A mask requirement has been in place nationwide for shopping and public transport for several weeks. But not everyone is convinced of the benefits of this measure. Can such a cover really prevent corona infection?
Berlin (dpa) - Formerly a rarity, today everyday life: In Corona times, people in Germany wear a mouth and nose mask. The effectiveness of such masks is repeatedly questioned in social networks. A fact check:
- Claim: Wearing a mask is "nonsense", says one article. There is "no evidence that wearing a mask could prevent infection".
- Evaluation: this is wrong. If, for example, two people wear masks during a conversation, the risk of infection with the corona virus, among other things, is significantly lower.
- Facts: Masks have been mandatory nationwide since the end of April - especially on buses and trains, and often also when shopping in shops. The purpose of the protective mask is to catch droplets that we emit when we speak, laugh, cough or sneeze. The denser the material, the less likely it is that small droplets will get through.
The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) differentiates between self-made "community masks" and medical face masks. The BfArM explains that the first ones, as a physical barrier, offer a protective function against larger droplets and prevent mouth / nose mucous membrane contact with contaminated hands.
The medical face masks, on the other hand, were primarily used for external protection and to protect the other person, according to the authority. Sebastian Lemmen, infectious disease specialist at the University Hospital Aachen, therefore says: "If two people wear a face mask, both are protected".
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also recommends wearing a "mouth and nose cover" in public spaces. According to the RKI, the homemade masks probably filter fewer droplets than the multi-layer medical mouth-nose protection. The institute describes the wearing of a mask as a building block for reducing the pressure of infection and the speed of spread among the population in coronavirus. According to the RKI, distance and hygiene rules also apply when people wear a mask.