Weeks after the COVID-19 outbreak, face masks in many countries around the world went from m being deemed unnecessary and inconvenient to be the most important personal protective equipment (PPE). The wearing of face masks has been made mandatory in most nations as it is considered the first line of defense from getting the virus through droplets and airborne particles. A mask may physically block these droplets from moving farther than your face. 

Although wearing face masks is a good way to protect yourself from the virus lurking around, there are still several ways where you can come into contact with infectious droplets, even if you are already wearing a face mask. Touching a surface where droplets from infected people have landed or droplets landed on your eyes or skin are other possible means for you to get infected by the virus. 

This means that masks do a much better job of stopping the disease from spreading to an infected person than shielding a healthy person from catching it. Instead of offering security for you, wearing a mask is about not transmitting the infection yourself.

Tips When Buying Masks

1. Some people may find it difficult to wear masks. According to a news feature, two-layered face masks do a better job than one, and three-layered do a better job than two. In its guidelines, the WHO recommends a minimum of 3 ply face masks, and many major manufacturers seem to be using this as a rule of thumb.

2. The mask’s effectiveness has more to do with the material than it has to do with whether it was manufactured in a factory or at your kitchen table. In laboratory tests, face masks made with multiple layers, handmade, no-sew, and T-shirt masks have been seen to perform well. Check the material and pick (or create) the mask you find most comfortable and likely to wear.

3. Aside from the material, the fit is also a factor in the quality of the mask. Masks that cover both your nose and mouth and create a very snug seal at the mask’s edges are the most effective ones. You’re not going to get an airtight seal without a professional-grade mask like an N95 respirator. 

4. Exhalation vents have been designed to serve a very different function for masks than the ones we should wear now. These masks are designed to prevent particles from being inhaled by the wearer, block them from exhaling particles, so the vents make it easier to breathe while also preventing the bad stuff from entering.

5. If you want to use a filter to avoid the inhalation of any fibers, it is advised to “sandwich” the filter between the layers of cloth. It should be remembered that none of these items have been researched for protection either.

Although many people still find wearing masks uncomfortable, it cannot be used as an excuse for them not to wear one. Many experts still agree that some face protection is better than no facial covering at the end of the day. So, do your best to find a breathable mask that gives you comfort while wearing it. Most importantly, make sure that it is made to serve its foremost purpose – that is, to protect you and others around you from getting infected.