The choice was simple, you either wore a cloth mask or a disposable surgical mask. As the months have progressed, the choice of face coverings and other forms of protection has mushroomed, while the emergence of more transmissible variant has prompted some countries to mandate the wearing of filters in public spaces.
Although face coverings are no longer required in England, the government suggests that you wear one in crowded, enclosed spaces where you may meet people you don't normally meet.
FFP2 masks cover most virus-carrying respiratory aerosols that linger in the air and are typically three times more efficient at blocking larger particles.
Is it time to ditch our cloth masks in favor of FFP2 or next-generation alternatives? Is it possible to do so without using masks?
Reusable fabric masks are better than nothing because they trap larger respiratory droplets and are not intended to block ultra-fine particles. They can be washed in soapy water hotter than 60C (140F) and thus reducing waste.
Even though cloth masks are less effective at filters, we still don't understand the degree to which that affects the spread of disease.
Some FFP2 masks feature a silver chloride-based coating called ViralOff, which is supposed to destroy 99% of viral particles within two hours. It would not sterilize incoming air, but it could reduce the risk of getting a Viruses on your hands and transferring it elsewhere The coating on the mask may reduce the risk of diseases.
Robinson points out that the quality of the filter is likely to degrade over time. After 100 hours of hand washing in mild detergent, the mask's ability to filter small particles dropped from 98.7% to 98%, meaning it would still meet FFP2 standard requirements.
Helloface was founded to help people who are hard of hearing communicate with one another. The transparent medical mask has anti-fogging and antimicrobial elements. The plastic components are not designed to be reworn.
The UVMask is one of several masks and protective products being developed that incorporate UV-C light, a wavelength that inactivates viruses by destroying their proteins coating, to purify incoming and outgoing air. It is unclear if this concept will work because it hasn't received regulatory approval, and there is limited published data about the wavelength, dose and duration of UVC radiation required to inactivate sars.
An engineer who tests and reviews masks says the mask has two FFP2 filters, which will probably do all the heavy lifting. In his opinion, what you are left with is a device.
If you have been in close or long-term contact with an infectious person, you should discard your disposable FFP2 masks. If you want to do this, you need to store it in a paper bag for five to seven days and then hang it up.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that masks be replaced after five wears.
Don't put disposable masks in the washing machine, microwave, or a hot oven because they may damage the fibres and harm the lungs. According to research done at the University of Germany, foldable FFP2 masks can be boiled for 10 minutes in a freezer bag or in an oven for 60 minutes.
Air purifiers have been used in hospitals to reduce the risk of infections after surgery, but portable units are being used in schools and care homes on the assumption that they will also reduce the risk of coronaviruses. Although they have been shown to reduce the amount of virus in the air, in some cases to undetectable levels, such studies have been small, and have not yet proved that air purifiers reduce the risk of infection, to what degree, or how best to deploy.
They may work, but we need this information to make some sensible, rational, evidence-based decisions. He stresses that the presence of an air purifier shouldn't be an excuse to relax other protective measures.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
