02/10/2021 15:41
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 02/10/2021 3:41 PM
As new variants of the coronavirus spread, experts indicate that it is time to consider wearing medical-type masks or wearing cloth and surgical masks at the same time.
Wearing two masks can
block the escape of more than 92% of
potentially infectious
particles
, according to a new study from the US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). .UU ..
The researchers relied on the results of a laboratory experiment that separated two
artificial heads
about six feet from each other to verify how many particles similar in size to the coronavirus, thrown by one, had been inhaled by the other.
So they found that wearing a surgical or cloth mask blocked 40% of the particles that made their way towards the head that was inhaling.
Meanwhile, when a cloth mask was used over a surgical one,
92.5% of the particles were blocked
.
According to the study, this variant allows
the exposure
of the uninfected person to potentially infectious particles to
decrease by 96.4%
.
In addition, the researchers indicated that
protection can be improved by folding the edges
of the chinstrap inward by knotting the earmuff cords where they meet the mask fabric, to reduce the gaps between the skin and the mask.
"This observation suggests that arrangements that can be made to
improve fit could result in improvements
regardless of the masks' baseline filtration efficiency," the researchers explained.
The CDC tested knotless medical masks (A), two overlapping masks (B), and a knotted medical mask (C).
Photo: CDC.
Chinstraps became the icon of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although their use was not initially indicated in the general population because it was considered to give a
"false sense of security"
, many countries were incorporating them early in protection measures.
In June of last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) began to recommend its use in certain circumstances (in areas with community transmission, when a minimum distance could not be maintained, among others).
At the end of 2020, the agency issued an interim update of these guidelines in which, among other things, it discouraged the use of masks that have valves, both in health personnel and in the rest of the population.
The WHO recommended to all health personnel the use of medical masks in areas with lower risk of airborne contagion (by aerosols), and those with greater protection (N95, FFP2, FFP3) in areas of greater risk, for example, areas of care for patients with covid-19.
Chinstraps are used as a tool to block the transmission of the disease.
Photo: Fernando la Orden
For the general public, in areas of community transmission of the coronavirus, the WHO recommends the use of non-medical masks (for example, those made of cloth) inside shops, offices or schools, when a physical distance of at least can not be guaranteed. less one meter between those present.
However, in Argentina, the use of a chinstrap is considered a complementary and non-exclusive measure with respect to the rest, therefore, outside the home, its use is recommended
even outdoors
and although it can be kept at a distance.
LGP
Look also
In Europe they are already debating imposing N95 masks, but people use what they have: a review of the different types of chinstraps
Coronavirus in the United States: it is mandatory to wear a mask in public transport