Is your mask good enough to stop Omicron attack?
Covid cases are shooting up again after a lull and the prime suspect behind the latest wave is the variant, Omicron.
In the few weeks since it was identified in S. Africa, this variant has become notorious for dodging defences—both within the body and around it. It easily infects people who have been vaccinated or have had Covid before. It also sneaks into spaces you would consider safe.
For e.g., in Hong Kong, it is believes to have spread from one hotel guest to another although they’re staying in separate rooms across a hall and never met.
Scientists say Omicron spreads easily because it grows 70 times faster in respiratory tissue than the Delta variant that caused India’s deadly 2nd wave. So, breathing in even a tiny bit of it may cause an infection. Therefore, it’s time to take a careful look at the mask you’ve been using. Does it have what it takes to keep out Omicron?
Cloth masks
All masks are made from some kind of fabric, even if it’s melt blown plastic, but by ‘cloth’ here we mean one of those light cottony, breathable masks that everybody has amassed through the course of the pandemic.
Last year, amid a worldwide shortage of N95 masks, experts had recommended cloth masks for the general public. The idea was that placing a barrier before your nose and mouth would protect others from any virus in your breath. Cloth masks were NOT meant to protect you from the virus present in the air around.
Now, with a highly infectious variant in the air, it’s probably not a good idea to rely on a cloth mask for safety.
Surgical masks
These lightweight masks are an improvement on ordinary cloth masks. They’re better at trapping germs in your breath, but do not offer much protection to you. Also, they can’t be washed and should be changed regularly to remain effective.
If you use public transport or need to spend time in an enclosed space such as an office, consider wearing something better than a surgical mask.
FFP ( filtering face-piece) masks
The name may be unfamiliar, but we know them as the ‘N” range of masks, especially the N95. They’re made out of a tough material, such as cellulose or plastic, and have high-quality filtering layers. Some also come with exhalation valves for easy breathing, but they’re not recommended in the pandemic because while they protect the wearer, they put others at risk by releasing unfiltered air.
FFP masks are further classified as per the degree of protection they offer.
FFP1-these are meant for trapping coarse particles like dust, and are used by workers in industrial environments. While they’re better than surgical masks, they might not trap virus particles effectively.
FFP2- equivalent to N95, they can trap or filter out about 95% of airborne particles. They’re also classified as KN95 or P2 in some countries. Some studies have shown that an N95 mask offers at least 5 times greater protection than a surgical mask.
For most people, FFP2 or N95 masks offer the best combination of performance and price. But while they offer very good protection, they might not be enough in a highly contaminated environment, such as a hospital ward treating Covid patients.
FFP3- equivalent grade in India is called N99 ( filters 99% of airborne particles), also classified as EN149 or P3. They’re highly effective and trap not only aerosols, but also viruses and bacteria. They’re recommended for high-risk places. A British study found hospitals where doctors and nurses used them had almost zero transmission.
Make your mask more effective
Regardless of the mask you use, you can make it better by ensuring it fits snugly around the mouth and nose. Wearing 2 masks together- usually a snug cloth mask over a surgical mask- also has advantages. By some accounts, double-masking is 95% more effective than a single cloth mask. Lastly, a dry mask is better than a wet mask. In cold weather, talking causes vapour in your breath to condense on the inside of your mask. So, silence is golden while Omicron wave lasts.