A year into the pandemic, many experts advise that we upgrade our masks to protect ourselves against more-contagious variants of the coronavirus. The good news is we now have more mask options to choose from. Here’s what to know:
N95
An N95 mask filters out 95 percent of 0.3 micron particles, the hardest size to trap. But many people don’t wear N95s correctly, making them less effective. N95s are hard to find, and counterfeits are common. Avoid N95s with respirator valves, which expel your germs onto others.
KN95
The KN95, made in China, also filters 95 percent of hard-to-trap particles. It has ear loops instead of head straps, so may not fit as snugly. The mask supply chain is also riddled with counterfeit KN95s, which may work only about as well as a cloth mask.
KF94
The KF94 is a top pick among health experts for its quality, high filtration rate and snug fit, with top and bottom flaps, and a moldable nose bridge. It can be easier to speak wearing a KF94. Make sure yours is made in Korea, where quality control efforts make counterfeits less likely.
Surgical mask
A rectangular surgical mask is made from pleated synthetic fabric that expands to fit around your face. It can trap 60 to 80 percent of particles in the lab, but in the real world, gaps around the edges make surgical masks less effective. You can improve the fit by knotting the ear loops.
Two-layer cloth mask
Studies show that a two-layer cloth mask with a third layer of filter material is the best non-medical mask. But filtration rates vary depending on the fabric. Hold it to the window to see how much light sneaks through. Pro tip: Head ties create a tighter fit than ear loops.
Double masking
Double masking is an easy way to upgrade a favorite cloth mask. Just wear a cloth mask over any type of medical mask to help seal gaps around the edges and add another layer of protection. Remember, any face covering is better than nothing, and the best mask is the one you will wear consistently.
By Tara Parker-Pope (The New York Times). Gif Credit: Glenn Harvey. Images by: Tony Cenicola/The New York Times and Getty Images.
I always got the feeling that Vegeta actually liked Gohan when he was a kid, I think Vegeta was impressed by his strength and was really curious to see how strong he can be, and was really disappointed that Gohan didn't keep up in his training, I think Vegeta felt it was wasted potential.
Um, I thinkI agree here…
My guess isthat Vegeta surely had mixed feelings about Gohan at first, since he was hisson’s enemy, but he was a half-Saiyan kid, after all, so he probably must haveseen him in a special light somehow.
I wasthinking of that moment in DBZ, right before the Tournament in the Buu Saga,when Gohan visits Bulma’s place to ask for his Saiyaman costume, and there’sthis little exchange with Vegeta, and Veggie asks him to keep up with histraining.
It actuallyfelt like a bit of a protective “Uncle Vegeta” moment, if you ask me, so Ithink Vegeta did like Gohan a little, and I’m sure that he was disappointedwhen he chose to be a scholar instead of pursuing fighting.