The Covid-19 pandemic which kicked off early this year has caused a lot of confusion about proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the average person, particularly with face masks. With contradictory information appearing everywhere and constant updates to what we know, it can be a challenge to stay up to date on whether or not wearing a mask is necessary, and which kind of mask should be used. The primary transmission of Covid-19 believed to be inhalation of respiratory droplets and close contact (1) lets take a look at the different kinds of masks and the protection they give against Covid-19, with the most up to date information available to us.
Cloth / Home-made Masks
Cloth or home-made masks provide the least protection of the bunch, however, they are able to be made at home, and are also washable/reusable (2). This makes cloth face masks a simple choice for most of the population as they are easy to acquire. These masks are intended to catch larger droplets which are dispersed when coughing, speaking and sneezing and are most effective when used widely by the public (3). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) point out in their report, “Effectiveness of Cloth Masks for Protection Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2,” that cloth masks may be useful in two ways. The first, being used by already sick people to prevent the spread of the virus as easily, known as source control, and the second is the use of cloth masks by already healthy people to protect them from acquiring the virus (4). Although the same report by the CDC says that, “The general public should be educated about mask use because cloth masks may give users a false sense of protection because of their limited protection against acquiring infection” (5). In the case of cloth masks, the best bet is to continue practicing social distancing and proper hand sanitation methods, with the cloth mask as added protection as the cloth masks do not have solid enough science behind them just yet (6).
Surgical / Medical masks
Surgical or medical masks are a good step up from cloth masks and are used by medical personnel and the like. Buying up large quantities of these masks is to be avoided, in an attempt to not run stocks low for the people who are most at risk on a daily basis. These masks are disposable, and are made to protect the wearers mouth and nose from droplets and splashes of germs, they also prevent the wearer from inhaling larger particles caught in the air, and may protect others by reducing exposure to the wearers saliva etc. Although better than their cloth counterparts the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved medical or surgical masks for protection specifically against Covid-19. (7)
N95 Respirators
The N95 respirator is the top pick of the three for protection from germs and Covid-19, and should generally again be left for those most at risk such as healthcare workers. Rather than just protecting the wearer from infected droplet splashes as the previous two masks do, the N95 respirator filters out at least 95% of large and small airborne particles and “protects from exposure to biological aerosols including viruses and bacteria” so long as the fit to the face is perfect(8)(9). Despite the impressive numbers, it does not completely eliminate the risk of becoming sick (10) and proper hand washing and sanitation is still required, along with proper mask care.
It seems that the use of masks and respirators could be important. In particular to healthcare workers and people on the front lines, leaving the N95 respirators for such people seems to be a priority. The average person can look into this and decide whether or not any of these masks are appropriate for their environment and make fact based decisions from that. However, just as important (even while wearing masks or respirators) is the proper washing of hands and social distancing still coming into play.
-Trent Naz
(1) Chughtai AA, Seale H, Macintyre CR. Effectiveness of cloth masks for protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Oct [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2610.200948 DOI: 10.3201/eid2610.200948, Original Publication Date: July 22, 2020.
(2) safetyandquality.gov.au. 2020. Covid-19 And Face Masks. [online] Available at: <https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-07/covid-19_and_face_masks_-_information_for_consumers.pdf> [Accessed 23 August 2020].
(3) Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020. Can Face Masks Protect Against The Coronavirus?. [online] Mayo Clinic. Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449> [Accessed 23 August 2020].
(4 / 5) Chughtai AA, Seale H, Macintyre CR. Effectiveness of cloth masks for protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Oct [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2610.200948 DOI: 10.3201/eid2610.200948, Original Publication Date: July 22, 2020.
(6) World Health Organization. (2020). Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 5 June 2020. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/332293. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO — Page 6.
(7) Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020. Can Face Masks Protect Against The Coronavirus?. [online] Mayo Clinic. Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449> [Accessed 23 August 2020].
(8) Wahl, M., 2020. What Does The N95 Stand For In N95 Masks?. [online] Reader’s Digest. Available at: <https://www.rd.com/article/what-does-the-n95-stand-for-in-n95-masks/> [Accessed 23 August 2020].
(9) Ccohs.ca Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. 2020. Respirators — Respirators Versus Surgical Masks : OSH Answers. [online] Available at: <https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/surgical_mask.html> [Accessed 23 August 2020].
(10) Gillespie, C., 2020. Gwyneth Paltrow And Kate Hudson Are Wearing Face Masks To Protect Against Coronavirus — But Do You Really Need One?. [online] Health.com. Available at: <https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/n95-respirator-mask-coronavirus> [Accessed 23 August 2020].
