Did you know that wearing cloth face coverings is one of the most powerful tools we have to slow and stop the spread of the coronavirus? But as masks and face coverings become commonplace, so have questions about which mask is best, and the overall effectiveness of masks.
In a recently published study , by Science Advances, the researchers unveiled a simple method to evaluate the effectiveness of various types of masks, analyzing more than a dozen different facial coverings ranging from hospital-grade N95 respirators to bandanas.
Of the 14 masks and other coverings tested, the study found that some cotton cloth masks are about as effective as standard surgical masks, while popular alternatives such as neck gaiters are made out of a more porous material and therefore not as protective as double layered cotton masks. Having said that, masks do not have to be perfect to be effective. The more people wear a mask, the higher the level of protection is achieved for everyone.