Some masks better than others

[massman]

Except for the fact that with surgical masks the puck will just go around the net, instead going through the front.
Thats the whole crux of my argument

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Sometimes it will go around the goalie, sure; but a lot of air enters/ exits thru the mask too, and this is filtered, a lot of it depending on fit. But I definitely agree that respirators are superior especially with a highly transmissible airborne virus. Non respirator masks are better than nothing, but respirator (Eg n95) are no doubt superior.

 

[basketcase]

How about this for an analogy for the “masks are useless” folks.
Its easy to score on an empty hockey net (your mouth and nose). Put a goalie (surgical mask) in front, there are still holes the puck (virus) can get thru, but it’s a lot harder. Put netting (n95) in front and it’s almost impossible to score.
Just because the pore size of a mask is smaller than some droplet / aerosol particles does not mean it offers no protection. Many of those particles will hit a mask fiber on the way and be stopped. They don’t steer themselves. The more layers, the higher the chance of the particle hitting a fiber. That’s why , even tho surgical and cloth masks have been shown to lower transmission in many studies, even tho the virus can be spread by aerosol or small droplets.

Too logical. (though I'd say cloth masks are a Junior A goalie, medical grade surgical masks are pro goalies, and N95 is the Vezina winner.