Spot on, Arney. Another thing to keep in mind is that the droplets distributed by coughing or sneezing remain airborne for quite a while. This is why wearing an N95 mask could save lives or at least limit the extent of the outbreak.
A lot of people don't really understand how it all works. N99 masks are standard in health care and so far, they have an excellent track record from what I've been told. N95 is also considered plenty adequate for lower-risk scenarios - meaning the general population that is not required to handle infected patients on a regular basis.
N95 masks are very effective at what they do but unfortunately, they don't come with a detailed user manual. First, they don't last forever and need to be replaced regularly. If you sweat a lot and especially in hot and humid weather the life span is going to be short. Obviously, getting a good fit is critical as well. For instance, I have a beard. Not the mountain man survivalist style - I keep it trimmed pretty short. But still, it means I won't be getting a good fit with any mask unless I shave clean. Lots of little things to keep in mind...
All the hype aside, the situation right now is still far from critical. But I'm not ashamed to say I just bought a few N95 masks when I went to the hardware store to get some other supplies I needed. Who knows, I'll use them up eventually anyway and if for some reason we are ever required to wear safety masks in public it's comforting to know I have some backups stashed at hand. Because if it ever gets that bad, the existing stocks will be depleted rapidly.
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