Double masking has limited effects: Japanese equipment

Simulations from Japanese supercomputer Fugaku have shown that wearing two face masks has more or less the same effects as wearing a nonwoven mask suitable for reducing the spread of drops, a team led by researchers at the Riken government institute said on Thursday. .

“It’s important to wear a single mask of non-woven fabric properly,” said the team, led by Makoto Tsubokura, a professor at Kobe University.

The team simulated effects to slow the spread of drops when a non-woven mask is used heavily using a nasal bridge thread or when used wirelessly.

When a mask fits well, 85% of the drops slowed down and the effects dropped to 69% for an unsuitable mask, the team said.

When a poorly fitted nonwoven mask is covered by a urethane mask, the reduction effects reached 89%, almost equivalent to a single nonwoven mask with a good fit, according to the simulations.

“Masks have limits on their effects to slow the spread of drops,” Tsubokura said. “It is important to take measures against infectious diseases in a comprehensive way, including washing hands, ensuring ventilation, maintaining social distancing and limiting the duration of contacts with others,” he said.

For people who want to wear two masks to prevent skin damage, Tsubokura recommended that they wear a tighter mask inside.

Tsubokura also said the drops stretched far behind a person when moving, such as walking or jogging. He added that if an infected person speaks while on an escalator, there will be an increased risk of people becoming infected.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last month that they would place a cloth mask over a medical procedure mask, and write down the ear loops of a medical procedure mask, and then enter and flattening the extra material close to the face, substantially reducing exposure to infected carriers and exposure of uninfected carriers, emphasizing the importance of a good fit to maximize the effectiveness of the mask.