What types of masks are best for preventing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?

DETROIT – Public health officials strongly recommend the use of facial coatings to decrease the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), but not all masks are created equal.

To demonstrate the differences between the masks, researchers at the Florida Atlantic University College of Engineering and Computer Science created a visual simulation.

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The researchers were not trying to create the perfect pattern of droplets and aerosols scattered through masks. They set out to create a practical and visual demonstration of the performance of three different masks: one made from a folded scarf, the other made from two layers of cotton cloth and a single dome mask.

Using a mannequin head and a mist generator to create a visible aerosol highlighted by a green laser, the researchers created a simulated cough.

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A mild cough without any facial covering spreads the spray mist at close range, but a simulated intense cough without a facial covering expels the spray three feet away in two seconds and six feet away in 11 seconds.

They also showed the effect of a light breeze on the spread of the spray. As the breeze disperses the spray, it moves the particles upwind.

A handkerchief or folded scarf drips a significant amount of spray across the face and onto the top edge.

A homemade sewn cloth mask did a much better job of reducing the amount of aerosol scattered in the air. The spray was not much more than three inches from the mannequin’s face. There were still leaks at the top of the mask.

The researchers used an over-the-counter cone mask. Although it was the same shape as some N-95 respirators, it was not the same.

The amount of spray that penetrated the front of the mask traveled further than the spray through the hand-sewn mask. Again there were leaks from the top of the mask.