FFP2 Mask Chatter

 We are about 11 months into the German 'history' of Covid-19.  It's a rather odd topic to bring up at this point....but in the past ten days....suddenly mask reliability has come up in discussion.

The center of this discussion, the FFP-2 masks versus ALL other masks (paper surgical type and cloth type).

Yeah, it is a bit comical that you pause way out into almost a year....to bring up this topic.

ARD public TV brought up the subject this morning and it's worth a review.

First, lets be honest and note that ONLY Bavaria has gotten into this chatter.

Then lets be honest and say that FFP2 masks were built and designed originally for house renovation work.  If you were working in a interior with tons of dust....you spent the extra money and bought the FFP2 mask.

The filter for the FFP2 mask?  Premium, and outstanding (as long as it's a legit mask).

Is the FFP2 mask better against this new UK-virus mutant deal?  NO.  There is zero science data to say or suggest that.  

Cost?  Generally, in a 50-pack....you are talking about 18-to-25 Euro.  Cost-wise, it's around 50-percent more expensive than paper-masks.  

Longer use of the FFP-2?  NO.  They were designed for a normal one-shift (8-hour) duty day.  So using it for multiple days?  Well....if you were traveling by train (to and from work each day)....you could make the case that one mask could be worn for the entire week....just for the bus/rail travel.  I wouldn't suggest that it's wise. 

What you can generally say is that the bulk of German states (16 total)....aren't going along with Bavaria's stance of mandating it for in-public structures or wearing on buses/trains.  

Should this topic of mask 'strength' been brought up in spring of 2020?  Well...if this was a big deal....yeah.  You would think that ten PhD folks would have locked themselves in some test chamber, and emerged a month later to say that regular paper or cloth masks were unreliable, and only the FFP2 is the true 'Jesus' mask to wear.

So it's just odd....a year into this German chatter....that the mask discussion gets brought up.