MASKS AND CORONAVIRUS

 In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, it has become common for people to wear masks in order to prevent contamination and further spread of the disease. It is therefore important to have certain information to serve as a guide on the selection and use of masks. 

TYPES OF MASK 

The common types are Surgical Masks and Cloth Masks.

Surgical Masks: Commonly used by health workers. It does not protect the wearer from inhaling air borne bacteria and viruses. It blocks only large particle droplets, splashes, splatter or sprays. It also reduces the exposure of the wearer’s saliva and respiratory secretions to others.

Surgical masks also remind the wearer not to touch their mouth and nose so as not to transfer virus/bacteria after having touched a contaminated surface.

Surgical masks should be discarded after single use because viruses/bacteria can grow and flourish inside the reused mask.

Surgical masks usually have N, R or P written over them. N means the mask is not oil proof, R means the mask is oil resistant and P means the mask is oil proof.

Cloth Masks: These may seem cheaper and more practicable to use because they can be reused after washing. However, they are less effective than surgical masks in terms of filtration efficiency. A cloth mask is a woven material, therefore pore size is bigger than that of a surgical mask which is made up of non-woven polypropylene material. Surgical masks are therefore recommended. 

RESPIRATORS

Respirators have a tighter seal than masks and usually, air passes only through its material after filtration.  As such, not all respirators are the same. They are graded according to their filtration efficiency, type of filter used, type of material used and additional features. 

In terms of filtration efficiency, they are usually graded as 95, 99 and 100 which mean the respirator is capable of trapping either 95%, 99% or 99.9% respectively, of particles even as small as 0.3 micron size.

WHO SHOULD WEAR A MASK?

It is advisable that we take all precautions to curtail the spread of coronavirus. Consequently;

Sick persons should wear the surgical mask to prevent spread of the disease.

A person taking care of sick persons should wear the surgical mask to prevent contracting the disease.

All health workers should use the surgical mask as they stand the risk of exposure to the respiratory secretions of infected patients.

Everyone should wear surgical masks while in public. 

Stay informed and stay safe!