Most of the blue surgical masks used by many during the pandemic are not enough to prevent people from becoming infected with COVID-19, according to an alarming new study.
The University of Waterloo study in Canada showed that N95 or KN95 masks did the best job of containing spray drops from the wearer’s mouth.
Blue cloth surgical masks were found that have become popular during the pandemic with only 10% effectiveness as they do not cover the face properly.
“There is no doubt that it is beneficial to wear a face mask, both to protect it very close and at a distance in a room,” said in a statement the study’s leader, Serhiy Yarusevych, a professor of mechanical engineering and mechatronics.
“However, there is a very serious difference in the effectiveness of the different masks when it comes to controlling aerosols.”
The guidelines revolving around the mask have changed continuously over the past year and a half as federal and local governments struggle to establish mandates.
Yarusevych and the team said many people wear masks that do not fit their face properly, unlike the N95, which attaches tightly around the user.
This causes aerosol droplets to escape through multiple openings between a person’s face and the cloth mask, which could extend COVID-19 to populated areas.
In contrast, the N95 was able to filter more than 50% of the aerosol drops, while the other half is scattered over the wearer’s head.
“A lot of that may seem like common sense,” Yarusevych says. “There’s a reason, for example, for doctors to wear N95 masks: they work much better. The novelty here is that we’ve provided solid numbers and rigorous analysis to support that assumption.”
Yarusevych’s team added that ventilation tests revealed that even modest ventilation rates provide about the same level of protection as higher-quality masks.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden’s former COVID-19 adviser and top epidemiologist warned Americans that “many of the fabric coverings that people wear are not very effective.”
Michael Osterholm spoke to CNN saying people should start using N95 respirators that are more effective against COVID-19.
Michael Osterholm explained that he does not like the term masking as he suggests that any facial coverage will protect against the spread of Covid-19, which is not accurate.
Dr. Osterholm, regular journalist (@mtosterholm): “We need to talk about better masking. We need to talk about N-95 respirators, which would be very helpful for people who are not yet vaccinated or are not previously infected.” pic.twitter.com/xqgArTOGrt
– Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) August 2, 2021
“We are in a very unfortunate situation, we have really brought this country to a point of confusion that really misses the main point that we should focus on the vaccine, the vaccine, the vaccine,” said Osterholm, the director of the Center for Research and Policies on Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota.
He explained his statement with the term “masking” saying, “You know I would like to get rid of the term masking because, in fact, it implies that everything you put in front of your face works and if I could just add a nuance thing I hope doesn’t add any more confusion is that today we know that many of the fabric covers that people wear are not very effective at reducing any movement of the virus in or out.
The CDC has been criticized for its confusing position on masks after reversing its guidelines on masks. But cities and states say they need to see the evidence before reviewing their own policies.
Federal officials say unpublished data show that vaccinated people infected with COVID-19 can transmit the virus, prompting them to recommend that everyone wear a mask inside areas with high transmission.
Texas and Florida have defended mandates banning mask requirements in the classroom, but on Friday, the Texas Supreme Court rejected Governor Greg Abbott’s latest offer to undo the mandates for masks.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been at the helm of the anti-mask charge alongside fellow Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Kids going to class with masks on the first day back at school in Richardson, Texas, on Tuesday
Abbott, who tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, is leading the anti-mask charge along with his Republican counterpart, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
School boards and local officials are wary of rapidly rising COVID infections in Texas, as the delta variant assaults nations, arguing that masks are needed for children too young to get the vaccine.
Although the virus poses almost no risk to children, as well as evidence that masks inhibit children’s learning and cause psychological harm.
Texas has confirmed nearly 19,000 new cases as of Saturday with 190 new deaths, according to the Texas State Department of Health Services.
Florida reported more than 150,000 new cases during the week and about 1,500 new deaths.
But local officials are encouraged in their stance by President Joe Biden, who has warned he is “very concerned” about states like Texas defying masks and pledging to provide financial aid to Florida school districts applying the DeSantis-defying mask .
Meanwhile, Democratic-led state and city leaders have moved quickly to impose COVID-19 mask and vaccine requirements on the Delta variant, including California, Illinois, Kentucky and New Jersey.
In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee has ordered vaccinations for all school workers, including bus drivers and janitors.
U.S. health officials on Wednesday announced plans to dispense reinforcements to all Americans to bolster their protection amid the growing delta variant and signs that vaccine effectiveness is declining.
Biden has recently put several public employees under vaccine warrants, including federal, military and nursing workers.
The president also praised companies that require vaccines for their own workers and encouraged others to follow them, as well as highlighting local vaccine mandates as a condition for daily activities such as indoor food.