material is used. You can make a mask out of cheesecloth but what the heck would be the point? Do they provide perfect protection? Of course not - they reduce the risk which is the point of wearing them.

The surgical masks we wore in the OR did not need to be a perfectly tight and sealed around their entire perimeter. The most important protection was for forward breathing.

Surgical masks provided protection for more than the surgeon coughing or drooling (why the heck would a surgeon drool?) and fluids from the patient. They do provide a certain protection from pathogens. Again - its not perfect protection, it reduces the risk.

I have seen Covid masks sold by many suppliers during the pandemic. I can't say how good any of them were because I have no idea how porous they were or were not. But that does not totally eliminate the reduced risk that followingproper protocol and a properly made mask afford.

Remaining at a 6' distance I found questionable. Don't know if that really afforded any protection or reduced the risk. Probably not as much as we would hope for.

Kennedy? I'll discuss my health care needs with a licensed qualified healthcare provider. Kennedy is not qualified in science or the field of medicine. He is a politician. Who in their right mind trusts politicians?? Not me.