Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA Profile picture
Jul 19, 2022 12 tweets 9 min read Read on X
Top 10 tips everyone should know about wearing #N95 & #elastomeric masks.

What did I miss?

THREAD! Image
Tip #1: Masks buy time. Context matters too: Ventilation (HVAC/outdoor air), filtration (HEPA), & ⬇️ people buy more time.

The longer you’ll be someplace or the worse the context, the better the mask you’ll need.

In a “typical” setting, you might expect this (per @akm5376): Image
Tip #2: If you’re going to be someplace a long time (home, office, hospital, wedding), open windows, add #HEPA, turn HVAC from ‘auto’ to ‘on' & do testing.

BOOM, you just improved your mask. Better context = less work for the mask.

Tip #3: These are my three fav N95s. The Aegle & 3M Aura are good for most adult size faces. The Vflex is good for larger faces. I think 80-90% would be happy with the Aura.

What’s your fav #N95 and why?

Tip #4: Have a unique concern? There’s an N95 for you. Just ask.

For example, a lot of people like the Airgami if they have COPD or other breathing challenges.

The Readimask is good for MRIs, haircuts, or dental visits.
Image
Tip #5: Do a quick #N95 seal check each time. Fit the nose piece using both hands. Exhale a deep breath to check for obvious leaks.

Read the instructions that came w/them, e.g., the 3M Aura or Vflex should be pulled back taut under the chin, not loose.

cleanaircrew.org/masks/#How_to_…
Tip #6: At low cost, you can fit-test an N95.

Buy a nebulizer & sweet (called FT-31) or bitter (FT-32) fit testing solution. The nebulizer vaporizes the solution. If you can taste it, your mask has gaps.



Tip #7: N95s are great, but for a better fit, try an “#elastomeric.”

That’s just a reusable elastic-band type mask.

Twitter search “elastomeric” for recs & sizing. Good ones: GVS models ($), @DentecSafety ComfortAir ($), @flo_mask ($$, adult & kid’s size), & Envo mask ($$) Image
Tip #8: Always buy directly from the manufacturer, a nonprofit like @projectn95, or a verified sourced. For example, Amazon sells a ton of fakes, but GVS is verified to sell authentically via Amazon. Do your homework.

Any questions on where to buy?

projectn95.org
Tip #9: Share the wealth. You can give away N95s to your family, friends, co-workers, patients, clinicians, & community.

Share these tips too. RT 🔁or post these tips on legacy platforms like Facebook Image
FYI, I have no COIs, including no investment in any company listed. I’m a multidisciplinary scientist. My goal is to pass along advice from experts in a way that’s more relatable to communities.

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More from @michael_hoerger

Jun 9
1) PMC COVlD Dashboard, June 9, 2025

CDC wastewater surveillance data show transmission rising. This is our forecast if transmission growth follows typical patterns.

The high & low estimates could be thought of as optimistic & pessimistic scenarios for NB.1.8.1.Forecast graph: Rising transmission the next month
2) PMC COVlD Dashboard, June 9, 2025

Notice that current transmission (red line, lower left) tracks closely with two years ago (yellow), slightly below the median (gray), and not far below last year (orange).

Consider each of these trajectories realistic scenarios.Image
3) PMC COVlD Dashboard, June 9, 2025

All indications are that we are headed into the start of an 11th national wave in the U.S.

We could percolate near the lull point another couple weeks (fingers crossed), but that scenario is becoming less likely.Graph of 10 C19 waves
Read 7 tweets
Jun 3
1/ PMC COVlD Dashboard, June 2, 2025 (U.S.)

National COVlD transmission recently fell to its lowest levels since the pre-Delta era.

It's go-time for many who have delayed medical appointments. The situation will likely get much worse in Jul/Aug.
2/ PMC COVlD Dashboard, June 2, 2025 (U.S.)

An estimated 1 in 211 are actively infectious. Most states are "low" or "very low" per CDC.

The situation remains serious even in a relative "lull." >1.5 million weekly estimated infections to result in 600-900 excess deaths.C19 heat map
year over year graph, tracking closely with the median and past 2 years
Current Levels for Jun 2, 2025	 % of the Population Infectious	 0.5% (1 in 211)	 New Daily Infections	 227000	 New Weekly Infections	 1589000	 Resulting Weekly Long COVID Cases	 79,000 to 318,000	 Resulting Weekly Excess Deaths	 600 to 900	 	 Monthly Forecast	 Average % of the Population Infectious	 0.7% (1 in 139)	 Average New Daily Infections	 344566.6667	 New Infections During the Next Month	 10337000	 Resulting Monthly Long COVID Cases	 517,000 to 2,067,000	 Resulting Monthly Excess Deaths	 3,700 to 6,200	 	 Running Totals	 Infections Nationwide in 2025	 70132000	 Average Number of Infe...
Graph of the whole pandemic, 11th wave forthcoming
3/ PMC COVlD Dashboard, June 2, 2025 (U.S.)

By the end of the month, we forecast an increase to 450k daily infections. If NB.1.8.1 takes off, closer to 600k. If overhyped, percolating only slightly higher.Past 12 months and forecast
Read 5 tweets
May 26
1) PMC Dashboard, May 26, 2025 (U.S.)

The lull exit is coming. Despite being in a lull:

🔥1 in 180 actively infectious
🔥1.9 million weekly infections
🔥>93,000 new #LongCOVID cases from the week's infections
🔥1,100 excess deaths from the week's infections

This is a "lull."
2) PMC Dashboard, May 26, 2025 (U.S.)

The forecast calls for a near-doubling in transmission the next month to 450k daily infections.

The 95% confidence interval includes flat transmission (percolating), or escalating to 650k (if NB.1.8.1 takes off). Forecasting graph, summarized in post
3) PMC Dashboard, May 26, 2025 (U.S.)

Looking at year-over-year transmission, 2025 (red) is closely tracking the median (gray).

It transmission accelerates, it could look more like last year (orange). If it slows, more like two years ago (yellow). Year-over-year graph summarized in post
Read 7 tweets
May 25
1) CDC & Biobot wastewater surveillance both show the West region in an apparent uptick in C19 transmission.

Here's the graph of regional transmission from CDC data with the West in green: Estimated Percentage Actively Infectious*						 		PMC Model		Raw CDC Data		 	National	0.6% (1 in 180)		0.5% (1 in 196)		 	Northeast	0.4% (1 in 236)		0.4% (1 in 257)		 	Midwest	0.5% (1 in 209)		0.4% (1 in 227)		 	South	0.6% (1 in 160)		0.6% (1 in 175)		 	West	0.8% (1 in 129)		0.7% (1 in 140)
2) This image zooms in on the West (green line) so you can see the apparent departure from the C19 lull more easily. Zoomed in graph from prior post. More stats in the ALT text there.
3) Biobot still provides national & regional C19 updates. They usually post sometime between Thursday morning & Saturday evening. IMO, their most recent data point can be viewed as the Wednesday of the prior week.

Like the CDC, they have an apparent uptick in the West (green). Biobot graph. What's striking is that the peak (for any region) is almost identical the past 3 waves, though the West apparently runs cooler on average. The West is presently highest and increasing, whereas the other regions are lower and still trending down at the time of these data.
Read 6 tweets
May 20
PMC COVlD Report, May 19, 2025 (U.S.)

In this national "lull" in transmission, we are seeing...
🔥A quarter-million daily infections
🔥90-360k Long COVlD cases from the week's infections
🔥600-1,100 deaths from the week's infections
🔥LA, SD, NE, & GU in high transmission10 waves of C19
Heat map, summarized in post
Current Levels for May 19, 2025	 % of the Population Infectious	 0.5% (1 in 185)	 New Daily Infections	 259000	 New Weekly Infections	 1813000	 Resulting Weekly Long COVID Cases	 91,000 to 363,000	 Resulting Weekly Excess Deaths	 600 to 1,100	 	 Monthly Forecast	 Average % of the Population Infectious	 0.8% (1 in 129)	 Average New Daily Infections	 371566.6667	 New Infections During the Next Month	 11147000	 Resulting Monthly Long COVID Cases	 557,000 to 2,229,000	 Resulting Monthly Excess Deaths	 4,000 to 6,600	 	 Running Totals	 Infections Nationwide in 2025	 66986000	 Average Number of I...
Year-over-year graph, currently closely tracking the median, Y4, and Y5
Full report: pmc19.com/data
PMC COVlD updates are also posted periodically on Plip Plop:

tiktok.com/@michael_hoerg…
Read 6 tweets
May 15
1) Good luck getting any new federal research to support #LongCOVID until "covid" is dropped from the dirty words that get grant applications triaged to the trash bin.

You know which senator to call.

I just did, and got a staffer instead of voicemail.Lengthy list of words that get federal grants triaged to the trash bin, unfunded after favorable review, or defunded if already in progress.   Includes "Covid-19," and no, it's not a matter of simply restating as "SARS2" or "The Rona." It might make it one step further in the review process, but this gets checked closed, and it will get canned. Hundreds of hours of work, flushed down the toilet.   And that's the point.
2) I told the staffer that #LongCOVID is affecting millions and that no research will be funded to address this while "covid" remains on the banned word list.

I asked if they wanted to hear more. He did...

Here's the word list, btw
pen.org/banned-words-l…
3) I told them about my family member who was a strong Special Forces veteran, got covid once, & according to their neurologist, it triggered #LongCOVID in the form of Dementia w/Lewy Bodies.

DLB is one of the worst conditions imaginable. After a 2yr battle, they died in 2024.
Read 5 tweets

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