2 COVID Vaccines Approved, End to Pandemic in Sight??

[Seagull]

Masks don't provide 100% filtration. None of us are wearing N95 masks and even those only filter out 95% of particulates for about 20 minutes. Those masks have a limited time they function and actually expire.

Yes, we'd have to all be wearing N100 masks and full PPE to give 100% protection. However, that isn't the point of why we wear masks. The idea is that masks limit the speed (and therefore distance) that particles can travel from an infected person, even with homemade masks. This gives the ambient airflow a better chance to disperse the particles enough to keep the viral load at minimal levels.

Yes, N95 and better masks will also limit the size of particles a person can inhale and exhale. This offers stronger protection for others (assuming the mask is unvented) and a bit more protection for the wearer, but the latter is a minor benefit considering you can also get infected via your eyes. So full PPE is really needed for self-protection.

Viral load is ultimately what we're trying to avoid. Viral load is calculated using the distance to time formula for exposure. This effectively states that the closer you are to someone, the higher the potential viral load over a smaller period of time – assuming you're in an enclosed space or outside without a breeze. For example, a reasonable rule of thumb is 6 feet = 6 minutes of exposure or 10 feet = 10 minutes of exposure. So if you're 6 feet from someone, you should limit your interactions to 6 minutes or less. A good breeze scatters the particles quickly, which mostly eliminates viral load, as can high-quality commercial HVAC systems with strong air circulation and MERV 16 filtration or better.

And still everybody is ok with rich athletes playing football without masks.

If health was so important and avoiding the spread was so pivotal, why all these rich people (Congress, Football players, and so on) allowed to congregate, some without masks?

Is football so important? Are the rich athletes immune?
Or are they above the law because they are rich?