Your mask needs these three layers to fully protect you, study finds

As the pandemic progressed, one thing became increasingly clear: Face masks help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Scientists were also able to study the different types of masks available to gain a solid understanding of the best types to use to ensure the safety of the public – and even the person wearing the face mask. Now a new study has added to the growing evidence that your mask does not fully protect you if it does not have at least three layers of fabric. Read on for the details and for more mask advice. do not To use it, check if your face mask has one, stop using it immediately.

Researchers at Virginia Tech University tested 11 different types of face masks, including nine fabric masks made from materials such as coffee filters, a cotton t-shirt and other fabrics, and a face shield. and a surgical mask, Yahoo! The news. And there was a clear winner.

“We now recommend, based on this study, that people use a three-layer mask,” Linsey Marr, PhD, a leading aerosol scientist at Virginia Tech and co-author of the study, said at a press conference Nov. 23. Specifically, Marr recommends a mask in which “the two outer layers are a tightly woven but flexible material that allows the mask to conform to your face,” with a vacuum bagged layer or filter material in the middle. If so, your facial covering could allow filtration as high as 90%, according to the researchers.

The results confirm a study published in the journal Science Advances in September at Duke University. For this report, the researchers tested the ability of 14 different masks to block respiratory droplets, and found that aside from N95s, a three-layer surgical mask allowed the smallest number of droplets to pass through its barrier. And the third was a three-layer mask with polypropylene acting as a filter between two layers of cotton.

Read on to learn more about how your mask performed in the study, and to learn more about what other health officials have to say about PPE, check out The Only Reason Why Dr. Fauci does not approve of a national mask mandate.

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To determine the results, scientists used a mannequin face attached to a nebulizer to simulate the exhalation and the conversation in front of another face which inspires to test different masks, including those made from bandanas, vacuum bags, coffee filters and HVAC filters.

The researchers found that while the three-layer materials were clearly superior, Marr added that a fabric with a “good, tight weave” might also make some two-layer masks workable. And for more on how to protect yourself, see Don’t spend more than this time at the grocery store, Doctor warns.

The Virginia Tech scientists who conducted the experiment were quick to point out that, unlike researchers at Duke, they did not include medical-grade N95 masks – which are named for their ability to trap at least 95 % of particles – because “for practical reasons, running the general public in N95s is a challenge due to the shortage,” explained Marr.

But the most useful finding from experience is that even a homemade DIY solution can be of great benefit to those who choose to make their own mask. “It’s not something I would ask a healthcare worker to wear in high-risk situations,” Marr said. “They need the best protection we can get. But since it’s impossible for everyone in the general public to be walking around with an N95, I think homemade face masks are really helpful.” And to learn more about what works best, check out the materials you need to create the perfect face mask.

With the study, Marr and his team set out to determine whether the masks were beneficial beyond stopping the spread of the virus. By testing the effectiveness of different types of masks, they also discovered what could provide another level of protection.

“Filtration works both ways,” Marr said. “If it works for source control, it will work pretty well for exposure reduction to protect the wearer as well,” meaning any mask effective enough to prevent particles from being exhaled into the air will also be good enough to prevent them from being inhaled. And for more up to date information on COVID, sign up for our daily newsletter.

Still, researchers were quick to add that masks aren’t the only thing that will end the pandemic. Following other public health guidelines can also play an important role in keeping everyone safe.

“No study alone will tell you the whole story,” Marr said. “And no intervention – masking, social distancing, hand washing, indoor ventilation – will alone stop the spread of COVID-19. The mask is one of the many interventions that we have to combine. And for more on coronavirus guidelines, check out The CDC is now warning you not to go to this location.