With the growing awareness of wearing masks to help lower the transmission of COVID-19, some public health experts and scientists were asked some questions related to it.
Q. What are the benefits of wearing a mask, if you are healthy and are not affected by the virus?
Dr. Timothy Sly, Epidemiologist and Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto
Dr. Sly says that a surgeon’s mask is created to prevent the viral aerosols from spreading. The droplets of moisture encroach on the inner lining. While inhaling most air is taken from the edges, so this doesn’t give as much protection to the person wearing it. However, there is a possibility of some protection.
The N95 mask has been designed to safeguard the person wearing it from 95% of non-oil dust particles that are more than the size of 0.3 micron. All viruses are different in sizes and the SARS CoV-2 is around 120nm and thus fits into the holes of the N95 mask. Nevertheless, the free-floating viruses are not that need to be stopped, but the water droplets that have the virus and these droplets of water are larger. So, these masks, if sized correctly with the right fit they can offer good protection.
Dr. Linsey Marr, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Dr.Marr says that an individual can get Covid-19 even before they can show any signs of symptoms and some may not show the symptoms throughout. A mask (Dr. Marr prefers to call it a cloth covering to differentiate it from medical masks) can help lower the amount of virus that an infected person would spread on the surfaces of air and slow down the transmission. Another advantage of wearing a mask is that it can lower one’s chances to catch Covid-19 as their exposure to any virus present in the air is less. However, this entirely depends on the material of mask, how regularly one wears it, and how tight it has been made to fit and cover.
Joint statement by Peter Teunis, Visiting Biostatistician at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA & Marianne AB van der Sande, MD, MPH, PhD, Head of the Department of Public Health, Professor of Public Health Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Julius Global Health, UMCU, Utrecht, Netherlands
The two experts jointly revealed that Covid-19 is spread through droplets primarily and a small percentage of transmission may happen through aerosol too. Hence, the possibility of face masks offering some sort of protection has widely been drawing attention.
In one of their studies conducted, N95 masks were compared with home-made masks and surgical masks. It was deducted that good quality masks offered better protection, but home-made masks, with some improvisation, were seen to provide protection from respiratory infections.
This means that face masks can help in lowering the transmission of the virus, provided everyone wears a face mask. It is highly doubtful that population-wide implementation of wearing face masks can happen. It also cannot be denied that face masks were used in China widely, and yet Covid-19 did not cease to spread.
There could be some advantages of wearing a face mask such as:
- Reduces direct spontaneous hand to nose or mouth contacts
- Better awareness that might increase observance to physical distancing
- Can offer a feeling of empowerment
- Can lower social thought of wearing a mask or covering as stigma
Are there any risks of wearing a face mask?
Dr. Timothy Sly, Epidemiologist and Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto
Dr. Sly says that socially the people may feel secure and feel that they are safe. But what is more important than wearing a mask is staying atleast 6ft away from each other.
Touching one’s face unintentionally while removing one’s mask can also prove to be risky. It is wise to use an alcohol spray or a sanitizer before removing the face mask. Washing hands would be even more effective.
Dr. Linsey Marr, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Dr. Marr also shows similar concerns and states that most people will touch their faces while removing their face masks and are likely to transmit virus from their fingers to their mouth, nose, or eyes. Individuals get a false feeling of security when wearing face masks and forget to follow what is important – washing hands and social distancing. Being optimistic over his thoughts, Dr. Marr reveals that people wearing masks are probably the ones to practice more caution and try to do everything that will keep them safe from the disease.
Joint statement by Peter Teunis, Visiting Biostatistician at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA & Marianne AB van der Sande, MD, MPH, PhD, Head of the Department of Public Health, Professor of Public Health Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Julius Global Health, UMCU, Utrecht, Netherlands
The doctors say that there can be adverse effects of wearing a face mask:
- Direct hand to nose or mouth contact could lead to transmission of virus if the individuals adjust their mask or itch
- Might convey a false sense of safety to the individuals wearing masks who may then lower their guards and fail to follow social distancing and hand wash.
- Accrued virus on the surface of mask might enhance exposure when handled inappropriately or inadequately cleaned
- Can also lead to social stigmatization
Joshua L. Santarpia, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Microbiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Research Director for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction at the National Strategic Research Institute
Dr. Santarpia also thinks that there are disadvantages of a face mask, especially when worn by healthy people. He says that people, in general, do not have the training to wear and take off the face mask, and thus, when they do it, they do it incorrectly and increase the risk of virus transmission.
He says that he has seen several individuals wearing the respiratory protection incorrectly, which exposes them to the virus. Moreover, if an individual thinks that the mask is protecting them, then they must also think that it is unclean and must ensure they handle it appropriately. Face masks are not quite comfortable and people will frequently touch it to adjust it, and this simply risks more exposure. Face masks should be worn with proper training and understanding its usage and disposal, else the benefits, if any, are minimized.
Can homemade masks help in slowing down the transmission of COVID-19?
Dr. Timothy Sly, Epidemiologist and Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto
When the pandemic was just setting in, the authorities in the West did not impose any public rules for wearing a face mask. This was possibly because of the forecast scarcity of face masks for the medical staff. The thought seems to have changed, even though the experts say that face masks do not offer any protection in situations of emergency, a likelihood of reducing the virus transmission by wearing face masks, even by the tiniest percentage does matter.
Dr. Linsey Marr, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Posted on 4/9/2020)
Dr. Marr’s thoughts are quite precise, he says that nothing is sure, but face masks may be helpful and there is no harm in wearing them.
Joint statement by Peter Teunis, Visiting Biostatistician at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA & Marianne AB van der Sande, MD, MPH, PhD, Head of the Department of Public Health, Professor of Public Health Epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Julius Global Health, UMCU, Utrecht, Netherlands
The doctors feel that especially the ones that have been improvised are pocket-friendly and can be deployed population-wide. They could be great for Low and Middle Income Countries. These countries are where protection is not accessible personally. They may be able to protect from some potential risks.
How should people make masks at home, if they want to?
Dr. Timothy Sly, Epidemiologist and Professor Emeritus, School of Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto
Atleast 2-to 3 layers of pure cotton should be layered on the inner side over a polyester outer weave. The pleating should be enough so a larger surface of the face can be covered – nose, chin, and mouth should be completely protected.
Dr. Linsey Marr, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
People may make use of a thick fabric like that has density like that of a kitchen towel or thick t-shirt. The fitting of the mask should be such that there are no gaps after it is worn. The nose and mouth area should be well-covered.
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