The rare times I’m out and about these days, I don’t see too many smiles. I don’t think that’s because everyone is terribly depressed, but people are anxious and many if not most are covering up their faces for protection from dreaded Mr. Corona. But does this make any sense, or are people just clinging to a security blanket that happens to hang from their ears?
What are they up against? The naked coronavirus is about 120 nanometers (0.12 microns) across. The virus escapes the cells it’s infected and destroyed enveloped in some of that cell’s membrane, making particles that can be twice that size. A thick beard hair is about 50 microns in diameter. So if your beard hair is as wide as football field, Mr. Corona checks in as a soccer ball at midfield (a little over 8 1/2 inches). So this is a tiny sucker you’re trying to stop.
This link provides a good guide as to what’s out there (manufactured) for masks https://healthcentricadvisors.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/3_MaskEnomics_Poster_2012.pdf
Masks are rated for their ability to stop 0.1 micron particles. The much prized n95 mask is rated to stop 95% of such intruders, and it goes down from there. Note how some of the more commonly seen masks aren’t even rated.
No one has published the pore size of the common bandana, but you see them everywhere. The CDC has even issued directions for homemade masks https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html. The CDCs lack of confidence in bandanas is illustrated by recommendations you include a coffee filter.
From my reading, these things mostly prevent you from spewing your germs to others.
So maybe wearing a mask in public is a sign of good citizenship, like washing your hands frequently. You’ll be keeping any disease laden droplets you happen to cough up to yourself and not sharing them with others. Thank you for your consideration. But don’t expect it to prevent the reverse. You’ll need an n95 or at least an ASTM Level 1-3 for that. But unless you’re a doc or nurse in an ER or ICU, you’re not swimming in an environment full of little Mr. Coronas, and really don’t need that kind of protection.
So take off that bandana and fold it up for your back pocket where it belongs. And give us a smile. We need more of that. This thing is coming to an end. Let’s start to celebrate and get ready for when we really can.
Bob Ike's blog 
Bob, Thanks for your optimistic outlook. I have a question. Why is there a flu “season” ? Why does it not last all year ? Will this corona virus also have a season and return next year ? Chuck Clark
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Thanks for reading, Uncle Chuck. I think with the influenza virus, that enough of the population build up an immunitiy (“herd immunity”) the virus has no places left to go, slithering back into non-humans till it mutates and comes out for another round. Have you read John Barry’s 2005 book The Great Influenza? I’d send you my copy but I’ve already donated it back to the library. The UofM School of Public Health, following a population vaccinated for flu, also picked up coronaviruses and found that infection began to rise in November and tail off by spring, which is sort of what we’re seeing now. Fauci and his fearmongers are taking that to keep us on edge forever and commit to and accept a universal vaccine while requiring the population to produce proof of immunity, like some sort of loyalty oath.
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