But you're not breathing through your pants.

I would be extremely skeptical that a mask does not affect any sized particles

no matter how small

It'll affect larger particles for sure.

just google the studies about n95 masks and aerosolized particles

they talk about differences of .6% and a few percent

i.e it is bad when it is letting in 5% of particles

verses 100%

5% of particles could be the primarily-sized particles that lead to the most cases of infections.

no

they are not even talking about infections

just aerosolized particles

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200519/Aerosol-transmission-through-new-vs-reused-N95-masks.aspx#:~:text=The%20N95%20FFR%20is%20a,simulate%20the%20aerosol%20spread%20correctly.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.17.20069567v2.full.pdf I've seen this study which is likely saying the same thing you're saying.

But as it says in the study, the size of the particles is not known.

"Data on the particle size distribution for particulates measured by the PortaCountsare not available, however, ~90% of the particles detected were produced by the TSI Particle Generator as described above"

So we don't really know what size was filtered out, or if those of a certain size were filtered at a success rate of as you suggested, high efficacy.

@realz Large studies show that around 90% of spread outside families can be traced back to nightclubs, bars, restaurants and hotels.

fecal-oral.

So aerosolized.

from toilets, yes.

It displays pretty much the spread pattern of Norwalk.

which explains the high R0

In places you likely wouldn't be wearing a mask.

The bathroom, specifically.

well, you contaminate your surface when using the restroom, go back out and eat/drink.

So a lot of surface contamination.

correct

Makes lots of sense.

indeed it does.

Somewhat of an "aha" when that was published.

can you link?

No, I was looking for it now.

I have a 2 GB folder on covid PDFs 😛

So the best practice would be to wipe down your face, mouth and hands with a disinfectant wipe when leaving any public restroom.

no, its on your clothes as well

Correction: Never go to a public restroom.

the medically sound thing to do is to close down places where people eat and shit together.

but that would crash the economy.

This is where masks come into play. It looks like you are doing something.

Arguably worse, the cure can't be worse than the disease as they say.