Amid the slow release of the vaccine and the expansion of reports of a new highly contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus, masks are increasingly recognized as a critical tool to slow the pandemic.
But how do you choose? One year after the start of the pandemic, there are still no filtering standards or labeling requirements. The masks range from hospital gauge N95s to Mickey Mouse silk gaiters. They may not fit. They can filter poorly.
“It’s really the Wild West out there,” said Joseph Allen, associate professor and director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health.
“We have been in this pandemic for a year. It shouldn’t take hours and hours for a consumer to try to figure out what a decent mask is, ”he said.
And while there has been great innovation in the field of vaccines, therapy and testing, “it is shocking that we have not seen any innovation in this simple and effective tool”.
But a growing body of research is teaching us more about masks. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Q: What constitutes a good mask?
AN: The N95 mask – 95% effective – is the gold standard, but it is scarce.
The KF94 mask, the Korean version of an N95 mask, offers high level protection. These masks are rigorously selected.
KN95 masks are the Chinese equivalent of N95s. But you need to do your homework to make sure it is a mask that has been examined and verified. Buy it only if the manufacturer has a “NIOSH Certificate” – from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Blue surgical masks are about 70% effective.
A fabric mask can be between 20% to 70% effective, depending on its construction and the fabric used.
– Joseph Allen of Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health.
Q: How about “double masking”?
AN: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not address masks in layers.
You can consider applying layers of facial coatings if you are spending time indoors, in crowded spaces or in areas where transmission rates are high. People who are clinically vulnerable can also consider duplication.
There are two approaches. One is to use a multi-layer cloth tightly fitted over a surgical mask. The other is to use a three-layer mask with outer layers of tightly woven fabric.
– Dr. Monica Ghandi, professor of medicine and specialist in infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco
Q: Which mask is better if I’m just taking a walk or sitting on a park bench?
AN: Choose your mask based on the risk level for that activity. If you are going for a run with no one around or for a walk outdoors with a friend, a simple two- or three-layer cloth mask is sufficient.
If you’re talking, the masking power doubles if both people are using it. This is because the particles need to pass through the material twice – once after being emitted and again before someone inhales them. Research shows that two masks with 70% efficiency combine to reduce more than 90% of particles. Two N95s result in an exposure reduction greater than 99%.
– Joseph Allen
Q: How do I test the fit of a mask?
AN: The mask should pass over the bridge of the nose, descend around the chin and be level with the cheeks.
Each time you put on a mask, do a “user seal check”. Place your hands over the mask to block the air that passes through it and exhale gently. You should not feel the air coming out from the side or going up towards the eyes. Then test to make sure it stays in place by moving your head from side to side and around. Try to read aloud and see if it slides as you speak.
– Joseph Allen
Q: Why can’t healthcare professionals reuse N95 masks?
AN: In medical settings, a significant percentage of N95s failed a fit test after four or five “dressing” and “changing”. They no longer fully seal the face.
There is no universal guidance on best practices for disinfecting and reusing N95s. Some research supports the sterilization of N95s with bleach. The use of ozone has also been approved by the FDA for some reusable medical devices. But these tactics need more research to ensure security.
– Get Us PPE, a national organization founded by emergency doctors in response to the urgent shortage of PPE.
Q: I keep my mask in my car. All right?
AN: Yes, but if you have a cloth mask, you should wash the mask daily. Hang it after you finish using it, as the virus will decompose or become inactive over time. How long does it take? It is influenced by the temperature and humidity where it is stored – but over the course of a day, everything will be fine.
– Joseph Allen
Q: Are neck gaiters safe?
AN: Gaiters are popular because they are often made of light and breathable material and do not require ear loops; they are conveniently around your neck, like a scarf.
A single layer gaiter alone is not suitable. But when folded, it is highly effective in blocking a variety of particle sizes. In experiments by Professor Linsey Marr of Virginia Tech, a folded gaiter blocked more than 90% of the tested particle sizes.
– Linsey Marr, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Q: How should I clean my mask?
AN: Reusable masks should be washed regularly. Always remove the masks correctly and wash your hands after handling or touching a used mask.
Include your mask with your normal clothing. Use regular laundry detergent and the warmest water setting appropriate for the cloth used to make the mask. To dry, use the highest heat setting and leave in the dryer to dry completely.
– CDC
Q: If I get vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask?
AN: Yes. Although the mRNA Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines are more than 94% effective in ruling out symptomatic COVID-19, asymptomatic infection cannot be ruled out in any of the trials among vaccine recipients.
In addition, the duration of vaccine protection is not yet known and widespread vaccination to achieve population immunity – 60% to 70% – will take some time.
– Monica Ghandi
Q: How can masks be improved?
AN: So now we have masks with sufficient filtration – 95% or 94% filtration efficiency is excellent.
But we need masks that fit better, especially on the bridge around the cheek. There have been some efforts to develop “complements” that you would use on top of a mask to help improve the fit, but other innovations are needed.
Probably the most important from the consumer’s point of view, however, is standardization and labeling, to guide the user on what should be used and in what activities. This would increase confidence that a mask would meet a minimum performance requirement.
– Joseph Allen