advances.sciencemag.org/content/early/… Paper looking at respiratory droplets emitted from people talking w/various masks.
Takeaways:
1) Chances are, the mask you wear blocked most droplets in this study. Every type did except a bandana (#12), knitted (#3), or a fleece gaiter (#11) (thread).
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Takeaways:
1) Chances are, the mask you wear blocked most droplets in this study. Every type did except a bandana (#12), knitted (#3), or a fleece gaiter (#11) (thread).
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2) Knitted (#3) and a bandana (#12) didn't block as much. A fleece gaiter (#11) made more, smaller droplets than no mask! When people mention airborne transmission, it's caused by small droplets (not just floating virus), so this covering may be especially bad. /2
3) Multilayer masks w/polypropylene did particularly well. This is true of 2-layer polypropylene (#4) or 3-layer cotton/polypropylene/cotton (#5), surgical masks (#1, the middle layer of these is typically a special polypropylene fiber), and N95 (#14, same here). /3
4) Valves on N95s (#2) let some droplets out, but less than expected - they were about as good as most cloth masks. Worth seeing if this holds up - some cities have banned them based on the reasonable assumption they don't protect anyone but the wearer. May not be true. /4
5) Surgical (#1) and N95 (#14) worked best. Based on how they work, reasonable to speculate these results could extend to other similar masks (nonmedical 3-layer disposables, especially w/melt blown inner layer, KN95, KF94). Many of these are now widely available). /5
6) Takeaway: most common mask types blocked droplets that can carry virus. Wearing a bandana, knitted, or fleece gaiter? Consider switching. Looking for an upgrade? Consider one w/polypropylene fabric or nonmedical 3-layer/KN95.
More here: npr.org/sections/goats…
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More here: npr.org/sections/goats…
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