With the increasing number of infections due to the omicron mutant of the rapidly spreading corona virus, even among vaccinators, doctors have begun to urge people to get rid of the virus. masks Flip the canvases and replace them with better types.
Doctors explained this by saying that it may not provide sufficient protection against the virus. Instead, they recommended pairing cloth masks with other surgical models or moving to other, better quality masks, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
On Thursday, Mayo Clinic in the United States began requiring all patients and visitors to wear surgical masks, the so-called N95 or KN95 masks.
Doctors explained that single-layer cloth masks, which many people prefer for their comfort and elegance, block only large droplets that carry the virus, but they are not effective in blocking smaller aerosols or particles that carry the virus, according to infectious disease specialists.
KN95 respirators
In addition, KN95 respirators that have a filter layer made of polypropylene, a type of plastic, are effective in trapping small particles.
The extra layer also provides a higher level of protection against Covid-19 when compared to a surgical cloth or masks.
On the other hand, many experts in this field explained that some masks are more effective than others in protecting people from the Omicron mutant, noting that cloth masks alone are not.
The best masks
“If you don’t really want to get infected, you have to wear the right kind of mask,” said Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California.
Gandhi recommended the use of N95 respirators approved in the United States or the KN95, KF94 and FFP2 approved in China, South Korea and Europe, respectively.
Respirator is 95
She also added that if these types are not available, then two masks of multi-layered fabric can be worn over the surgical mask made of polypropylene, which has the properties of electrostatic charging that prevents the virus.
“If everyone wears a cloth mask or just a surgical mask, it will not make any difference,” she said, especially with the highly transmissible Omicron mutant.
surgical masks
On the other hand, others in this field reported that high-quality surgical masks, which are worn correctly, provide protection, noting at the same time that they need more data and research on how these masks confront Omicron.
It is noteworthy that the N95 masks, which are approved by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, contain a denser network of fibers than surgical or cloth masks.
face mask
This tighter mesh, combined with the electrostatic charge in the material, generally makes these masks more effective at trapping large droplets and aerosols that the wearer exhales.
It also prevents the inhalation of these particles better. Properly fitted and certified N95 respirators can filter up to 95% of the particles in the air.