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f0rtytw0 t1_j27sl1p wrote

Reply to comment by timecoyote in New coronavirus subvariant, XBB, now widespread in New England by uxd

Remember, you don't wear a mask to protect yourself, you do it to protect others. The mask doesn't do much to protect you, but it does a lot to keep your shit from spreading.

So you could have COVID, be pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic but be spreading it everywhere. This is one the reasons it was able to spread so quickly in the past, if I feel fine, don't think I am sick, then I see no reason to take any measures, like wearing a mask.

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firestar27 t1_j2970q7 wrote

>Remember, you don't wear a mask to protect yourself, you do it to protect others. The mask doesn't do much to protect you, but it does a lot to keep your shit from spreading.

This was commonly thought earlier in the pandemic, but now we know that a good mask can protect you just fine. I don't think that cloth mask will do much in that regard, but a medical mask will help protect you somewhat, and a properly worn N95 will give you solid (but not perfect) protection. Masks still protect others, and I'd guess they probably protect others more than they protect you, but they do protect you, and so it can still be worth wearing a good mask even just to reduce your personal risk.

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