Are you stuck wondering whether cloth masks are effective?
Well, you are not alone.
Here, at Direct Workwear, we have wondered the same thing. We have had many discussions regarding the usage and effectiveness of the reusable cloth masks.
Ultimately, our decision to produce our 3-layer reusable masks was based on the simple fact that some form of protection is better than no protection at all.
Ok, so the cloth mask may provide a bit of a barrier between you and possible infectious particles. But, does it really stop any of those particles from getting through the cloth?
Interestingly enough, they do!
Recent studies have reported that single layer cloth masks captured about 69% of 0.2- 1 micron particles. Compared to surgical masks which captured around 96.5%.
These same studies also indicate that if you needed to wear a cloth mask for a few hours, it would have very little impact on the effectiveness of the masks ability to capture those same particles.
That might be fine for adults, but what about children?
Test results from children aged 5 – 11, reported the cloth masks to be about 15% less effective, capturing only about 52% of particles. However, this data is also in line with the results from both the surgical and N95 masks worn by children. The bottom line is it’s harder to fit masks on children’s faces.
This was also a concern for us, as it is important to protect our children as well.
And as no person is exactly the same, neither is the shape of their face. This is why we have chosen to provide such a wide range of sizes for our reusable masks, along with a measuring guide. Hopefully this will help to determine what size of mask that might fit you best.
In the end, it all comes down to personal choice and preference. There is a lot of controversy right now regarding wearing cloth masks in public places, and it is difficult to decipher whose information is more accurate. However, it is also difficult to know whether or not any microscopic sized particles were passed between you and the person who just walked past you.
When it comes to safety, it is our opinion not to take any unnecessary chances. It’s definitely better to be safe than to be sorry for not being safe.
References:
(Robertson, 2020) https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/diy-homemade-mask-protect-virus-coronavirus/
(National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), 2020) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html