New York: If you merely cover your face somehow with a piece of cloth on seeing policemen only to escape the steep fine these days, you are mistaken. It’s been shown that when two people wearing masks interact, the chance of COVID-19 transmission is drastically reduced.
Now, research shows that it’s not only the type of mask but also the way you wear it determines its efficacy in protecting you from coronavirus.
Scientists at University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, researched the protectiveness of various kinds of consumer-grade and modified masks, assuming the mask wearer was exposed to the virus, like when we interact with an unmasked infected person.
Published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the research shows that some masks were as much as 79 percent effective at blocking particles that could carry the virus.
These were masks made of two layers of woven nylon and fit snug against the wearer’s face. Unmodified medical procedure masks with ear loops – also known as surgical masks – offered 38.5 percent filtration efficacy, but when the ear loops were tied in a specific way to tighten the fit, the efficacy improved to 60.3 percent. And when a layer of nylon was added, these masks offered 80 percent effectiveness.
“While modifications to surgical masks can enhance the filtering capabilities and reduce inhalation of airborne particles by improving the fit of the mask, we demonstrated that the fitted filtration efficiencies of many consumer-grade masks were nearly equivalent to or better than surgical masks,” said co-first author Phillip Clapp.
Co-first author Emily Sickbert-Bennett, director of infection prevention at the UNC Medical Centre, added, “Limiting the amount of virus is important because the more viral particles we are exposed to, the more likely it is we will get sick and potentially severely ill.”
In this study, seven consumer-grade masks and five medical procedure mask modifications were fitted on an adult male, and FFE measurements were collected during a series of repeated movements of the torso, head, and facial muscles.
Here are the different mask types with filtration efficacy. The top-of-the-line N-95 mask was found to be 98 percent effective.
Consumer-grade facemasks:
*2-layer woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/o aluminium nose bridge: 44.7%
*2-layer woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/ aluminium nose bridge: 56.7%
*2-layer woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/ nose bridge, 1 non-woven insert: 74.4%
*2-later woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/ nose bridge, washed, no insert: 79%
*Cotton bandana – folded Surgeon General style: 50%
*Cotton bandana – folded “Bandit” style: 49 %
*Single-layer woven polyester gaiter/neck cover (balaclava bandana): 37.8%
*Single-layer woven polyester/nylon mask with ties: 39.7%
*Non-woven polypropylene mask with fixed ear loops: 28.6%
*Three-layer woven cotton mask with ear loops: 26.5%
Medical facemasks and modifications:
*3M 9210 NIOSH-approved N95 Respirator: 98%
*Surgical mask with ties: 71.4%
*Procedure mask with ear loops: 38.5%
*Procedure mask with ear loops + “loops tied and corners tucked in”: 60.3%
*Procedure mask with ear loops + “Ear Guard”: 61.7%
*Procedure mask with ear loops + “23mm claw hair clip”: 64.8%
*Procedure mask with ear loops + “Fix-the Mask (3 rubber bands)”: 78.2%
*Procedure mask with ear loops + “nylon hosiery sleeve”: 80.2%
So, please ensure that you not only wear a good quality face mask, but also wear it properly. Remember, the aim is to dodge the deadly virus, not the penalising authorities.
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