Do you have to wear masks? If so, which ones?

Since the appearance of the new coronavirus, a rather scary and virulent virus, several people have ravaged the medical products market. In less than a few weeks, a shortage of masks began to develop within the health network. Emergency professionals fighting the invisible enemy are constantly exposing themselves to danger. Unfortunately, those who really need them are no longer able to work safely. This virus, unlike other coronaviruses, spreads rapidly.

To our great surprise, several companies such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Zara and company decided to lend a hand to the government to fight Covid-19. These design companies, thanks to their machinery, started to produce medical equipment. Notably, masks. 

But not all masks are born with the same power!

 Some can protect you and others can put you at risk if you wear them for too long!

 Several types of masks exist.

Cloth masks: These masks were popularized in China during the SARS epidemic in 2003. These masks allow droplets to be filtered temporarily. They must be washed regularly (daily). They are much less effective than N95 and paper masks. A study in 2015 ADVISES against the use of cloth masks since they accumulate moisture and may increase the risk of infection (C.R. MacIntyre et al. 2015). The CDC currently recommends these masks...

Procedure masks: The procedure mask provides a barrier against droplets. It is made of synthetic materials (polyethylene, polypropylene and rayon). These masks are inexpensive, easy to put on and take off, and were available everywhere in pharmacies and many department stores. Procedural masks are as effective as N95 for influenza, so they are also effective against Covid-19 (Radonovich LK JR, et al, 2019).

- Coronavirus is not airborne. The virus is sprayed in the form of droplets. A simple barrier is sufficient. 

- Laboratory tests use absurd levels of coronavirus to prove a point. They have detected that the virus can stay in the air for a small period of time. A human being CANNOT cough up this inhumane amount of virus in the air. You have to be careful with this laboratory research.

- The droplet that encloses the virus is affected by gravity and falls VERTICALLY along the Y-axis. It cannot float. You can't walk next to someone and get infected without them touching you or coughing on you!

- Therefore, all barriers can protect you against coronavirus.

Surgical masks: This mask can be a duck's beak or a pre-moulded shell and is held in place by cords or elastics. It is made from natural fibres or polypropylene. It does not filter aerosols (not required for Covid-19) and must be changed every 4 hours or when wet, etc. (Van Laer and Haxhe, 2003). It is placed so that the nose is covered with the clip and the mouth is covered. This mask is inexpensive.

Paper masks: These masks offer very little protection, but can be used simply as a barrier against droplets from the Covid-19. They get wet quickly and perspiration increases the humidity inside these masks. Unfortunately, they do not last more than 30 minutes, especially if they are wet (Van Laer and Haxhe, 2003). 

Nanomasks: These masks are still new on the market. Apparently, they're 99% effective... They appear to be approved by Health Canada. 

TheN95: This mask is mainly used for the bibittes present in the infectious aerosols synthesized by the infected beings (e.g. Anthrax, measles, tuberculosis, etc.). This mask uses static electricity to stop small particles. It is effective in filtering 95% of 0.3 micron particles if used correctly. Unlike other masks, it filters. The mask must be well adjusted by the user. It is recommended to change the N95 when it is wet and should be replaced daily. Research has shown that it is as effective as procedure masks for influenza (and therefore for coronavirus as well since Codid-19 is NOT an aerosol) (Radonovich LJ et al, 2019).

Moisture : The effectiveness of masks decreases rapidly with the accumulation of moisture. Each mask must be changed in case of infection.

THEN

(For people who are not healthy)

 Do we have to wear masks? Perhaps, WHO does not recommend (healthy) people to wear masks. Wearing a mask for a simple walk is not justifiable. A distance of 1.8 m between 2 people is sufficient. Wearing a mask on the plane would make a bit more sense...since a sick person could cough on you. As of April 2020, the CDC is making a correction to their recommendation not to wear masks. It currently suggests wearing masks since it has just concluded that a symptomatic or pre-symptomatic person can transmit the 🦠 virus simply by talking. However, on their website, he only describes cloth masks (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html).

 People who are sick, could wear masks to prevent the virus from being coughed out via droplets, but only if they are forced to expose themselves to people (e.g. for a medical appointment).

On the other hand, it is strongly discouraged to go out if you are ill. At home, no one who is asymptomatic should wear a mask.

Finally, cloth masks are NOT recommended, but they can help. However, they accumulate moisture too quickly. Bandanas are also of little use and offer very little protection. 

(For health professionals)

 We need to use masks wisely in order to optimize our resources. Healthcare workers should wear procedural masks (or N95 depending on the situation: possible aerosol infection during invasive mechanical ventilation) when working with infected patients. Masks should be changed every few hours! When there is no risk, do not wear a mask!

 OPINON of the author:

Social distancing remains the most effective method against the spread of the Coronavirus. You have no chance of contracting the virus if you stay at home! Otherwise, clean your masks as often as possible, avoid touching your face and above all... WASH your hands!

• We don't live in China. The Chinese are numerous...they are 37 times more populated than us with a much more geographically condensed population. It makes more sense for them to always wear masks. In Canada, it's the desert...

Times will be hard. But spring will come again. It hasn't forgotten us! 

Physiotherapy Brossard