The message from public health officials is clear: You should wear a mask when you go out in public to help limit the spread of COVID-19. But information on exactly what type of mask to wear and how effective they are has been limited.
Now, new research from Florida Atlantic University aims to give some guidance. For the study, it was published in the journal. Fluid PhysicsThe researchers tracked “coughs” and “sneezes” (using a smoke machine) from the head of a mannequin, and used a laser to detect drops.
The team put several different types of cloth face masks on the mannequin, and then tracked how many breath drops from the mannequin’s cough and sneeze got through the masks, as well as how far they traveled.
Here’s what they discovered: Loosely folded face masks and bandana-style cover reduced the distance the drops traveled by 1/8 to half what it would be for an uncovered cough. Well-fitting face masks with multiple layers of padded fabric and tapered-style masks were the most effective. The drops only traveled approximately 8 inches with the conical style masks, and 2.5 inches with a padded mask. In comparison, they traveled more than a foot with a folded scarf and more than 3 feet, 7 inches with a scarf made from T-shirt material.
So what are the best face masks for COVID-19?
This is how the study breaks down facial masks by effectiveness, from highest to lowest effectiveness:
- A stitched mask made of quilted cotton
- A cone mask
- A folded scarf
- A handkerchief
Keep this in mind, too, according to study researchers: “Our observations suggest that a higher thread count alone is not enough to ensure better stopping ability; The scarf cover, which has the highest number of threads among all the tested fabric masks, turned out to be the least effective. “
The study comes shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) published recommendations on cloth face masks.
In early June, the WHO published a guide on what, exactly, people with a cloth face covering should look for. This is what they recommend:
- Masks must have at least three layers of fabric.
- The inner layer should be made of absorbent material, such as cotton.
- The middle layer is designed to function as a barrier and must be made of a nonwoven material such as polypropylene.
- The outer layer must be made of a non-absorbent material such as polyester or a polyester blend.
The WHO also recommended that people avoid elastic masks due to their lack of ability to filter particles, as well as those made of silk or gauze. More advice, according to the WHO: face masks should fit snugly over the nose, cheeks and chin.
Don’t panic if your mask isn’t perfect.
While there is now more information on the best masks to wear, experts say wearing anything that covers your nose and mouth is better than nothing. “Just wear something, even if it’s just a scarf or a shawl,” says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Richard Watkins, MD, an infectious disease physician in Akron, OH, and professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, agrees. “It is so important that we continue to push the message to wear masks,” he says, adding that social distancing remains the most important tool we have to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
And while there is a lot of emphasis on wearing a mask to protect other people, Dr. Watkins says it probably offers some protection for you as well, since it’s a physical barrier.
So, wear a mask. And if it turns out it’s made of quilted cotton, even better.
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