- Medical procedures

- Fast-running tap water and toilet flushes

- Sneezing, coughing, exhaling

- Droplet nuclei suspended in air due to evaporation of droplets


Sources of Transmission by Aerosols

The virus particles may remain in the air for several hours; laboratory experiments have shown that surgical masks are effective in blocking such agents.

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- Use as a Precautionary Measure
- Blocking of Aerosol Agents
- Reduce Transmission from Asymptotic Individuals

Arguments Supporting the Use of Face Masks

Van Doremalen, N., Bushmaker, T., Morris, D. H., Holbrook, M. G., Gamble, A., Williamson, B. N., ... & Lloyd-Smith, J. O. (2020). Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(16), 1564-1567.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmc2004973

Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1

Leung, N. H., Chu, D. K., Shiu, E. Y., Chan, K. H., McDevitt, J. J., Hau, B. J., ... & Seto, W. H. (2020). Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nature medicine, 26(5), 676-680.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0843-2

Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks

Advocates state the importance of face masks to reduce future collateral damage in which hospitalization rates and/or mortality rates may increase without them.

Use as a Precautionary Measure

Blocking of Aerosol Agents

The virus can be transmitted even when an infected person is asymptotic or minimally symptomatic. Face masks can reduce the likelihood that virus particles may spread between health providers and patients in healthcare settings.

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