The government and many businesses are making mask wearing mandatory; though, none of these masks totally keep 0ut viruses, and all leave the eyes exposed.

I was asked on Facebook to fact-check this picture chart showing how efficient face masks are. It turns out that cloth masks really don’t protect the wearer against viruses, like the chart shows. And most surgical masks and FFP1 masks aren’t effective in keeping viruses out, unlike what this chart shows.

A rule of thumb seems to be that masks that do the best job in keeping viruses out are hard to breath with, like the N95. One driver even passed out, crashing the car while wearing a N95 mask. And all leave eyes exposed.

I share what experts say below this picture chart.

From: NPR

Face Masks: What Doctors Say About Their Role In Containing Coronavirus

Cloth masks may do more harm than good:

MacIntyre notes that cloth masks — which people wash and reuse — are also common in Asian countries. She says there’s no evidence to show they have any benefit, and her research suggests they “may actually be harmful,” because infrequent washing and moisture retention can make cloth masks a breeding ground for pathogens.

Benefits from wearing surgical masks are “very, very meager”:

By contrast, surgical masks — those cheap, disposable, gauzy masks that often come in blue or green — are less uncomfortable. But Schaffner says the scientific evidence that “there might be a benefit for people in the community wearing [surgical] face masks is very, very meager.

Surgical masks are just a physical barrier that will protect you against “a visible splash or spray of fluid or large droplets,” explains Raina MacIntyre, an infectious disease researcher and professor of global biosecurity….

The masks that offer significant protection to people from viruses, like N95 make it hard to breathe:

This type [N95] of mask is “difficult to wear” because it’s uncomfortable, Schaffner says. Some people find it harder to breathe when wearing the N95. But “that’s the kind of protection that really works.”

From: BMJ Journals

A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers

Penetration of cloth masks by particles was almost 97% and medical masks 44%.

Conclusions: This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.

From: DW

Coronavirus: How well do face masks protect against viruses, droplets and dust?

Fearing coronaviruses, many people try to protect themselves with a surgical face mask. In many Chinese cities it is already compulsory to wear them. But do they really help stave off the virus?

Viruses also enter through the eyes, so even the most protective masks leave the eyes completely vulnerable:

Although the virus usually enters the body through the mouth or eyes — if there are no open wounds — the hands play the most important role in transporting the virus.

If you decide to wear a mask, you should probably also opt for protective goggles. The surgical masks, albeit less effective in keeping the viruses out, merely function as a constant reminder not to touch your nose with your hands when it itches. Neither should you rub your eyes.

From: PubMed

Do N95 respirators provide 95% protection level against airborne viruses, and how adequate are surgical masks?

METHODS:

The performance of 2 types of N95 half-mask, filtering face piece respirators and 2 types of surgical masks were determined. The collection efficiency of these respiratory protection devices was investigated using MS2 virus (a nonharmful simulant of several pathogens). The virions were detected in the particle size range of 10 to 80 nm.

RESULTS:

The results indicate that the penetration of virions through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified N95 respirators can exceed an expected level of 5%. As anticipated, the tested surgical masks showed a much higher particle penetration because they are known to be less efficient than the N95 respirators. The 2 surgical masks, which originated from the same manufacturer, showed tremendously different penetration levels of the MS2 virions: 20.5% and 84.5%, respectively, at an inhalation flow rate of 85 L/min.

CONCLUSION:

The N95 filtering face piece respirators may not provide the expected protection level against small virions. Some surgical masks may let a significant fraction of airborne viruses penetrate through their filters, providing very low protection against aerosolized infectious agents in the size range of 10 to 80 nm. It should be noted that the surgical masks are primarily designed to protect the environment from the wearer, whereas the respirators are supposed to protect the wearer from the environment.

From: Daily Mail

Which masks can REALLY keep you safe against the rapid spread of coronavirus? Our experts give you the lowdown on the best… and the rest

From: Medical Expo

Three-ply surgical mask

Expert verdict: ‘These masks will provide some protection, as they will block liquid droplets and limit their travel,’ says Dr Mohammed.

‘However, they do not block smaller particles that can pass through the material.

‘They also leave the eyes exposed, and there is evidence that some respiratory viruses — such as flu — can infect people through their eyes.’

They must also be changed often, she says, as they draw in moisture and debris, so effectively become useless.

‘In the Far East, these types of masks are used as a courtesy to stop you spreading your cold, but they won’t do much to protect you from catching other people’s germs,’ adds Nick Moore. ‘If you’re trying to avoid coronavirus you might as well save your cash.’

Safety rating for you: 1/5

For others: 2/5
______________

Rigid dust and mist mask [FFP1] not designed for viruses:

Expert verdict: ‘This offers only FFP1 protection to filter non-toxic particles,’ says Nick Moore. ‘It offers more protection than a surgical mask, but is not designed for anything toxic, and certainly not a virus.

‘This has no valve, so would help contain coughs and sneezes and stop them spreading so far. It would help keep the virus within the mask, but it wouldn’t be contained completely.’

Safety rating for you: 1/5

For others: 2/5

From: Medical Expo

Surgical Masks, Respirators, Barrier Masks: Which Masks Actually Protect Against Coronavirus?

FFP1 masks are ineffective. FFP2 and FFP3 offer more protection. This doesn’t mention specifically how much they filter viruses, but gives these percentages for fine particles:

FFP1 refers to the least filtering of the three masks with an aerosol filtration of at least 80% and leakage to the inside of maximum 22%. This mask is mainly used as a dust mask (home renovations and various types of work).

FFP2 masks have a minimum of 94% filtration percentage and maximum 8% leakage to the inside. They are mainly used in construction, agriculture, and by healthcare professionals against influenza viruses. They are currently used for protection against the coronavirus.

FFP3 masks are the most filtering mask of the FFPs. With a minimum filtration percentage of 99% and maximum 2% leakage to the inside, they protect against very fine particles such as asbestos.