Cloth masks can prevent the spread of COVID-19 by blocking up to 99 per cent of infectious particles, according to scientists who analysed a century of mask studies.
Canadian researchers report that cloth masks, particularly those with several layers of cotton, block viruses carried via microscopic particles in the air.
Cloth layers reduce infectious particles, emitted by the wearer through coughs and sneezes, from travelling through the air and settling on surfaces, they say.
Although no direct evidence indicates cloth masks reduce transmission of the virus itself, 'convincing' evidence suggests they reduce contamination of air and surfaces.
An employee works on sewing the 2 tissue layers (cotton and polyester) of the face masks on April 30, 2020 in Annecy, France
Some combinations of cloth, such as cotton-flannel, block more than 90 per cent of particles, they report, while a three-layer mask can reduced airborne transmission of microorganisms and surface contamination by up to 99 per cent.
While the researchers don't guarantee cotton masks will prevent the wearer from becoming infected by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the new report helps clarify their efficiency when it comes to blocking infectious particles.
The Centers for Disease Control and tour quảng châu Prevention, the US public health institute, advocates the use of cloth masks in a public space, although there is no substitute for clinically-approved masks in a hospital.
'Direct evidence about whether wearing a mask of any sort outside a health-care setting reduces actual transmission of COVID-19 is lacking,' said first author Catherine Clase, associate professor of medicine at McMaster University in Canada.
'This is why public-health decisions about public mask wearing have been difficult to make, and why they differ around the world.
'Our review suggests that cloth can block particles, tour quảng châu từ hà nội even aerosol-sized particles, and this supports Canadian public health policy on the issue.'
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A worker tries on a boiler suit and face mask made at a garment factory in Russia last month
Canadian researchers report that cloth masks, particularly those with several layers of cotton, block viruses carried via microscopic particles in the air.
Cloth layers reduce infectious particles, emitted by the wearer through coughs and sneezes, from travelling through the air and settling on surfaces, they say.
Although no direct evidence indicates cloth masks reduce transmission of the virus itself, 'convincing' evidence suggests they reduce contamination of air and surfaces.
An employee works on sewing the 2 tissue layers (cotton and polyester) of the face masks on April 30, 2020 in Annecy, France
Some combinations of cloth, such as cotton-flannel, block more than 90 per cent of particles, they report, while a three-layer mask can reduced airborne transmission of microorganisms and surface contamination by up to 99 per cent.
While the researchers don't guarantee cotton masks will prevent the wearer from becoming infected by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the new report helps clarify their efficiency when it comes to blocking infectious particles.
The Centers for Disease Control and tour quảng châu Prevention, the US public health institute, advocates the use of cloth masks in a public space, although there is no substitute for clinically-approved masks in a hospital.
'Direct evidence about whether wearing a mask of any sort outside a health-care setting reduces actual transmission of COVID-19 is lacking,' said first author Catherine Clase, associate professor of medicine at McMaster University in Canada.
'This is why public-health decisions about public mask wearing have been difficult to make, and why they differ around the world.
'Our review suggests that cloth can block particles, tour quảng châu từ hà nội even aerosol-sized particles, and this supports Canadian public health policy on the issue.'
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
1
Next
Apple releases iOS 13.5 software update featuring support... Homemade masks CAN reduce the spread of coronavirus: Video... Researchers are harvesting people's protective mask selfies... Would you wear this on the subway? Spaceman-style helmet...
Share this article
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1.1k shares
A worker tries on a boiler suit and face mask made at a garment factory in Russia last month
