So I have been reading about masks. Are they effective in preventing the spread of disease? How do they really work? After reading through dozens of articles, both overseas and Australian ones from respected sources. (by respected I mean, mainstream newspapers, research reports and health journals) I think I now have a good idea on the question if masks work in preventing germs and viruses from the wearer.

Micro Water Droplets

So what does "micro water droplets" have to do with masks? The answer is everything. The sole intention of promotional facemasks is to minimize or eliminate water droplets from being inhaled.

Therefore to answer the question, if masks indeed are useful, we must answer the question. Do face masks reduce or eliminate inhaled water droplets? The answer to this question is a unanimous yes, from all the websites I have read.

As the letters and numbers suggest, an N95 mask, when used properly, is designed to block 95% of microparticles. So yes, face masks can protect you from germs and viruses.

What Type of Masks Are the Best

The best type of masks is the mask that is worn regularly. The N95 masks are great, (I have worn them many times, of course), but they are hard to breathe in and challenging to wear consistently every day. So choose masks that you feel you can live with every day. They will all offer you some level of personal (though not medical) protection.

The Caveats to Face Masks Being Effective

As with most things, that sounds too good to be true; there are indeed caveats when it comes to facemask effectiveness.

Number 1: Wearing a facemask will not protect you from germs if you do not adhere to general hygiene. In other words, do not get lulled into a false sense of security.

Number 2: The mouth is not the only entry point for germs. Eyes, Nose and Ears may be entry points for germs and viruses as such facemasks are not 100%. Does that mean you should not wear a mask? Absolutely not. What we are talking about here is using masks to minimize the risk of getting sick, not eliminating the risk of getting sick.

Importance of Proper Usage

Let's talk about the nitty-gritty of facemask usage. Simply throwing on your mask like a snag on the barbie isn't enough – you've gotta do it right, mate! Here are some top tips to ensure you're wearing your mask correctly:

1) Give those hands a thorough washing before putting on or taking off your mask.

2) Your mask should be covering up everything, from that sniffer down to ya chinny-chin-chin.

3) You might feel like fiddling with your mask during wear but avoid doing so as it could impact its effectiveness or lead to contamination.

4) If you're using disposable masks (ya know, those single-use ones), make sure they hit the bin after being worn once. And if ya got reusable masks; then give them washes aplenty!

Conclusion

At the end of the day - whilst no bouncer in town will guarantee entry to good health solely through use of masks – coupled with regular handwashing practices and general hygiene efforts - embracing face coverings at high transmission times can help decrease exposure overall...and we all want that!

Sources for article include:
https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/mask#research

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449