I am not aware of how a "significant exposure" to Omicron is defined.
What is clear is that omicron is much more highly infectious than Delta and other strains
If you want to be protected from Omicron infection, the only mask worth wearing is an N95 mask that is tight fitting around your nose and mouth.
The reason why masking is not universally effective is that the masks people use are usually inadequate, poorly fitting, and not worn properly
I wish i had a nickel for every person i have seen wearing a mask below their nose. These people might as well be wearing their underwear on their heads, as they are not protected to any degree by wearing a mask that way.
Loose fitting masks enable viral particles to be inhaled through the edges of the mask.
If you dont want to get omicron, find an N95 mask that fits your face tightly (dont get them with straps that go around the ears, because those are worthless also). The straps need to go around your head. Then wear the n95 everywhere you go, and dont touch the filtering portion of the mask with your fingers.
My son is an anesthesiologist, working with the airways of many patients per day, and has intubated a lot of patients with severe COVID. Wears a tight fitting n95 and still after two years hasn't gotten COVID.
The masking debate could be very quickly ended with a properly conducted trial where the test group wore N95s religiously and had properly fitting masks. The control group could wear any other mask they wanted any way they wanted. I will bet the farm that n95 wearers would demonstrate the efficacy of proper masking.
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