Masks from coronavirus (protection class, types): does it help a healthy person (how often to change)

It is known that coronavirus infection is transmitted by airborne droplets. For this reason, the choice of respiratory protection is now especially relevant. Do masks protect against coronavirus? And if so, which type of protective accessory is most effective?

Precautions during a pandemic

The beginning of 2020 was marked by an outbreak of a new coronavirus subspecies SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus was named SARS-CoV-2, and the SARS caused by this infection is Covid-19. Coronavirus disease can be severe, moderate and mild. Also, investigations of cases of infection, conducted in China, showed that there are asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2.

The main route of transmission of infection is from person to person, however, the possibility of re-infection from surfaces and even from particles remaining in the air cannot be ruled out.

According to the latest data, the virus lingers in the air for about 2-3 hours and can spread 3-4 meters from the infected by coughing or sneezing.

SARS-CoV-2 “lives” on paper surfaces for only a few hours, but on fabric, glass and metal it can last 3-4 days. Since coronavirus disease is only being studied by scientists, information about the disease is constantly changing.

The rapid spread of viral pneumonia forced most countries in the world to impose strict quarantine restrictions and urge their citizens to self-isolate. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for action, appropriate to the situation in the world, and not to neglect personal protective measures:

1. Wash hands thoroughly and regularly.
2. When leaving the house, carry a sanitizer with you to sanitize your hands in an environment where there is no water and soap.
3. Disinfect the surfaces of gadgets and other surfaces that we can touch with dirty hands.
4. Wear a mask or respirator in public places.
5. Disposable products and respirators are essential for people who work in public places, grocery stores, issuing goods and parcels, and in the delivery service. Representatives of these professions are more in contact with people during the quarantine period.
6. If possible, stay at home, minimize going out and contact with other people.

But the restrictions and requirements caused by the pandemic did not suit everyone's taste and caused many controversial issues related to the effectiveness of quarantine measures and useless antiviral prevention. The most important of which concerns the WHO recommendations on the use of masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

What will help save you from coronavirus

Respiratory protection medications have many disadvantages:

1. The products are not designed to filter inhaled infectious particles.
2. Medical device filter cells are capable of retaining particles ranging in size from 0.1 to 0.7 microns, while the intended size coronavirus is about 0.08 microns (the average size of various coronaviruses ranges from 0.08 to 0.22 microns, which corresponds to 80-220 nanometers). Thus, the particle size of the coronavirus may be smaller than the mesh filter of the mask.
3. Non-woven material is not able to fit snugly enough to the face, and when coughing, it can even form large gaps through which saliva particles pass along with the virus.

Do masks help against coronavirus infection? It is impossible to deny the fact that disposable, reusable protective equipment and most types of respirators do not interfere with the penetration of viral particles.

These products are not intended for this. In ordinary life, a treatment mask creates a barrier for the exchange of bacteria and body fluids. It is worn by doctors, medical personnel and the patients themselves with infections that can be transmitted by airborne droplets. The essence of this use is purely preventive. A special one is used by surgeons, laboratory workers and cosmetologists.

Why are protective equipment used in an epidemic of respiratory diseases (influenza, ARVI, pneumonia, coronavirus infection)? Although a medical device does not contain absolutely all infections, it is still able to filter out some part. In addition, the product does not allow saliva particles to pass through, which may contain a virus. Therefore, such accessories are still capable of providing a certain barrier to the spread of coronavirus.

In the case of respirators, the situation is slightly different. This type of product is designed to filter the inhaled air from environmental pollution, dust, toxic chemicals and so on. Respirators have different degrees of protection - from ordinary dust to comfortable working with chemicals. And some of them can filter the viral particles from the air we breathe. For the prevention of coronavirus, the reliable protection class of the respirator mask must be FFP2 or higher.

Who should wear protective equipment during a pandemic

Covid-19 is a severe contagious infection with a mortality rate that is too early to judge. The insidiousness of this disease is that from the moment of infection until the first symptoms appear, it can take from 5 to 20 days, and a person becomes contagious during the first days after infection. Despite the frightening data, coronavirus disease can occur in both a particularly severe form and a very mild one.

About 75% of people who get sick cannot distinguish the symptoms of Covid-19 from the common cold, and 18% feel sick symptoms.

You may be a carrier of the virus and not even suspect that you are a potential threat to others.

Does a mask help a healthy person against coronavirus infection?

Even if you are sure that you are completely healthy, you need to put on a mask or respirator before going to the store, traveling by ground transport or the subway. The more people wear masks, the harder it is for the virus to spread.

The Chinese, who were the first to take the hit of the viral epidemic, did not neglect the means of individual protection, self-isolation, hand hygiene and disinfection of premises and surfaces of public use. If we take into account the experience of China, then we can come to the conclusion that in order to protect themselves from the viral threat, neither healthy nor sick should neglect any precautions.

Personal protective equipment is needed to reduce the spread of viral particles in a situation where it is impossible to accurately determine who is sick and who is not.

Varieties of face masks

If in winter we only watched the news of the Chinese in masks and respirators, then today we ourselves are faced with the need to select a protective accessory.

There are 3 types of medical respiratory protection devices:

1. Procedural - filter three-layer medical masks.
2. Specialized (surgical) - disposable special. products have an additional moisture-proof layer.
3. Anti-aerosol masks with charcoal filter. Charcoal masks can be disposable or cloth reusable. Such products also come with a water-repellent layer.

Simple reusable masks are made of thick fabric, leaving a pocket for a replaceable filter between the outer and inner layers. Fashionable white and black masks (pittas) are made from polyurethane.

With the beginning of the quarantine, it became more difficult to buy masks. You can hardly find them in pharmacies, and in online stores such products are very expensive. Therefore, many people sew facial accessories at home from woven materials or gauze. They can be used one-time, or they can be disinfected and reused.

A separate type of masks are respirators with an exhalation valve and plastic respirators with replaceable filters (3M, Alina, NEVA, Spirotek and others). Respirator masks from 3M and other brands against coronavirus are made in the form of half masks and full face accessories (degree of protection FFP2 and FFP3).

All types of half masks can be combined with glasses, thus protecting the mucous membranes of the eyes.

Which remedy to choose

Which masks protect against coronavirus? To some extent, all types of masks and face masks protect against viruses. And at the same time, none of the listed funds guarantee complete protection against coronavirus. Except for the full-height spacesuit, of course. There is always the possibility of transferring the virus from hands, objects, etc.

The use and purpose of wearing masks is to create a certain barrier between us and other people, respirators - to protect yourself from inhaling harmful particles. Whatever the opinions on the effectiveness of such accessories, it cannot be denied that the use of a mask reduces the risks of infection. Each person must independently weigh the pros and cons in order to decide what type of protective product he should use:

1. Treatment masks filter up to 95% of particles and are suitable for single use for 2-3 hours, after which the product must be replaced with a new one.
2. Masks and pittas are denser and fit better to the face. The average level of protection against infections is estimated at 95–98%. However, it must be remembered that reusability is ensured by regular disinfection of the product. The product cannot be re-worn without proper treatment.
3. Homemade products are also suitable as reusable barrier protection. You can make a protective bandage from cotton gauze. You also need to take care of purchasing replaceable disposable filters. The mask itself must be washed and ironed.
4. Homemade onion or garlic gauze mask. It may be advisable to make such dressings in order to increase immunity, but vegetables do not save from viral diseases. In addition, it is very difficult to breathe in such products, and therefore it is much more likely to take it off right on the street.
5. The 3m coronavirus construction mask is, in theory, ineffective because it is not designed to filter out viral particles. However, in practice, it is not inferior to the usual procedural one, and therefore it can be successfully used as a barrier protection.
6. Respirators marked FFP2 and FFP3 have the corresponding class of protection against viruses. These respirators also require replacement filters and reusable cartridges. The only drawback of a respirator with an exhalation valve is that it acts unilaterally, filtering only the inhaled air, but what a person exhales comes out as it is. This situation is not very good if the respirator is used by an infected person. However, if those with whom he contacts also wear respirators, the problem in theory is settled. Whether this makes sense is an individual question. It should be borne in mind that for many people, these precautions provide psychological comfort.

Recommendations for the use of protective accessories

How to properly put on a protective accessory can be read on the packaging or see illustrative examples in photos and videos on the Internet. In addition to fixing correctly, there are a number of simple guidelines for using it:

1. Disinfection of hands and surfaces. Any medical masks will not save you from coronavirus if you do not adhere to the rules of hand hygiene, as well as disinfection of premises and objects. Treat hands with an antiseptic or wash with soap and water. To disinfect hands from viral particles, they must be treated with soap for less than 30 seconds, with an alcohol sanitizer for 1 minute. You can also disinfect small surfaces with a sanitizer, and use household disinfectants for larger items.
2. How often should I change my medical mask during the coronavirus pandemic? It is necessary to change disposable and reusable products in the same way - every 2-3 hours. If this is not done in time, you can get infected from its surface.
3. How long will a reusable product last? The shelf life of a reusable face accessory is 2 months, a respirator is from 1 to 3 years.
4. Infectious disease doctors recommend carefully choosing an accessory for children in size. If for adults the size is the same - 17.5 * 9.5 cm, then in order to choose a means of protection for a child, you need to take into account his age. From 0 to 5 years old - 12 * 7 cm, from 5 to 15 years old - 14 * 8 cm. Children need to wear the product with clean hands.
5. What to do with a used and how to treat a reusable mask? Reusable before washing, you can soak in alcohol or soap solution, and also boil. Disposable - throw away and wash your hands.

During the quarantine period, compliance with self-isolation, as well as WHO recommendations, will help to avoid infection. Remember, the main thing is to keep your peace of mind! Buy a beautiful face mask or respirator, be sure to wash your hands and enjoy the comforts of home.