Ruquan says there's no clear data on how common secondary transmission is from masks, but a possible real-life scenario might look like this: You go into a public bathroom, touch a contaminated door h... View MoreRuquan says there's no clear data on how common secondary transmission is from masks, but a possible real-life scenario might look like this: You go into a public bathroom, touch a contaminated door handle, pull down your regular face mask, use the toilet, pull up your face mask, and then wash your hands. In these few minutes, you've potentially contaminated your mask with E. coli or salmonella, bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
Can Medical Masks Prevent Viral Infections?
If you use that same mask within the next eight hours, there's a good chance that around 90% of the bacteria are still on it, increasing your possibility of becoming infected through a secondary infection.
