."<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/double-masking#how-to Should You Be Double Masking?]</ref>

Healthline.com: "Researchers found that when a cough was simulated, the double mask blocked 85.4 percent of the aerosol particles. This is compared to 51.4 percent and 56.1 percent for the cloth and surgical mask, respectively."<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/double-masking#how-to Should You Be Double Masking?]</ref>