examination of the different types of chin straps

Europeans use all types of jugular. Surgical, in fabric without filter, in fabric with filter, washable, non-washable, washable but it is clear from the stains that they do not wash, paper, leather and even plastic. White, blue, black, with rainbow, with designs, with flags, with the AC Milan or FC Barcelona crest. The Spanish far right received the emblem of the Civil Guard. Many Catalan nationalists wear a red bow in remembrance of their former president, Carles Puigdemont, who can only be seen wearing black fabric chin straps. In Germany, right-wing extremists are starting to use those that are written: “Merkel’s burqa”.

The chinstrap market It’s a world. And some governments have grown tired because they consider that many not to respect minimum safety standards and because they fear that are not effective against new variants of the coronavirus, the British, Brazilians, South Africans or those that are emerging.

The Austrian government has taken the first step. From this Monday he made use of FFP2 chinstrap for everyone over 14 years Whenever you use public transportation, enter any health facility or any supermarket or store.

These will practically be the masks that are used in closed places. In a country that has seen controversial measures (closing schools while ski slopes were open), the new chin straps seem to have been adapted sin addition to problems.

The FFP2 mask is the sister of what is sold in Argentina as the N95 mask, technically considered respirators. They are named for their ability to filter 95% particles in the environment.

Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz’s executive took action to make them affordable. All stores must sell them for a maximum of 59 cents euros, about 72 cents at the current exchange rate.

On the open market, the price varies between two and five euros. Experts explain that these chin straps filter up to 94% of particles. It is permissible to skip the obligation towards pregnant women and those who, for medical reasons, can claim that these chinstrap make it difficult for them to breathe.

“All protection is good”

Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober said that “all protection of the mouth and nose is good, but the FFP2 mask is extremely superior“.

The most common chinstrap, those of cotton or other type of textile fiber, They protect the person in front of us because they prevent us from spreading particles but not inhaling them. FFP2 works the other way around, which makes it difficult for you to infect us, but allows us to infect others more easily. The idea is that if everyone uses them there will be less contamination.

The debate on the introduction of the obligation to wear FFP2 chin straps heated up after the approval in Austria. The German and French governments have indicated for weeks that they could adopt the same measure and introduce the obligation of these jugulars, which are also called “selfish” because they prevent a person from catching the virus but not passing it on to others.

In Germany, there is debate at the national level but only the lander from southern Bavaria, on the border of Austria and one of the largest in Germany, has made this chin strap compulsory.

Also in France, the government of President Emmanuel Macron is studying its compulsory nature in closed spaces. With the same argument as Austria: stop the most contagious variants.

In France, you can opt for FFP1, a model which protects a little less in principle but which is easier to produce and less expensive. FFP2 and FFP1 can be used several times before being discarded but they cannot be washed. It is also not appropriate to use them during more than 75 minutes monitoring.

The arrival of Joe Biden required the use of a chin strap. But there is no specification on which type to use.

Health workers use the safest, but the recommendation for people is to use anyone who covers their mouth. They wear bandanas, fabric, home made, whatever.

The most prudent use per se the celestial disposable which is used in hospitals which are sold without problem in any pharmacy. But a few days ago, Dr Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top adviser, said it was best to use a multi-layered chin strap of fabric because it protects better.

The use of the chinstrap in the USA has become a political question or partisan. Inside the country, in a territory where there are many supporters of Donald Trump, they refuse to use it because they see it as a sign of weakness, limitation of freedom and state intervention. Since many Trump supporters deny or downplay the disease (as the former president did at first), they are reluctant to use it.

To dispel doubts about what to use or not, in August 2020, a study analyzed 14 types of face masks according to the type of protection they offer.

The research was conducted by Duke University, United States.

Washington correspondent Paula Lugones contributed to this report