Surgical Masks, Face Shields:
Which Masks Actually Protect Against Coronavirus?
The coronavirus keeps circulating and the number of contaminated people is still rising. In order to avoid any new lockdown, many countries are asking people to wear face masks. Various face masks and face shields are now increasingly visible in our streets.There are officially two types of protective masks that protect against such viruses: the surgical masks and the respirators.
What Is a Surgical Mask?
A surgical mask is a disposable medical device that can be bought in pharmacy and that protects against infectious agents transmitted by “droplets.” These droplets can be droplets of saliva or secretions from the upper respiratory tract when the wearer exhales. These masks are single-use devices and should not be worn for more than 3 to 8 hours.
What Is a Respirator?
A respirator is personal protective equipment that prevents the wearer from inhaling aerosols (dust, smoke, mist) as well as vapors or gases (disinfectants, anesthetic gases) that are health hazards. It also protects those who wear them from inhaling “droplets” of infectious agents.
What Is a Barrier Mask?
The shortage of surgical masks has fueled an increase in patterns and tutorials for making protective masks. A new type of protective mask has recently appeared and has been named the “barrier mask.”
It is made of fabric (cotton for example) and it is washable and can be reusable up to 20 times in general.
The “barrier mask” is meant to be worn by healthy people.
What Is a Face Shield?
A face shield provides almost complete protection by its anti-projection effect on the three areas through which the virus enters: the mouth, the nose and the eyes. Face shields are mainly used in resuscitation. It can easily be cleaned or disinfected, so it can be reused, and it allows for a certain degree of airflow without pain for the person who wears it.
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