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Be a good neighbor; wear a mask

For work, I wear PPE (personal protective equipment) - goggles to protect my eyes, earmuffs to protect hearing and respirators for the lungs.

Using respirators or masks can only go so far when it comes to viruses. By definition, N95 masks filter only 95% of 0.3 micron or larger airborne particles. The COVID virus is even smaller - about 0.1 micron, however this mask is very effective in blocking respiratory droplets that carry the virus and is why they are used by our brave medical personnel.

Cloth masks on the other hand aren't designed to block incoming virus particles, but rather to contain outgoing droplets when breathing out. Therefore, we are protecting others when wearing a mask, not just us. Big difference.

Think about it like smoking. You can see the smoke particles floating in the air when exhaling. The virus also hitches a ride on the same air particles when breathing out. You are protecting your family, friends and neighbors when wearing a mask - not necessarily yourself.

If you truly believe that others should not be wearing masks, ask your doctors and nurses to take them off the next time you go in for surgery.

Be a good neighbor and "do unto others as you would have them do to you."

Ed Wiles

Naperville

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