Coronavirus Face Masks With Vents, Valves May Do More Harm Than Good!

If you were thinking recycling your pollution mask to tide over the pandemic mandate, we appreciate your ecological sentiments, but you may not be able to protect yourself from the virus. 

Many researches so far have pointed out that the COVID 19 is spread primarily though respiratory droplets produced while talking (even singing!) or just coming in contact with an infected person. Now, since the rise of the transmission through asymptomatic carriers is also coming to light, it is imperative that you wear a face mask when outside.

(Image: Vog Masks)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in United States mentions on its website that a face mask may not protect the wearer, but it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others.

However, the CDC has now updated the site to include more information about the type of masks that one should wear. This new information is sure to dispel the prevalent notion that wearing just any mask is better than wearing no mask. “The purpose of masks is to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others to aid with source control. Masks with one-way valves or vents allow exhaled air to be expelled out through holes in the material. This can allow exhaled respiratory droplets to reach others and potentially spread the COVID-19 virus,” the federal agency wrote.    

So, a person carrying the coronavirus and wearing a valve mask would still continue to infect others courtesy the vents or valves on the mask. Howeverm the CDC also advised the general public against wearing medical-grade N95 masks or surgical masks to prevent paucity of these items for medical professionals.

At the moment, reusable and multi-layered cotton or polypropylene masks are suitable as well as effective options.