Stitched masks with two layers work the best, and a simple bandana, the worst.
As places open up around the world but the virus is still with us, wearing a mask is becoming highly advised and mandatory in many areas. A second wave of coronavirus is feared in many places, and numbers of infected people simply are not coming down in some others. It’s a dangerous situation. Disposable masks are popular, but they can add up in price, and they can also result in more garbage to throw away. Cloth face masks are now available in various colors, shapes, designs and sizes. What will protect people the most?
First, generally speaking, when you wear a mask it is intended to protect others from you. It is true. Yes, that may sound like too much altruism, but masks mainly protect other people from being exposed to infections you may exhale and accidentally spit while you are talking, coughing and/or sneezing. Remember, you may be infected and not know it. A face visor, on the other hand, is made to protect you but not others. It does this by shielding your eyes, nose and mouth from anything someone else may be expelling.
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Which type of mask is going to give you a bit of protection from others, and do a good job of protecting others from taking in any viral infection you may have? A study done at Florida Atlantic University examined four different types of masks. These included a commercial cone mask, a folded handkerchief, a bandana, and a stitched mask with two layers of fabric.
Here’s what they found. A stitched mask with two layers of fabric performed the best. People who wore these spread their droplets just 2.5 inches. Next in line was a cone-style mask. Droplets traveled around 8 inches when wearing one of these. In third was a folded handkerchief which allowed droplets to travel up to 1 foot and 3 inches. Last in line was a bandana. This allowed droplets to travel about 3 feet from the person. It is worth noting that without any type of face covering, droplets from people who were speaking, sneezing or coughing were found to travel up to 8 feet, which is a considerable distance.
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At the time of this writing, at least 15 states are requiring residents to wear a mask when out in public. Each state has slightly different rules. In Maine, for example, anyone under the age of 2 must wear a mask in public indoor spaces like supermarkets and doctors’ offices. In Kentucky, all state residents must wear a face mask in public. Those who do not comply will not be fined or arrested, but the order it gives stores and other businesses the right to turn a customer away if they have no mask on.
Some surveys say that as many as 90% of Americans say they are now wearing a mask when going out. Interestingly, surveys also found that as many as 56% of Americans feel the economy is opening too quickly. Let’s see what the rest of the summer brings.
photo credits: Michal Urbanek/Shutterstock.com
