Since COVID is really popping again, I'm going back to masking. I would wear KN95/N95s but those stink after a while and you can't wash it. Cloth masks aren't as effective but has to be better than nothing, right?
Is there any special type of mask which can be reused and washed while having ok protection against COVID?
from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/respsource3healthcare.html quote
Are respirators with an exhalation valve acceptable in healthcare settings?
they should provide good enough source control even with a vent
Yes, the valve N95s are designed to keep pollutants and particles out, so they should not be used if you have or may have covid or to protect anyone but the wearer. Definitely not for surgery, but surgeons know that.
I only brought them up because people were talking about resorting to cloth masks which are not good enough to rely on 1000 mutations after the pandemic began.