Which is best face mask for virus protection

Latest findings from a study conducted by the international medical journal The Lancet have shown that the Sars-Cov-2 or the novel coronavirus is predominantly an airborne disease and hence the disease particles can be suspended in the air.

This has caused a lot of worry as earlier there was a huge emphasis on surface sanitization – which is hardly responsible for the transmission of COVID-19.

Best face mask for virus protection

Addressing peoples questions, Dr Faheem Younus, MD and the Chief of Infectious Diseases took to his Twitter on Saturday (April 17) and in a series of tweets, explained what the Lancet study means and which mask you should wear to protect yourself against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Younus shared an image which dispelled how minuscule exactly are the chances of a person catching COVID-19  from a surface that was exposed to a COVID positive person.  “1 in 10,000 The risk of contracting the coronavirus from touching a contaminated surface.”

The best protection is achieved by ensuring that any mask you wear has the following characteristics:

• It is worn consistently and appropriately. A mask that is frequently pulled down to breathe or talk, or is worn under the nose, is not effective.
• The mask conforms to your face without gaps — it is important that most of the air you breathe in and out flows through the mask rather than around the mask through gaps at the sides, top or bottom.
• It is made from several layers of tightly woven fabric in order to be an effective filter.
• The mask has a flexible nose bridge to conform to the face and prevent fogging of eyeglasses.
• It stays in place during talking and moving, so it can be worn without slipping and so it does not require you to touch it frequently.
• The mask is comfortable enough to wear without adjusting it for the amount of time you need to keep it on.

These features are more important than the number of masks worn at any one time. Wearing multiple masks can, in fact, cause a problem if it makes you hot or uncomfortable, leads to difficulty breathing, or causes one or both of the masks to move around and require adjustment.

Always wear a mask when you are in public or with others who are not part of your immediate household. Continue to wear a mask around others, practice physical distancing, regular hand hygiene, and avoid indoor gatherings, even if you are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19.  These infection prevention precautions are more important than ever as we race to stop viral transmission and get everyone vaccinated before more variants of the virus emerge and threaten the progress we have made.

What type of face mask should I buy?

Look for a mask made with at least two layers of fabric. It should cover your nose and mouth without large gaps. The mask should have ear loops or ties so you can adjust it. For people who wear glasses, look for a mask with a bendable border at the top so you can mold the mask to fit the bridge of your nose and prevent your glasses from fogging. Professional masks should be reserved for health care workers caring for patients on the front lines.

Can I make my own cloth mask?

Yes. Johns Hopkins Medicine offers directions for making a homemade adult mask and a child-size mask for use in non-patient-care settings. Masks can be made out of cotton or linen fabric. Cloth masks can and should be washed daily.

What items in my closet can I use to create a face mask?

• Thick, densely woven cotton fabrics are best, such as quilting cotton or cotton sheets.
• Stretchy knits aren’t ideal. Hold the fabric up to the light — the fewer tiny holes you can see, the better it will work to filter your droplets.
• Overall, making a good mask involves finding a balance. You want fabric that doesn’t allow droplets to pass through, while ensuring you can breathe properly with your mask in place.