EarthSmiles.net - Stories - Unmasking Face Masks

WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WASN’T NECESSARY TO WEAR A FACE MASK, THAT ONLY CAREGIVERS AND ACTUAL COVID19 PATIENTS NEEDED WEAR ONE.

There was a reason behind these instructions mentioned above – they were designed to stop the panic buying of facemasks, of which there were precious few available. Public consumption would have diverted the lifesaving pieces of fabricated non-woven material away from those who needed them the most… the caregivers and first responders.

To wear or not to wear – that’s not a question
Today, with manufacture of the masks stepped up and medical personal having access to full body Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) fear of mask shortage is no longer there. It is also elementary that a face covering which can prevent the virus – or droplets carrying it – from entering your mouth or nose can be the difference between infection and safety. Therefore, starting with the USA’s CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) the authorities of most countries are now asking people to wear a mask / face covering. In fact most are insisting, and penalising those without one outdoors.

So now that we’re adopting them, we have to assume they are going to be around a long time. Lockdowns may end, but the immediate danger of COVID19 will still remain, until most people have immunity or a vaccine becomes widely available – something not expected until the beginning of 2021. Without a lockdown, more people will be on the street, in transport, or other public places and a mask is going to be your most crucial accessory when you step into this post-lockdown scenario.

To wear or not to wear – that’s not a question
Today, with manufacture of the masks stepped up and medical personal having access to full body Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) fear of mask shortage is no longer there. It is also elementary that a face covering which can prevent the virus – or droplets carrying it – from entering your mouth or nose can be the difference between infection and safety. Therefore, starting with the USA’s CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) the authorities of many countries are now asking people to wear a mask / face covering. In fact most are insisting, and penalising those without one outdoors.

So now that we’re adopting them, we have to assume they are going to be around a long time. Lockdowns may end, but the immediate danger of COVID19 will still remain, until most people have immunity, or a vaccine becomes widely available – something not expected until the beginning of 2021. Without a lockdown, more people will be on the street, in transport, or other public places and a mask is going to be your most crucial accessory when you step into this post-lockdown scenario.

What mask does the trick?
COVID19 is a very small particle – just about a micron high, or around a tenth of a typical human cell. The best type of protection (only when professionally fit-tested) is N95 masks, for their ability to keep near 99% of the viral particles out. Next are simple surgical masks, which theoretically can keep out almost as much particles – but in reality due to their bad seal around the face, can let particles in from the sides. Unfortunately, you will be hard pressed to find these two types of masks, as they are bypassing stores and going directly to medical institutions for use of medical first-responders, and as part of PPE kits. N95s are manufactured exclusively by 3M® so the many lookalikes and fakes are just not built equal… in fact most we encountered suffered from poor design and seal, leaving the wearer vulnerable.

The other contenders... so many
First, avoid those masks with a net backing and an elastic band that goes around your ear, which most pharmacies are selling. These made in China synthetic cloth strips would never be used in Wuhan for sure! The fabric is single layer, and very porous, and the softer mesh on the rear even more so. Micro droplets as aerosols indoors containing the virus, or a sneeze in your direction, and the particles would travel right through. If you cannot get a N95, the next best thing after a surgical mask (with a good fit) is a cloth mask and these are available in many shapes and designs (trendy!), and you can even make yourself a DIY one! There are many patterns for DIY cloth masks online as well as a simple and effective one from the CDC. When picking such a mask (technically called a “face covering) go with ones made of pure cotton, with at least two layers of material, which fit comfortably around the chin and nose with no or negligible gaps around. This will provide basic protection and also prevent you from touching your nose and mouth – one of the easiest ways to get the disease. If the mask has a pocket for a filter of some kind – even coffee filter – that will bring up the protection from the standard cotton masks 40-50% to as high as 70-80%. Remember to keep the mask breathable though – if air doesn’t pass through the material – it will be forced to travel via the edges of the mask – potentially rendering the covering ineffective. Opt for masks that tie behind the head rather than have little loops going around the ears. The latter can be uncomfortable, prompting you to touch/remove the mask due to the irritant.

There you have it. Hope you have enough information to choose a good mask for yourself – it’s a vitally important decision. In real terms any face covering, even a bandana or muffler around the head is better than nothing, but ramping up your protection is the best bet to stay safe.

EarthSmiles.net has also developed a mask based on CDC specifications, which incorporates a low cost filer material available in most homes. Read about it here.