Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet
Yes, to prevent moisture escaping our mouths while breathing, talking or singing, if one is exercising near people. Studies show the louder noise we make from our mouths the further the droplets go. The mask also protects you from someone suddenly sneezing etc as you go by. And respiratory microdroplets can stay in the air for up to several hours. I wear my full face helmet while riding myself. At home on the treadmill I don’t wear a mask.
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I made a response to this that I thought would be recognized as sarcasm. Apparently it was not by some. To be clear, I do not agree with the above at all. I do not wear a mask when I'm outside walking or cycling. I do wear a mask when I'm forced into close contact with others such as a busy grocery store.
The below is taken from the NIH site. I'm sure the worlds top scientist used similar data to establish their social distancing recommendations - 6 ft.
"C.2. Droplet evaporation
In the classic study of airborne transmission, Wells was able to identify the difference between disease transmission via large droplets and by airborne routes. Wells found that, under normal air conditions, droplets smaller than 100 μm in diameter would completely dry out before falling approximately 2 m to the ground. This finding allowed the establishment of the theory of droplets and droplet nuclei transmission depending on the size of the infected droplet. The Wells evaporation-falling curve of droplets (see Figure C.2) is important in understanding airborne transmission and transmission by large droplets. Wells' study also demonstrated that droplets could transform into droplet nuclei by evaporation."
You should do your own research on line but my take away is aligned with the vast majority of MDs. Airborne transmission of COVID 19 outdoors by those practicing physical separation is virtually nil.