Masks for everyone, even DIY, to save lives and generate economic benefits. A simple fabric mask worn by an infected person reduces the amount of virus transmitted by 36 times and allows the source to be controlled: that is, to block the droplets when they come out of the mouth, rather than dam them when they are dispersed in the air. This is the result of an analysis that compares several studies on the topic, carried out by researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of San Francisco, and translated into Italian by the Gimbe Foundation. The new DPCM on phase 2 underlines the need to use the mask in all public places where social distancing cannot be maintained. The usefulness of the # Masks4All message is confirmed by scientific evidence. "The progress of science has revealed that the transmission of asymptomatic subjects, largely underestimated, represents the Achilles heel of strategies to contain the pandemic," explains Nino Cartabellotta, president of Gimbe.
Several elements emerged from the review which analyzed over 80 studies and the results of which were published in Italian in the open access journal of the Gimbe Foundation, "Evidence". First of all, even if there are no clinical trials that have evaluated the effectiveness of masks by the general population to contain the Covid-19 epidemic, several empirical experiments show that the mask "enhances the effects of other measures of social distancing". However, the positive effects "depend on the percentage of the population that uses it". If it is true that some people tend to pay less attention to avoiding risky behaviors in the event of a mask requirement, "the preventive effect is not compromised overall". Economic analyzes show that every single mask (with negligible cost) worn by a person could "generate enormous economic benefits and save many lives". Furthermore, taking into account the difficulties of supply and distribution, science confirms the opportunity of the do-it-yourself, because "there is no evidence that the masks have to be built with particular materials or techniques". In the article published on Evidence, it also explains how to make your own mask to prevent the transmission of droplets: "from a shirt, a handkerchief, a scarf, a bandana by inserting a paper towel, as a disposable filter, between two layers of a tight-knit fabric that allows you to breathe. You can wash the fabric mask in the washing machine and reuse it, just like a shirt. "
