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We have come to accept cloth masks as part of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that researchers have identified a few variants of the coronavirus that seem to spread even more easily than the original, is it time for us to swap our cloth masks for more effective ones?
Germany, Austria and France are all considering national recommendations to do just that, and just as President Biden officially enacted his first federal mask term, some experts believe the United States should do the same. “More infectious strains require better defenses. Not more of the same, better of the same,” said Tom Frieden, MD, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twitter, specifically mentioning “better masks. Surgical, N95, subject to availability.”
To be clear, cloth masks aren’t totally unnecessary. In fact, we know mask warrants are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 even when the majority of people are likely wearing cloth masks. But the truth is, experts have known for some time that even multi-layered fabric masks are not the most effective masks at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“I agree with Europe. Wearing medical grade masks will be important in slowing the spread of the B.1.1.7 strain, Atul Gawande, MD, MPH and member of President Biden’s COVID-19 advisory committee wrote on Twitter “We have consistent evidence that single-layer fabric masks are not as effective as surgical masks, and N95 or KN95 masks are even better.” (The N95 and KN95 masks are both respirators that form a seal with the skin. While N95 is regulated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the United States, KN95 is regulated by authorities. Chinese and imported to the United States, explains the CDC.)
In a study, published in August 2020, researchers tested 14 common types of face masks in a lab to see how many particles from a person’s mouth the masks would let through. Their results showed that, unsurprisingly, N95 masks and surgical masks were the most effective at preventing particles from escaping. After these masks, three-layer cloth masks were the most effective, followed by a few different types of two-layer cloth masks.
This research highlights the fact that there are many variations in sheet masks and more layers are much more effective. It is also important to remember that wearing a mask is also very important. But this study also brings out the message that if we want maximum protection, surgical masks and N95s are the way to go.
Even though we have known that surgical masks and N95s have been more effective for some time, the CDC still advises that the use of these masks be restricted to healthcare workers during the pandemic due to concerns about the supply shortage. . But now that we’re a year away from a pandemic and facing new variants of the coronavirus, experts say it’s worth re-examining our national approach to mask use – and if the supply issues are really to blame, they should have been resolved by now.
“To provide people with better protection against contagious variants of Covid, especially Americans at higher risk due to age or disabilities, we should try to provide them with better quality masks. One year after the start of the crisis, we should be able to find them for more people ”. Scott Gottlieb, MD, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, wrote on Twitter.
“Every American should have received N95 masks months ago,” wrote Seema Yasmin, MD, director of research and education at the Stanford Health Communication Initiative. on Twitter. “The cloth masks should have been an interim measure.”
One thing that may help is that Biden intends to use the Defense Production Act to direct US companies to speed up production of protective gear (including N95 masks), laboratory equipment, and vaccine supplies. Biden also recently detailed a $ 1.9 trillion fundraising plan, which includes billions of dollars for masks and other supplies.
“Get #BetterMasks in this country,” Abraar Karan, MD, an internal medicine doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School wrote on Twitter, addressing the new administration. As we continue to adapt our strategy to new variants of COVID-19, one of our important supportive measures will be masks, he said. “We have to make sure we are getting the best products possible. It is our health. There should be no compromise here!”
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