@roamer_1
You said, "Nope. just a simple painter, who happens to be very, very familiar with being able to breath in a room full of noxious fumes. I am indeed an authority on masks and how they work, especially when worn all day long in a building stuffed FULL of aerosols that would render me useless without filters."
Industrial masks are different than medical masks. Industrial masks are not used in a medical sitting because they can't stop something as small as a virus. An N95 medical mask with a face guard stops a virus. You don't believe that so I wish you well but you are still wrong. 
@Victoria33 NO, I AIN'T. N95 is short for NIOSH 95% - A mask that meets the 95% particulate NIOSH standard... It's a RATING for a mask that filters 95% of airborne particulates.. The medical mask gets the name, but it is not the only one to achieve that rating... In fact, one of the early things Tumpy did was to sign an EO allowing medical systems to use the commercial grade variant of the 3M n95, which is the SAME DAMN THING under different branding, making 30m more masks immediately available.. The reason medical masks are medical masks is so they can charge 50x more for them than the commercial masks, and that is the ONLY reason.
Well that ain't true - theN95 surgical has been certed to stop liquid streams (like blood), along with the particulate rating, but like I said, the commercial N95 is the very same mask, under a different brand. the only difference is in the cert, not in the capability.
And in fact, commercial respirators (like the ones most used by painters), you know, the cartridge style filters, are SUPERIOR to NIOSH95 rated masks, with superior face-fitting, and having not only small particulate (n95) paper cartridges, which are way larger and way more robust, but which are only there to keep moisture from hitting the (Optional multiple) charcoal filters which allow nothing past, to include fumes. Yes, what I got is BETTER than what you got. An n95 is disposable and temporary, and is not meant for long term use like a cartridge respirator is, nor for use in caustic environments like a cartridge respirator is. As I said, a mere n95 would last me less than 1/2 hour, and I would be high from the fumes almost immediately.
And even at that, a fitted mask is not perfect, and if you have not greased the edges of the mask (with vaseline or the like) the seal is still not as good as it could be. See, a painter would know that, because the least hint of ill-fitting is immediately detected and indicated by gagging. I must KNOW I have a perfect fit and in certain cases take pains to achieve it, or I will not be working long. In that I know better how poorly even a properly fitted mask works, and how to achieve a perfect seal, or I do not work.
And likewise, one of the most common failures is at the exhaust port... If your mask does not have an exhaust port it will load up on moisture, and will soon be rendered ineffective, and moisture radically reduces the effective life of the mask... and if the port is not properly cared for, it can be a direct path into the mask, bypassing the filters.
I have this extended knowledge because I am in a noxious environment. and can immediately smell it when the mask is improper. That leads me to extended training in proper care that I am sure your standard health care worker does not receive... like frequent and common care of the exhaust port, and commonly greasing the fitted edge of the mask. Since I am often spraying a color, I can physically see penetrations through the paper filter, where it has failed due to moisture, and know to replace them - again a feature that leads to proper and habitual changing of filters/masks that medical personnel likely don't even think of.
If your masks are SO good, why is it that medical people are dropping like flies and getting infected?
Because the masks do not work.
