Scarce goods, useful accessories or essential items of clothing - masks are a subject of constant discussion in the Corona crisis. But what do the individual mask types use?
Berlin (dpa) - The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) changed its view of wearing mouthguards in the corona crisis. If people wear a mask as a precaution, even without symptoms, this could reduce the risk of viruses being transmitted to others, according to the website of the federal authority.
But that is not scientifically proven. Previously, the RKI had only recommended mouthguards for people with acute respiratory diseases. Not everyone who is infected with Sars-CoV-2 also notices that, it said.
Some infected people do not get sick, but could still pass on the pathogen. Rules for coughing and sneezing, hand hygiene and the minimum distance should continue to be observed even with masks. In addition, there is no sufficient evidence that mouth-nose protection or a self-made mask protects you from infection.
In its new assessment, the RKI refers to so-called mouth-nose protection and makeshift masks made of fabric. An overview of the different protective masks:
HOMEMADE MASKS: There are numerous sewing patterns and folding instructions for a homemade mouthguard - or community mask. This is a particularly smart idea given the scarcity of medical masks, virologist Christian Drosten told the NDR. The protective properties depend heavily on the material and use. Firmly woven fabrics are more suitable than lightly woven fabrics. However, the masks do not have a scientifically proven protective effect. However, it is believed that they reduce the risk of infection because they can reduce droplet ejection and support awareness of being careful with yourself and others. Hygiene regulations and distance rules should still be observed.
MOUTH NOSE PROTECTION: These masks are primarily used to protect people. They are currently often scarce in medical facilities. The so-called mouth-nose protection also intercepts liquid splashes and droplets in the exhaled air of the person wearing it. This can reduce the risk of infecting another person through coughing, sneezing, or speaking. They can also protect the wearer from larger droplets from the environment. They also do not offer adequate protection against viruses and bacteria because the masks do not sit on the face. For example, small droplets can be inhaled in the air. With these masks, the rules for hand hygiene and safety distance continue to apply.
FFP MASKS: The abbreviation FFP stands for Filtering Face Piece. They are divided into three classes: 1, 2 and 3. They protect to different degrees against solid and liquid particles, with 3 representing the highest protection class. To protect against corona viruses, experts recommend masks of class 2 and 3. Because the filter of an FFP-3 mask is very dense, breathing is difficult. The mask can therefore only be worn for short periods. The medical masks including the surgical masks are currently scarce. Many experts therefore advocate that these protective masks be reserved primarily for hospitals, medical practices and nursing homes.
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