I think everyone agrees that the cloth masks being made by everyone and sold everywhere (non N95) are too porous to trap the virus. However, what do you say about the argument that at least those masks will trap droplets that may have the virus in them?
We aren't talking about individual viruses floating on their own. There are no studies showing that this virus travels outside a droplet.
In other words, there are no unaccompanied viruses floating in the air to trap.
All of the (real, non-politicized) studies I've read says that we're after the droplets, and those are really easy to stop.
As Wes pointed out, this is an analog process.
"Herd Immunity" starts when a cough, laden with viruses, reaches the ground before it reaches a vulnerable person. There are two ways for that to happen: either the person has had the virus and is immune, or it doesn't get through their mask. Immunity can come from a vaccine, a treatment that brings antibodies from someone else, or having the virus.
Some may feel that herd immunity doesn't include masks or vaccines, but everything that slows the spread counts.
Once the spreading rate (R0) falls below 1, the pandemic will be over.
For Wes: stay at 127.0.0.1, wear a 255.255.255.0.
