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A new study found that wearing a mask is not enough to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus without practicing the recommended person-to-person spacing of at least two meters. According to what was published by the British “Daily Mail”, where researchers from the State University of New Mexico, in Las Cruces, Mexico, examined several different types of face masks.
Made of cloth
The results of the study showed that each of the materials with which the masks are made has a significant effect in reducing the number of scattered drops. But the research team found that face masks made of cloth allow enough droplets to drip if a person within two meters sneezes, as the wearer of a cloth muzzle can breathe in enough droplets to become infected with Covid disease. -19.
Also, researcher Dr. Krishna Kuta, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of New Mexico, said: “The muzzle definitely helps, but if people are sitting and standing very close to each other, they still there is a possibility that the virus will spread or become infected. ” Masks alone are not enough, but masks and a commitment to physical distancing together.
A machine that simulates sneezing and coughing
For the study, the results of which were published in the journal Physics of Fluid, the research team designed a machine that simulates human coughing and sneezing, where an air generator is used to push small drops of liquid, similar to those that come out of nose or mouth. The device was tested on several different types of masks, including an N95 muzzle, a medical muzzle, a cloth muzzle, and one made from two layers of cloth.
Best and worst performance
The researchers say that all the masks blocked most of the drops, but the best performance was for the N95 masks, which prevented 100% of the drops, and the worst performance was for the masks made of regular fabric, since it only blocked 96.4%.
The simulation also showed that being at distances of less than two meters, about 3% of the extra droplets leaked out, which is enough to infect someone with the disease.
Average infection threshold
Studies have also shown that the average threshold for Covid-19 infection is 1,000 virus particles, which are inhaled all at once or on separate occasions. A single sneeze can transmit up to 200 million virus particles.
The mask, made of ordinary cloth, lets through more than 1,000 drops, which can contain millions of virus particles. The results of the study mean that if a person wearing one of these masks stands, sits, or walks near an infected person, they can inhale enough drops that could infect them with Covid-19 disease.
Avoid standing face to face
Dr. Kota said, “Without wearing a mask, many drops will almost certainly pass to the person exposed to the infection,” noting that wearing a muzzle will, of course, provide great protection, but not complete, as the people should pay attention to the presence of two meters. Between himself and others, “taking into account the possibility of minimizing or avoiding face-to-face interactions, if possible.”
