French health honchos urge citizens to say goodbye to cotton masks, because they are simply not effective enough against new, potentially more contagious variants of COVID-19.
Instead, the French advisory board recommended wearing disposable surgical masks. The experts here agree – and tell The Post that it’s an important time to consider updating your mask choice.
A mutation in the virus, called 20C-US, is believed to be responsible for up to 50% of all cases in the US – hitting the hardest in the Midwest, researchers said earlier this month. The findings come a day after scientists at Ohio State University said they had discovered a different strain of COVID-19 virus – which carries a mutation similar to the UK strain.
“As we progress through this pandemic, we realize that no, not all masks are the same,” said Dr. Martin Cohen, assistant president and professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Washington. . In the spring, he performed crude aerosol experiments on masked materials to find suitable replacements in the absence of personal protective equipment (PPE).
So which ones are the best? Here’s a look at the masks being maintained in 2021 as scientists learn more about the increasingly mutant virus.
N95s
“The gold standard is obviously the N95 masks, regardless of the COVID strain,” said Dr. Rajesh Mohan, a New Jersey cardiologist and author of COVIDslayers: How We Can Win! and what was really wrong? The experiences of a leading physician on the front line. ”
It has also been found to be the best mask in a comprehensive review of masks by Duke University researchers over the summer.
This was the most effective of the logarithmic group of the study.
Surgical masks
Those disposable surgical masks are also in good condition and much more comfortable than face-up N95s.
“The next best thing is surgical masks,” Mohan said. “If people wore them, there would be a 70% decrease in infection.”
Duke researchers also found that it is the second most effective variety, ranging from 0 to 0.1 in terms of particles scattered from speech while wearing one.
KN95s or KF94s
Aaron Collins, a mechanical engineer from Minnesota who wrote his master’s thesis on aerosol science and calls himself a “citizen scientist,” is reviewing masks on his August YouTube channel.
Collins turned his bathroom into a makeshift laboratory, using an aerosol generator to pump small particles of salt and water. A condenser particle counter counts how many particles are in the air and how many are in the mask that Collins is currently testing. He compares the number of particles inside the mask with the number outside it, which helps him determine its effectiveness.
His best bets, he discovered after his research, are protective masks such as KF94s, KN95s or N95s.
“N95s are obviously the best because they seal the face, but the downside is that they are fixed with a headband that can destroy your scalp.” In his research, he found that KF94 masks have a protection between 90 and 99%, while KN95 masks also have good performance, but have more quality variations.
He advises not to buy masks on eBay or Amazon, as there are bootleg versions floating around.
“The market is still a problem. Scammers still have a massive amount of inventory. ”
Instead, he suggests buying from two companies: the New Jersey importer, Be Healthy USA and Bona Fide Masks.
Double masks
As early as November, when New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick wore two masks after his defender Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19, questions arose as to whether doubling was the best course of action.
“If your first line of protection isn’t significant, like a scarf, you can put on another coat,” Mohan said. Other researchers support this sentiment, saying that a cloth mask and a surgical mask make an effective pair.
“Obviously, the more layers of fiber you have between one person’s mouth and the other, the lower the risk of spreading the infection. But it could diminish the benefits in terms of ability to breathe, ”said Mohan. “The idea is that it should fit perfectly without making you feel uncomfortable.”