Yahoo Answers is shutting down on 4 May 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Lv 7

tuesday asked in Health Other - Health · 9 months ago

Can a face mask block viral particles if you can smell your surroundings?

Like walking past someone smoking or strong perfume, etc?

2 Answers

Relevance

Lisa A
Lv 7
9 months ago
Favourite answer
Yes. You still have to breathe. So a mask can't block everything. It has to let air through. (Including some smells in the air.) It still blocks droplets that hold virus molecules.
Intrinsic Random Event
Lv 7
9 months ago
A mask is not a perfect defense against viral particles... but it is SOME defense. A mask will significantly lower the percentage chance of you ingesting virus particles, but it can still happen. It's just less likely to happen.
Masks do not definitively block all viral particles. Just most of them.

Still have questions? Get answers by asking now.