Letter-writer George Silowash (“Effectiveness of cloth masks”) brings up an interesting point. That is, his thoughts regarding viral particles remaining in a mask after evaporation of the exhaled respiratory droplets. It’s unclear to me whether the virus would adhere or be readily reinhaled. However, even if they were “free” and you rebreathed them, you are already infected.
The main purpose of a cloth mask is not so much to protect you as it is to protect others from you. And an analysis of 172 studies has shown that, on average, a mask literally cuts the risk of transmission from 17.4% to 3.1%.
Conclusion: Wearing a mask is being kind and respectful to our fellow human beings. Not wearing a mask is selfish.
Anyone interested in a practical demonstration of mask effectiveness should check out microbiologist Dr. Rich Davis on Buzzfeed.
Bill Marcinik
Unity