It should be noted that while cotton masks,surgical masks and improperly worn/ill-fitted N95 respirator masks do not offer perfect protection,neither do the tight-fitting NIOSH-approved N95 respirators.However,imperfect protection does not mean no protection at all.In the present scenario, without a specific treatment or a vaccine the goal for countries is to “flatten the curve” and not sudden “total eradication”.Therefore,any additional reduction of transmission,however small or partial,would still be significant and achieved using barriers to stop the droplet spread.(N95 masks,surgical masks or even plain cotton masks)
Given the need for the population to “acquire sufficient natural immunity over time”, masks might adequately reduce the viral exposure impacting transmission during the early waves, while allowing people enough exposure to start mounting an efficient immune response.[4] Clear guidelines for universal use of personal protective equipment is essential to limit the spread of infection as communities around the world begin to emerge from lockdown. But as the Little Prince said: ”The essential is invisible to the eye”.