Thread by @claire_horwell

Are you worried about #Covid risk travelling abroad and, especially, on planes? Here's a short #facemask 🧵... yes, it has been a while!

I recently travelled long-haul to Nepal and Indonesia (same trip) and was very concerned about getting Covid. I didn't get #COVID19! 1/

2/ I was worried because I haven't had Covid yet, so I didn't know how ill I would be. But, I was also worried because my work insurance didn't cover extra costs associated with quarantine, which was mandatory in Indonesia ... and I wanted to get home for my holiday!

3/ My main mitigation measure was masks but I also asked the project team in Nepal & Indonesia if we could eat outdoors/ in private rooms in restaurants and we took enough LFTs for the team to test every day. In both Nepal & Indonesia it was still mandated to wear masks indoors.

4/ The indoor mask mandate made it so much easier because everyone was protecting each other and (maybe as a result) Covid cases were quite low in each country (and MUCH lower than the UK which was at the peak of the last wave). We (from the UK) were the greatest risk!

5/ As we were the greatest risk, and the greatest risk to us was the long-haul flights, I took the following measures (after -ve LFT prior to departure). Firstly, I wore an excellent #FFP2 mask. As described previously, horizontal-fold masks fit me best.

https://twitter.com/claire_horwell/status/1477330212383776769?s=20&t=2-WOO4vqGZe2jKW-QWZGjw

6/ I don't mind saying (now) that my preferred mask is the @3M Aura. It has excellent filtration efficiency, the nose clip molds to the nose, it has a foam pad under the nose clip (inside the mask), which really helps with the air seal around the nose, and elastic head straps.

7/ I made the decision to wear this mask at ALL times during travel - on the way to the airport, at the airports, on the flights etc. I DIDN'T TAKE IT OFF. So, how did I eat and drink? Did I sleep with it on? Was it uncomfortable over time?

8/ To drink, I took a water bottle with straw, which meant I could just raise/lower the mask for a second to take a sip without having to tip the bottle into my mouth (which usually results in me pouring half the water into my mask ...).

9/ If I had a bought/provided drink, I just lowered the mask quickly to take a sip. I even held my breath while doing this and once I put the mask back on, I exhaled to blow 'fresh' air out of the mask before breathing in through the mask. Same for eating & airport security.

10/ I slept with it on, on the plane, and it was fine. I have mild asthma but have never experienced any issues wearing an FFP2 mask for a prolonged period or while sleeping (sitting up - I haven't tried lying down). I found the mask to be comfortable but it was tiresome.

11/ I did find that the mask loosened and wore faster than normal, due to the stretching of the headstraps from frequent lowering/raising of the mask. But by this I mean that I needed to replace the mask daily rather than monthly, which is hygienic in tropical conditions anyway.

12/ It was hard (sweaty!) to wear the @3M Aura in tropical heat and humidity because it has thick material and fits very well! Other colleauges had brought along similar looking horizontal fold FFP2 masks that had thinner material and ear loops, and were less oppressive.

13/ I decided that in lower-risk scenarios (not flights), like in meetings where everyone was wearing masks and with good ventilation, a lighter-weight mask might be sufficient, despite the poorer fit. Most were too big for my face but the use of an earloop extender really helped

14/ As with surgical masks, I could feel that there was air escaping around the edges of the flimsier masks. Now that I'm back in the UK, I've done a bit of research to find a good lighter-weight mask that fits me.

15/ The 'Filtering half mask T8200' has a foam nose pad, good nose clip and ear loops but comes with an extender, which substantially improves fit (but not as good as the Aura). It is comfortable and light weight so I will wear it in low-risk situations especially in hot climates

16/ Could I have worn a mask with a valve, to help with the heat and humidity? No. In locations where everyone is still protecting each other with masks, whether by mandate or not, it is not ethical to wear a mask with an exhalation valve.

17/ My opinion on valved masks has changed, for UK use under current guidance and practice, though. Where I am one of the few people wearing a mask, on a train, for example, I no longer see a problem with putting comfort above source control, except in healthcare settings.

18/ So, if you are someone who is able and willing to wear a facemask, but you are concerned about catching Covid, it is possible to travel internationally, protecting yourself and protecting others by wearing a well-fitting FFP2/3 respirator.

19/ If you have found this thread helpful, you might like to read my other threads and @guardian articles on #facemask use:

https://twitter.com/claire_horwell/status/1473051827667185673?s=20&t=2-WOO4vqGZe2jKW-QWZGjw