How are N95 masks effective if 5% doesn’t get filtered and passes through?

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To me I just don’t see how this would work or filter anything. So it 95% is blocked, then 5% of the particulate will pass through the filter and cause harm. It’s like saying you are on a submarine and saying it’s 95% sealed. Then the rest would fill up the submarine then you’d end up dead. Is there something else I’m missing here?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

They’re good, not perfect. 5% is a lot less than the ~60% of droplets that get through regular surgical masks.

Part of their efficacy comes from their tightness to the face. Unlike regular surgical masks ideally there will not be any air passing by the mask’s edges.

Not to mention the store bought cloth masks which are even worse.

N95s are designed to protect the wearer from exposure to pathogens.
Surgical masks are designed to protect others from the wearer’s pathogens.

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