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Coronavirus could be ‘eradicated’ if 70% of people wear surgical masks or N95 in public, but cloth masks may not be enough to end the pandemic, study says.
- The researchers looked at three types of face masks: N95, surgical masks, and fabric masks
- They found that N95s were best for filtering out aerosol-sized droplets, which can remain suspended in the air for extended periods of time.
- Although cloth masks are less effective, using a combination of fabrics instead of one type allows for better filtration and heat escape
- The team determined that the pandemic could be curbed if 70% of people wore face masks because the reproduction rate would drop below 1.0.
The coronavirus pandemic could be curbed if at least 70% of the public wore masks, a new study suggests.
The researchers looked at the physics of difference face linings, including their material and design.
They found that the three most common types of face masks – N95, surgical masks, and face masks – help reduce reproduction rates (Rt), meaning fewer people get infected due to social distance.
However, the team also found that only N95s were the most effective at filtering out tiny infectious particles that can hang in the air for long periods and burrow deep into the lungs.
A new study found N95s were best for filtering aerosol-sized droplets, which can remain suspended in the air for extended periods of time.
For the study, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, the team looked at research on face masks and how they filter or block the virus.
They analyzed how masks protect against droplets of fluid that are expelled when a person coughs, sneezes, sings, or even breathes.
The largest droplets, ranging from five to 10 microns, about seven times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, are the most common.
However, the smaller droplets are perhaps more dangerous because they can aerosol and remain suspended in the air for long periods of time.
Among the three types of mask studies – N95, surgical masks, fabric masks – only N95 was found to filter aerosol-sized droplets.
Researchers found that masks made from hybrid polymer materials can filter out particles and even cool the face.
This means using a mix of material for a face lining such as cotton, polyester, chiffon, silk, flannel.
When multiple layers and a combination of different fabrics have been used, it allows for the best filtration and heat escape.
“There may be a relationship between the breathing resistance and the flow resistance of the face mask that will need to be studied over a range of mask use,” said Dr. Heow Pueh Lee, associate professor of applied mechanics at the National University of Singapore.
Furthermore, the environmental condition in the compartmental space within the face mask will need to be quantified more accurately using miniaturized sensors and the development of human replicas for such studies.
The study also found that regular use of face masks causes the Rt rate to drop below 1.0.
“The findings suggest that consistent use of efficient face masks, such as surgical masks, could lead to the eradication of the pandemic if at least 70% of residents use such masks in public consistently,” said author Sanjay Kumar , assistant professor of engineering as UC Berkeley.
“Even less efficient cloth masks could slow down diffusion if worn consistently.”
It comes after former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, in which he encouraged the American to buy better masks.
He specifically recommended the N95, or its equivalent, for its proven ability to block at least 95 percent. of small particles
Gottlieb said the next best option is a surgical mask, and if nothing else is available, buy cloth masks made from cotton-polyester blends.
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