How effective is your mask? Check here

Be it summer or winter, masks have become an essential part of our daily dressing. While many people have sworn by masks, some still refuse to follow the basic precautionary measure against COVID-19.

Thus, assuming a scenario where a masked person was exposed to an infected person who didn’t wear a mask, scientists have conducted a study on the protectiveness of different kinds of consumer-grade and modified masks, here is what they found.

Some masks were 79 per cent effective at blocking particles that could carry the virus. According to the study, these were two layers of woven nylon and snug fit mask.

While, unmodified surgical mask with ear loops – offered 38.5 per cent filtration, but when the ear loops were tied to tighten the fit, the efficacy improved to 60.3%. Further, when a layer of nylon was added, these masks offered 80 per cent protection from the virus.

The study has been published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, the public use of commercial, home-made, and improvised masks started. These vary in design, material, and construction. There have been few evaluations of the efficiency of these face coverings or mask enhancements at filtering airborne particles.

According to reports, here are the different mask types with filtration efficacy.

Consumer-grade facemasks:

– 2-layer woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/o aluminum nose bridge: 44.7 per cent

– 2-layer woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/ aluminum nose bridge: 56.7 per cent

– 2-layer woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/ nose bridge, 1 non-woven insert: 74.4 per cent

– 2-later woven nylon mask, ear loops, w/ nose bridge, washed, no insert: 79 per cent

– Cotton bandana – folded Surgeon General style: 50 per cent

– Cotton bandana – folded “Bandit” style: 49 per cent

– Single-layer woven polyester gaiter/neck cover (balaclava bandana): 37.8 per cent

– Single-layer woven polyester/nylon mask with ties: 39.7 per cent

– Non-woven polypropylene mask with fixed ear loops: 28.6 per cent

– Three-layer woven cotton mask with ear loops: 26.5 per cent

– Medical facemasks and modifications:

– 3M 9210 NIOSH-approved N95 Respirator: 98 per cent

– Surgical mask with ties: 71.4 per cent

– Procedure mask with ear loops: 38.5 per cent

– Procedure mask with ear loops + “loops tied and corners tucked in”: 60.3 per cent

– Procedure mask with ear loops + “Ear Guard”: 61.7 per cent

– Procedure mask with ear loops + “23mm claw hair clip”: 64.8 per cent

– Procedure mask with ear loops + “Fix-the Mask (3 rubber bands)”: 78.2 per cent

– Procedure mask with ear loops + “nylon hosiery sleeve”: 80.2 per cent