The strongest possible protection is a positive air pressure respirator; when in high-risk situations I use a Versaflo TR-300N+ and I think it’s basically invincibility. P100 is a lot cheaper, quieter and doesn’t have batteries to manage, though.
Technically, the best protection is a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which is a fancy way of referring to a respirator connected to an oxygen tank, but that thing too impractical and overkill for most people.
The amount of protection offered by a positive air pressure respirator (PAPR) depends on what kind of hood is being used and may offer about the same (or more) protection than a reusable elastomeric respirator. Assigned Protection Factor (APF) is a measure of the level of protection offered by types of respirators; PAPRs range from 25 to 1,000 APF, whereas reusable elastomeric respirators offer an APF of 10 (probably around 25 in reality) for half-facepiece respirators and 50 for full-facepiece respirators. Besides a potentially higher APF of 1,000, PAPRs also don’t require a fit test (which most people aren’t going to bother doing), so leaks are less likely, even though the APF might be similar or even less than a full-facepiece respirator. They’re also more comfortable than any other respirator. However, one hard-to-avoid disadvantage of a PAPR is that you’ll have to carry around an elastomeric respirator as a backup.
To mitigate the cost and bulk issues, it’s possible to DIY a PAPR (a plastic bag connected to filters, fans, and a battery). A DIY PAPR might be easier to repair and could also filter exhaust air, unlike commercial PAPRs. I haven’t bothered to DIY it yet, but others have definitely used these things successfully.
I think it would be a lot cheaper and less conspicuous to put a really cheap scuba kit under a cloth mask/bandana and a normal backpack, so that only the tube going between them is visible. Easily 1⁄3 the price too. Maybe including swim goggles or airtight lab goggles, I haven’t found any info on how likely the virus is to enter the eyes via respiratory droplets.
One way or another, the best thing to do is to be careful in apartment common areas, and to meet people outside, especially if eating takes place.
The strongest possible protection is a positive air pressure respirator; when in high-risk situations I use a Versaflo TR-300N+ and I think it’s basically invincibility. P100 is a lot cheaper, quieter and doesn’t have batteries to manage, though.
Technically, the best protection is a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which is a fancy way of referring to a respirator connected to an oxygen tank, but that thing too impractical and overkill for most people.
The amount of protection offered by a positive air pressure respirator (PAPR) depends on what kind of hood is being used and may offer about the same (or more) protection than a reusable elastomeric respirator. Assigned Protection Factor (APF) is a measure of the level of protection offered by types of respirators; PAPRs range from 25 to 1,000 APF, whereas reusable elastomeric respirators offer an APF of 10 (probably around 25 in reality) for half-facepiece respirators and 50 for full-facepiece respirators. Besides a potentially higher APF of 1,000, PAPRs also don’t require a fit test (which most people aren’t going to bother doing), so leaks are less likely, even though the APF might be similar or even less than a full-facepiece respirator. They’re also more comfortable than any other respirator. However, one hard-to-avoid disadvantage of a PAPR is that you’ll have to carry around an elastomeric respirator as a backup.
To mitigate the cost and bulk issues, it’s possible to DIY a PAPR (a plastic bag connected to filters, fans, and a battery). A DIY PAPR might be easier to repair and could also filter exhaust air, unlike commercial PAPRs. I haven’t bothered to DIY it yet, but others have definitely used these things successfully.
DIY PAPR intro info
https://viralhelmets.medium.com/15-viral-helmet-version-of-a-2000-hospital-mask-papr-4950905ae2cc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj_C4GrxfNM&t=102s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfaswOLIHoQ
DIY PAPR in-depth info
https://www.designnews.com/industry/beyond-n95-hackathon-produces-air-purifying-respirator
https://devpost.com/software/bunnypapr-for-jcrmrg-hackathon
https://bunnyscience.dozuki.com/Guide/Bunny+Science%E2%84%A2+PAPR/4
https://web.archive.org/web/20210202224805/https://bunnypapr.org
https://web.archive.org/web/20210825175428/https://www.viralhelmets.com
https://www.instructables.com/Viral-Helmets-9999-Hospital-Grade-Viral-Protection/
https://www.reddit.com/r/viralHelmets/
I think it would be a lot cheaper and less conspicuous to put a really cheap scuba kit under a cloth mask/bandana and a normal backpack, so that only the tube going between them is visible. Easily 1⁄3 the price too. Maybe including swim goggles or airtight lab goggles, I haven’t found any info on how likely the virus is to enter the eyes via respiratory droplets.
One way or another, the best thing to do is to be careful in apartment common areas, and to meet people outside, especially if eating takes place.