What’s the most effective face mask for preventing COVID-19 transmission?

From washable cloth masks to medical grade respirators, consumers are spoilt for choice when it comes to face coverings. Retailers are also cashing in on the demand, turning protective face coverings into the latest fashion accessories.To get more news about medical mask stock, you can visit tnkme.com official website.

Increasingly though, governments are issuing stricter guidance on which masks people should be wearing for everyday activities. French and German health officials have advised people to wear surgical masks rather than cloth face coverings, while in Bavaria and Austria, it is now compulsory to wear a medical grade FFP2 mask (standing for filtering face piece) on public transport and in shops.
Whichever mask you choose, it will be more effective in protecting you from COVID-19 when combined with other measures. To stay safe, it is also important to keep your distance from other people, avoid crowds, keep rooms well-ventilated, regularly clean your hands and cough into a bent elbow or tissue.

These usually consist of several layers of fabric, and attach to the face using ear loops or head ties. They are primarily designed to minimise the transmission of virus particles contained within larger respiratory droplets produced when we speak, cough or sneeze, but provide little protection for the wearer themselves. This makes physical distancing and ventilation particularly important when wearing one.

Fabric masks should ideally have three layers, including a middle layer, which can be a disposable filter. The inner layer should be made from a fabric which easily absorbs moisture from the breath, like cotton. The middle layer should ideally be made from “spunbound” polypropylene – a man-made material with a random arrangement of fibres, like spaghetti on a plate – while the outermost layer should be made from a fabric that repels droplets and moisture, e.g., polyester, or a polyester and cotton blend.

When choosing a fabric mask, avoid those with only a single layer of fabric, and look for one with a bendable strip of metal or plastic that can be moulded over the bridge of the nose, for a better fit. A recent investigation by the British consumer magazine, Which?, found a huge variation in the ability of fabric masks to filter particles, with the best filtering out 99% of bacteria-sized particles – as good as surgical masks – and the worst managing just 7%. Three-layer masks, particularly those which included a disposable filter insert, tended to be the most effective. The type of fabric also mattered: the worst-performing masks consisted of a single layer of mostly polyester. Ideally, Which? suggested to look for a mix of different fabrics such as cotton, polypropylene and different types of polyester.

Also, since fabric masks are primarily designed to protect other people, steer clear of other people wearing a flimsy-looking mask or no mask at all.

Surgical masks: Like cloth masks, these are relatively loose-fitting face coverings, which attach around the ears with elastic, and are designed to protect other people against any large respiratory droplets that the wearer emits. However, because they are worn by health workers and constitute a form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), their production is regulated and the level of protection they provide is more consistent than fabric masks. This is the reason the French health ministry gave for recommending them.

Surgical masks are often light blue in colour, and made of a combination of paper and plastics. They are disposable, so potentially more harmful for the environment.

Respirators: These are designed to protect healthcare workers from droplets in the air. They fit snugly against the face, meaning both inhaled and exhaled air is filtered through. This also means they need to be carefully fitted to ensure the mask creates a full seal – otherwise unfiltered air will come through the gaps between mask and face. Some respirators have one-way valves that make them easier to breathe through, but these should be avoided as they do not protect the wearer from spreading the virus.

Respirators have different names depending on where they’re manufactured and the degree to which they filter air. For instance, a N95 mask is manufactured in the US and is designed to filter out at least 95% of very small (0.3 micron) particles, including bacteria and viruses. FFP2 face masks are the European equivalent, and meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for protection against COVID-19 – they filter at least 94% of particles and are designed to be used for a maximum of eight hours. FFP3 masks filter at least 99% of particles, and typically have a valve because the filtration material is much thicker.