It is standard equipment. I’m a lawyer, not in the medical field, I just know what those with MD after their name say.
While I am dubious about average people clinging to the magical power of masks to save them (unless you are having to be packed in to tight proximity to others in recirculated air like subways, buses, air travel, etc ), I do believe they are important equipment for healthcare workers who have to be surrounded, in close, direct contact, by hundreds or thousands of known infected for hours and days.
And while I distrust and really despise the current Chinese governmental regime, the doctors and nurses on the front like are brave people putting their own lives at risk to help others they don't even know personally. I respect that no matter what political system you were born into beyond your control.
That said, I hate to sound like a d*k, but at this point I wouldn't send a thing over there. If it appeared we could have kept it contained there, I would. But it's out now. It's here. It will get much, much, much worse here too. The masks and supplies we think are surplus here , will be exhausted very quickly. We'll be needing everything we got for ourselves.
And it still won't be enough.
