Add layers to your homemade face masks to make it more effective against the COVID-19 virus

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading health organizations and scientists have been advising people to cover their faces with masks in order to contain the spread of the virus. A study PNAS: The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences too say that face masks may have prevented tens of thousands of infections. Today, with cases in India inching towards 14 lakhs, it is necessary to do everything that we can to stay safe and stop the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Face masks play an important role in this. Many experts say that home made face masks are effective against the virus. But how should you make your face masks? This has confused many people.

Now, according to a new research, home-made cloth face masks may need a minimum of two layers, and preferably three, to prevent the dispersal of viral droplets from the nose and mouth that are associated with the spread of COVID-19. Viral droplets are generated during coughing, sneezing, or speaking. And face masks are thought to protect healthy people from inhaling infectious droplets as well as reducing the spread from those who are already infected.

Single-layer, double-layer or 3-ply surgical mask?

For the study, published in the journal Thorax, a team of Australian researchers compared the effectiveness of single and double-layer cloth face coverings (cotton fabric) with a 3-ply surgical face mask (Bao Thach) at reducing droplet spread.

The single-layer covering was made from a folded piece of cotton T-shirt and hair ties the double layer covering was made using the sewing method. The researchers used a tailored LED lighting system and a high-speed camera to film the dispersal of airborne droplets produced by a healthy person with no respiratory infection, during speaking, coughing, and sneezing while wearing each type of mask.

Double layer better than a single one

The study showed that the 3-ply surgical face mask was the most effective at reducing airborne droplet dispersal, although even a single layer cloth face-covering reduced the droplet spread from speaking. But a double layer covering was better than a single layer in reducing the droplet spread from coughing and sneezing, the recording showed. This is just one case, added to which several other factors contribute to the effectiveness of cloth face masks, the researchers noted.

Multiple layers are even better

These include the type of material used, design and fit, as well as the frequency of washing. Nevertheless, based on observations made by the researchers, a homemade cloth mask with at least two layers is preferable to a single layer mask, they say. Guidelines on home-made cloth masks should stipulate multiple layers. There is a need for more evidence to inform safer cloth mask design, and countries should ensure adequate manufacturing or procurement of surgical masks, they added.

You need to clean your face mask properly too

According to CDC guidelines, both hand washing and machine washing are suitable for cleaning your face mask. If you choose machine wash, then put your cloth mask in a mesh washing bag to protect it from getting torn in the machine. Regular laundry detergent work just fine and use warm water. You can also wash your mask with your hands. Place it under running water to ensure that all dirt and grime is washed away. Soak it is hot water with detergent for some time and then gently scrub with your hands. Squeeze dry and put it out flat to dry completely.