Seems as though some are confusing 'masks' and 'respirator masks' types, to suit their agenda. Looking directly at birdman living in his "Ivory tower."
Taken from the TGA website:
Utility mask: A simple, flexible barrier that is placed over the nose and mouth during short exams and visitations, or during short procedures that do not produce fluid, spray or aerosols. Utility masks are not regulated as medical devices and are not recommended to provide protection from COVID-19.
Surgical mask: A fluid-resistant, disposable device intended to be placed over the nose and mouth of medical personnel or patients who are infected or displaying symptoms, to create a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and prevent the transmission of airborne organisms during surgery or patient examination. Surgical masks are graded as level 1, 2 or 3 based on the level of protection provided, or fluid resistance.
N95 respirator: A filtering face piece respirator (FFR) that is designed to form a very close seal around the nose and mouth, protecting the wearer from exposure to airborne particles including pathogenic biological airborne particulates such as viruses and bacteria. N95 respirators have been tested for particulate filtration to ensure they remove a minimum of 95% solid and liquid aerosols that do not contain oil. N95 respirators are a single use item.
P2 respirators are also particulate filter respirators that provide similar protection from airborne or aerosol spread, but are designed, manufactured and tested to different, but comparable, standards.
For the purposes of reducing exposure to COVID-19 both P2 and N95 respirators can be used interchangeably.
Surgical N95/P2 respirator: A filtering face piece respirator (FFR) with a similar structure and design to standard N95 respirators to protect the wearer from exposure to pathogenic biological airborne particulates, therefore meeting the same testing requirements for a minimum 95% filtration against airborne particulates.
Surgical respirators have also been tested for fluid resistance against penetration by synthetic blood under different pressures, such as may occur during certain high risk medical procedures.
In summery, face masks do provide others protection from infection if you are infected. They do not protect you from infection.
P2 and N95 grade respiratory masks do provide others protection from infection if you are infected, and also protect you from infection if they are infected, when worn properly.
See:
https://www.tga.gov.au/behind-news/r...t-and-covid-19
For further information on the use of face masks and respirators in the context of COVID-19, please read below:
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/defa...f-covid-19.pdf
Quote:
Like most respiratory viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is principally spread by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes, and/or by contact via hands with a surface contaminated by virus-containing respiratory droplets, before touching the eyes, nose or mouth. A mask can be used by a person with a respiratory viral infection, including COVID-19, to protect others, by decreasing the spread of droplets. Masks (or, in selected circumstances, respirators) and eye protection are used by health care workers (and some other occupational groups) to protect themselves, when it is impracticable or inappropriate to maintain physical distancing from a person with a respiratory infection, including COVID-19.
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