I agree that tape should improve the value of the surgical mask. I’ve seen a number of quality respirators that will use a rubber or silicon face mask that will seal much better than the standard N95 mask people are buying. That allows the ability to actually “seat” the mask to your face and improve the seal.
However, as others point out, that doesn’t change the size of the particles that are filtered. So I wonder just how much that might really help.
The surgical mask is not designed, or really intended, to protect the wearer from the external environment but the external environment (to a certain extent) from the wearer. It seems to be something of a deflection and catch device. Taping the mask might then increase the velocity of any particles passing through the surgical mask, thus spreading them more widely, as none is now deflected to the side and a bit backwards.
I agree that tape should improve the value of the surgical mask. I’ve seen a number of quality respirators that will use a rubber or silicon face mask that will seal much better than the standard N95 mask people are buying. That allows the ability to actually “seat” the mask to your face and improve the seal.
However, as others point out, that doesn’t change the size of the particles that are filtered. So I wonder just how much that might really help.
The surgical mask is not designed, or really intended, to protect the wearer from the external environment but the external environment (to a certain extent) from the wearer. It seems to be something of a deflection and catch device. Taping the mask might then increase the velocity of any particles passing through the surgical mask, thus spreading them more widely, as none is now deflected to the side and a bit backwards.