TOKYO (JAPAN) – Researchers in Japan have proved that even professional-grade face masks cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19 spread.
Scientists at the University of Tokyo constructed a secure chamber and installed two mannequins facing each other. While one had a nebuliser fixed on its head to simulate coughing and expel coronavirus particles, the other mimicked breathing and had a collection chamber for viruses coming through the air passage.
Wearing a cotton mask reduces the intake of viruses by 40% compared to no mask while an N95 mask, usually worn by medical professionals, blocked viruses and other particles up to 90%. Even when the N95 was fitted to the face with tape, still some virus particles managed to sneak in.
Scientists found that when a mask was attached to the coughing mannequin, cotton and surgical masks blocked more than 50% of the virus transmission.
“There was a synergistic effect when both the virus receiver and virus spreader wore masks,” said the scientists in a study published on Wednesday.
Health experts increasingly feel that the virus spreads through the air and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its guidelines this month to say that the virus can remain in the air for hours at a stretch.
Another team of scientists made use of supercomputer simulations to demonstrate that humidity can have a big impact on the airborne dispersion of virus particles.