On Mon, 29 Jun 2020 10:33:44 -0400, Ralph Mowery
wrote:

In article , says...
But these valves are meant to make breathing out easier, right? while
using the rest of the mask to filter the air that comes in, right? It
seems that vents like this defeat the so-called goal of masks, to
protect the other people.


The valves make them useless for protecting others, so they offer little
aid in reducing spreading.



Most masks are almost worthless. The n95 masks are made to work in a
contanimated area. They are to keep things out of you and not what you
breath out. The virus particals are too small to be filtered going into
you.
The home made cloth masks soon fill up with the moisture and then become
ineffective.
There was a very good write up on this that was published on Facebook.
They are mostly like many of the feel good things. Like most of the gun
and drug laws. Many are on the books, but it is very easy to get the
illegal drugs and guns are easy to come by illegally.


Concentrating on all the trivial aspects of wearing masks -
- is missing the point !

I strongly encourage everyone to go to a reliable health-department's
web site and thoroughly _read_ all the good information there.
It is not just about the masks ... it's about staying home when you
are symptomatic ; hand washing ; distancing ; etc.

Government medical advice HAS changed over the months -
read & re-read the most recent - rather than ignore everything
because you can't accept the new reality.

Spreading half-truths and garbage science does not help.

Here's just one example of some government advice Canada
but everyone should probably go to your local / state information
and do some serious reading.

https://tinyurl.com/ycc5mx58

If there is a single-most-important factor in explaining
how the USA has done more poorly than it's peers -
it would be the partisan messaging from the leaders.
exacerbated by the partisan media
In Canada, we saw the liberal Prime Minister and
conservative Provincial leaders stand united -
- and they were even heard to thank each other for shared
initiatives ! ... everyone realizing that this is not the time
for partisan politics.
John T.