Thanks for the advice

When it comes to the homemade masks, the CDC has information on how to go about making one: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/201.....coverings.html

When it comes to instructions I would probably trust what they have to say over a random video.

Having some experience in NBC protective gear, 80 percent of the masks I see folks wearing are useless. With that, I have a really comfy N-100 rated dual cartridge silicon mask with me if I feel the need to use it, and I have not yet. this could change as the projected peak for my area gets closer and looks like its getting spicy, but until then, im staying home as much as possible, and only going to work - considered "essential", but that definition is arbitrary and useless IRL - anyway, at some point this will be over in the next 6 months or so but the economy, will take years to recover. That has more potential to be a problem than the virus itself is.

Agreed. We need to do something soon to get more people going back to work.
There are a number of potential cures being developed, but by the time they go through the trial period and hopefully get approved, the damage will have already been done.

Unfortunately, when you have things like groups of 500 or so people in CA having a block party, or Spring Breakers all converging on the beaches of FL, the people themselves are the biggest problem.

I too stay home, other than hitting the supermarket or picking up food from a take-out place (I'm trying to support the local restaurants as much as possible), I'm avoiding others as much as possible.

I have carbon filtered mask (I think that what it is) I ordered from Amazon almost a year ago for my allergies. I stopped using it since I moved to Iowa, but now since the Pandemic hit, I start using it only when I gone out. Not sure if that worked. I've been trying to find N95 mask or disposable surgical masks , but they are always out of stock. Just like toilet papers.. :/

Yeah, I've heard a lot about handmade masks and I know they wouldn't work because of the materials used are porous. I need to find a reliable source on how to make one for myself and my family using the right materials.

I had to look it up, but according to this site, Carbon Filter masks may not be very useful against Coronavirus, though they don't have a definitive answer:

"As the name suggests, these masks contain an activated carbon filter, which help collect and filter out the pollutants and germs and breathe in purer air. Studies also say that carbon filters present in the mask may even improve your lung capacity and respiratory muscles, making it a good buy if you live in an extremely polluted city.

That being said, these masks work very well in fighting pollution and tiny particles like bacteria and fungi which spread through the air we breathe in, and thereby, prevent allergies. However, they do not work exceptionally well in fighting or preventing viruses like COVID-19 from coming in contact. They can only trap a minuscule number of viruses (10-20%) and hence, may not be the best choice right now."

So yeah, you're best bet is to keep trying to find an authorized mask when back in stock. Because you have an existing medical reason for having a mask, you might want to contact your doctor and see if they can get you any, since medical professionals take priority with receiving masks.

Though I do see some Activated Carbon masks for sale on Amazon and elsewhere, which say they are also N95 compliant and thus protects against Coronavirus. So, I guess it's all a matter of exactly what type of mask you have, as some will and some won't work against the virus.

Actually, the covid-19 virus is too small to really be stopped by the surgical masks and the like, whey will however keep you spreading as much, as far, if you don't cover your mouth to cough/sneeze by stopping the virus laden saliva from going far

TL:DR the masks aren't much for viruses