Types of Masks and Their Effectiveness
By Space Coast Daily // February 24, 2021
Today there are many different types of masks that people wear as protection from the coronavirus. Some wear handmade cloth masks, others wear bandanas, while many use medical masks. It all depends on what choice people have, so they usually go with what is available to them.
Anyhow, the choice of masks is very wide and it has been proven that all face masks offer good first protection against viruses. However, not all masks have the same level of effectiveness. Which ones are the best? Which masks are the most effective? Read on for more information about that.
Types Of Faces Masks
Face masks can be divided into two main groups – medical and non-medical face masks. Medical masks include professional n95 masks and surgical masks. Non-medical masks include cloth masks, filtered masks, homemade masks, bandanas, and others.
Most masks show good results in containing droplets spread from speaking, sneezing, or coughing. However, that protection largely differs from one type of mask to another. Medical masks are offering a higher level of protection in comparison to non-medical masks.
Effectiveness Of Face Masks For COVID19 Protection
The most effective face masks in the battle against the coronavirus are the n95 face respirators. They offer the highest level of protection against COVID19 and other diseases. These masks are filtering 95% of the tiny particles in the air, which is the best of all types of masks.
These masks were first intended to be worn only by medical personnel. They were in a short supply, but nowadays anyone can have them. You can find plenty of n95 masks for sale today, so it is a good idea to have them for your protection. With n95 masks, you are protecting yourself and you are protecting others from your respiratory droplets.
Another type of mask for coronavirus protection is the disposable surgical mask. These are thin and flat masks that filter around 60-70% of the smaller air particles. Their main function is to stop droplets, splatters, and sprays. Many studies have shown that wearing surgical masks in closed spaces reduces the spread of different viruses.
However, the negative side of these is that they are intended to be worn just once. Many people wear them over and over again, which is not a good practice. Ideally, surgical masks should be disposed of immediately after wearing them.
Besides these masks, there are also cone-shaped masks, with or without filters. They are made to fit over people`s mouths and noses and can be secured tightly on the face. These masks are solid but less effective in comparison to n95 respirators and surgical masks.
Finally, cloth masks and bandanas are also used as protection from viruses. Cloth masks that have at least two or three layers of fabric offer solid protection and are good for daily use. These can also be washed and worn over and over again. However, standard cloth masks offer about 50% protection against viruses, while bandanas offer the lowest protection of all, about 30%.
