In the wake of the current global pandemic that we are facing, it is important to take all precautions possible. While physical distancing and hand hygiene have become mandatory so are face masks an effective and necessary measure that every individual must take. Health agencies all around the world encourage people to wear masks whenever out in public. A large amount of virus transmission happens from asymptomatic people; hence it is necessary for the widespread usage of masks especially from people who may not be realizing that they have it. Safety masks usually come in three types and the details regarding each of them are given below to help you decide which mask is suitable for maximum protection of viruses and germs for you.
Broadly, face masks can be divided into three categories which are as follows:
- Respirators
Mostly used by frontline health workers, these masks are fit and seal tested which makes them filter more than 95 percent of the viruses. Even though they are the most desirable, they are very expensive and are not affordable to the common public daily as they are non-reusable as well.
- Surgical Masks
These safety masks are single-use disposable face masks that do not filter as many particles as respirators but yet are highly effective as they usually are made from synthetic fibers with pleats to cover your mouth, jawline, and nose. They are quite expensive but not super costly as respirators. How well they can filter the viruses and germs depends entirely on how they were made and can vary from 10 to 90 percent in filtering.
- Cloth Masks
Although they are less effective as compared to the above two, experiments suggest it is far better than using no face masks at all if worn properly. Health officials suggest going for pure cotton masks as they are usually better at filtering fine particles. Built-in filters also help to boost protection.
We must wear facemasks in public settings like hospitals, grocery stores, or just wherever social distancing is not feasible. Since surgical masks and respirators are in high demand and with their supplies limited, they need to be reserved for doctors and frontline health workers. Hence, the general public needs to wear cloth masks.
It is also important to carry out some safety measures while wearing masks such as using hand sanitizers whenever you put on or remove your mask, not touch the front of the mask but rather remove them from the ear loops or ties. One should avoid touching masks when on the face and also sanitize the mask after use.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, face masks are a key measure and even if cloth masks do not provide as much protection as surgical masks or respirators, they are still better than no masks at all. Also, they are affordable and reusable and their effectiveness can also be increased by checking for the materials used while buying and proper wear and construction post-purchase.
As the world has started slowly getting back to normal, it is important to continue the use of safety masks to decrease the spread of viruses and germs.