What kind of mask to use for coronavirus

Coronavirus has already been recorded in dozens of countries. In some European countries, a general quarantine has been introduced (for example, in Italy). And those people who take to the streets must wear masks. From the article, you will find out whether medical masks protect against coronaviruses that spread from a sick person to a healthy person through contact with mucous membranes, and whether a mask will save you from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the nCoV-2019 disease.

Will a mask help with coronavirus?

Opinions are divided on whether medical face masks will help in the fight against the epidemic in China. Some experts recommend wearing them when going outside, while others advise focusing on personal hygiene, avoiding mass gatherings and washing hands more often, and the mask, in their opinion, does not protect the eyes (one of the channels for the virus to enter).

WHO about masks

Representatives of this organization said that wearing a mask can reduce the spread of viruses. But wearing it does not guarantee complete safety, and wearing it should be combined with a number of other preventive measures, including hygiene. Including WHO recommends staying at a distance of more than 1 meter from potentially infected people.

Attention! Scientists from China said that the optimal distance in terms of safety between a healthy person and an infected person is 4.5 m and above.

WHO advocates that people use masks rationally and do not waste them. They should be worn if a person has respiratory symptoms (for example, sneezing or coughing).

WHO recommends the correct use of masks:

1. Wash your hands with soap or alcohol before wearing the mask (alcohol kills the virus). Wash your hands thoroughly, especially between the fingers.
2. Wear masks in such a way that it tightly covers the mucous membranes.

Important! Make sure that there are no gaps between the mask and the skin, because. wearing it incorrectly can lead to infection.

• Do not touch the mask with your hands. If you have already touched it, treat your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• As soon as the mask becomes damp (on average, by 2 or 3 hours of use), replace it with a new one after washing your hands with soap or treating them with a disinfectant.
• You also need to be careful when taking off your mask. To grab it by the elastic bands (without touching the front) and throw it into the trash can. After that, apply a disinfectant or use soap on your hands.

Important! Do not wear 1 mask twice!

Ministry of Health about masks

The Ministry of Health recommends the use of masks to protect against the 2019-nCoV coronavirus. The organization has made a number of rules a number of rules, the observance of which will avoid infection:

• do not travel to countries with the largest number of infected people (China, the European Union, Iran, etc.);
• avoid mass gatherings. Incl. keep a distance of at least 1 m from people on the street;
• wash your hands more often;
• Avoid close contact with strangers, especially those who appear ill.

The Ministry of Health also recommends taking into account that in case of infection, profuse sneezing and coughing, increased fatigue, an increase in body temperature and other changes are possible. Often the virus is "disguised" as a common SARS. And if some of these symptoms were confirmed, and you were in contact with people who visited countries with a large number of infected.

Rospotrebnadzor about masks

Rospotrebnadzor believes that special medical masks help protect against the coronavirus, which began to spread in China, only if hygiene and quarantine measures are observed. The organization recommends wearing masks when:

• visiting places with large concentrations;
• travel by public transport;
• communicating with people infected with any infections;
• caring for people who have any infections, etc.

Rospotrebnadzor gives its recommendations regarding the use of masks:

1. Carefully secure the mask, reducing the gap between it and the skin.
2. Do not touch the face of the mask during use. If this happens, or if you need to remove your mask, grab it by the elastic bands. After that, hands should be washed.
3. When the mask becomes damp (or soiled from wearing), carefully remove it, wash your hands, and put on a new mask.
4. Do not use the mask more than once. Once removed, dispose of.

Attention! When choosing a mask, you should pay attention to its size. It should completely and tightly cover the face.

Clinical studies on the effectiveness of masks

In the early 2000s, studies were conducted among medical staff. According to the results, it was found that FFP1 half mask respirators almost do not differ from standard medical masks when used under the same conditions.

Of course, the effectiveness of the FFP2 and FFP3 respirators is slightly higher than that of simple masks, but they do not protect the mucous membrane of the eyes from possible infection.

What do doctors wear

Employees of medical institutions who come into contact with patients with coronavirus wear N95 masks. Their difference from standard masks is that they fit very tightly to the face and do not allow air to penetrate the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose through the sides.

They filter up to 95% of particles with sizes of 0.3 micrometers and above. This is despite the fact that coronaviruses are on average 0.1 micrometers in size. And this means that even when wearing a mask with a super filter, there is a risk of infection with the virus.

Attention! The N95 mask does not leave gaps only on the condition that the person does not wear a mustache and beard.

What masks protect against coronavirus

After reading this article, users could ask logical questions: where to buy a mask, and which one is better to choose? Doctors note that masks, as well as P1 and P2 protection, work on the condition that a person wears them not from time to time, but in all places where there is a risk of infection. For example, if another person sneezes nearby, his saliva is sprayed in different directions, and the mask saves you from direct contact with the virus.

Respirators fit snugly against the skin and provide better protection against infection, but are not recommended for use in countries with low numbers of infections. This advice is due to the fact that respirators make it difficult for a person to breathe, and it is inconvenient for people with lung diseases to wear them.

Three-layer medical masks are loose enough to protect the mucous membranes from infection. In addition, they do not adhere tightly to the skin, and this makes them almost useless.

For the CIS countries, the best option is standard masks. If in the near future the number of infected increases sharply, it is better to purchase respirators.

How to wear masks correctly

When wearing a mask, you need to know a simple rule. The colored side should be worn on the outside and the white side on the inside. The white side absorbs moisture while the colored side is waterproof. Therefore, masks are required to be worn not only by those infected with the Chinese virus, but also by the usual SARS and a number of diseases. This is necessary to protect those around you.

Important! When an infected person is in a public place or in a hospital, wearing a mask greatly reduces the chance of transmitting the virus.

How to protect yourself from coronavirus other than a mask

The article repeatedly noted that wearing a mask will only be effective if a number of quarantine measures are followed. Follow these guidelines to protect yourself from infection:

• wash your hands thoroughly (including the area between the fingers);
• do not touch mucous membranes with unwashed hands;
• get enough sleep, because. lack of sleep weakens the immune system and makes the body more vulnerable to viruses;
• eat thermally processed food;
• do not visit cities and countries in which a large number of infected people are registered.

Maintaining hygiene is the most important thing that can help in the fight against the epidemic. The virus often enters by airborne droplets, so it is important to protect them with a mask and, if possible, stay away from other people.

Conclusion

From the article, the reader learned that medical masks only partially protect against coronavirus infection, and in order to protect yourself from the Chinese epidemic as much as possible, you must follow hygiene rules and other recommendations from WHO and the Ministry of Health. Remove and put on the mask, holding only the elastic bands, avoiding touching the front. After use, dispose of the mask in a resealable trash can, it's simple.