The covid-19 has disrupted every facet of life on the planet, from finance, to health and even our greeting and lifestyles. To combat the spread of Coronavirus, there has been a widespread campaign by governments and health organizations for the use of face masks alongside other preventive measures like social distancing and washing of hands.

These face masks come in different types – cloth masks, surgical masks, N95 masks – and this article will examine each type of face mask to help you decide on which is the best and most suitable to protect you during the pandemic.

N95 masks shall be reserved to the healthcare workers

N95 masks, also called N95 respirators, are NIOSH approved face masks that filter out 95% of all droplets and aerosols of size between 0.1 and 0.3 microns in width – including droplets that carry the novel coronavirus. They are tight fitting and provide more protection than other types of masks. Health professionals are usually fit tested in the production of these masks to ensure adequate sealing. Even though research is being carried out to make N95 masks reusable, they are still single-use face masks.

Due to the limited supply of N95 masks in some countries, the general public has been urged to reserve its usage for health workers and first line responders who are more at risk of coronavirus.

N95 masks generally increase the effort needed for breathing which might lead to suffocation in younger children (below 3 years) with smaller lung capacities. Also, N95 masks are generally designed to fit adults and might not fit children less than 12 years of age.

People with medical conditions such as chronic lung and heart diseases should consult a doctor before wearing N95 face masks. This is because they might already have features of a reduced lung volume and wearing the face masks can make breathing more difficult and uncomfortable.

Surgical masks are the best types of masks for the general public

Surgical masks or medical-grade face masks are disposable, light blue, loose fitting masks.

They usually have strings that are tied behind the head, or elastic bands that fit over both ears. Surgical masks usually consist of three layers and they protect the nose and mouth of the wearer from droplet transmission.

Unlike the N95, they cannot protect against aerosols, and since they are loose fitting, they do not provide complete protection from potential contaminants. But they still serve as a potent physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and sprays, droplets or splashes.

“When used correctly, surgical masks help in preventing the spread of covid-19. When worn, the blue part should face outside while the white part should face the mouth and nose. Combining them with filters or cloth masks can also increase their effectiveness”, reminds Michelle Chiu from The Kare Lab, a manufacturer in medical supplies.

Surgical masks are designated for single-use and should be properly and safely discarded after use.

Handmade and clothes masks

Handmade and cloth masks became a necessary invention during the pandemic as the world was facing a face mask shortage due to the high demand.

They come in different types, and sizes. An effective cloth mask should have at least three layers of fabric because higher protection is provided by more layers of fabric in the mask.

Against small particles, cloth masks are not as effective as respirators or surgical masks, but they are able to block slightly larger particles and also help in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

The most significant advantage of cloth masks is that they are reusable after washing. However, it is important that they are washed properly as some studies suggest that proper laundering helps them perform better against smaller particles.

They are also very easy to make or purchase and they can be combined with surgical masks for better protection. In using cloth masks, the nose, mouth and chin should be well covered and the wearer should avoid touching them.

Other masks

Apart from the masks mentioned above, there are several other types. Some include:

• KN95 masks are similar to the N95 but are made in China. They also filter 95% of all droplets and aerosols. Only KN95 masks that meet NIOSH requirements should be purchased.

• FFP2 masks are European products that provide at least 94% filtration. They are similar to the N95 masks.

• Masks with valves have valves that make breathing more comfortable but they are not as effective in limiting the spread of viruses since they allow expelled hair through the holes, which can transmit droplets to others.

• Plastic face shields and googles are effective only as additional protection to face masks. They do not offer enough protection against coronavirus because there is still a large space between the shield and the mouth and nose through which droplets can enter but they represent a perfect item in completion with the mask.

Science maintains a never-ending process of moving forward. Biology has been no exception to this advancement, and today there are things being done that would have never been thought possible just a few years ago.

It's worth noting before we go any further that these developments would have been impossible without technological advances working in concert with the direct research. The development of sampling techniques, laboratory processes, and biorepository storage facilities have paved the way for researchers to delve into the possibilities presented in living things.

With that said, biological advances of recent decades have covered several major areas.

DNA Sequencing And Mapping

Arguably the most impactful of these has been the world of DNA research. The ability to map and compare the genes of two different organisms has had an unbelievable effect on the world. We can now identify people who are at an increased risk of certain types of diseases, possibly helping them through preventive treatments. We can trace the lineage of animals on one continent to animals on another continent. Law enforcement can acquire tiny bits of tissue from a crime scene and use it to identify a murderer or thief. The list goes on and on.

The impact of these connections goes far beyond family trees or paternity suits, of course. We can manage all kinds of health threats to both plants and animals by understanding their DNA. For example, the American chestnut tree was rendered nearly extinct by a disease outbreak decades ago. Its cousin, the Chinese chestnut, is immune. A development process has created a new, immune American chestnut that could prove valuable for timber, food, and erosion control, all thanks to DNA technology.

Stem Cells

As of now, this area has perhaps the most unexplored potential. We know a great deal about the use of these special cells for reversing genetic disorders and curing diseases long considered hopeless.

Of course, stem cell research remains very controversial. Anti-abortion groups have been concerned since the earliest days of the research with whether these developments could ever create a demand for aborted human fetuses. In time, the development of cord blood banking and other processes has helped to ease these fears, but they could always re-emerge if new opportunities steer scientists back toward the origin of these cells.

Hence, science is not the only limiting factor in the development of stem cell technology. Regulation and the court of public opinion will have a lot to say about where it goes.

Genetically-Modified Crops

Another area of considerable debate is genetic modification. This process is essentially a fast-forwarding of the development of plant breeds. What used to take years and years to create through a painstaking process of managing pollination, establishing new offspring, and repeating can now be done relatively quickly in a laboratory.

Concerns exist about whether these foods are safe to eat, and despite considerable research confirming that they are, there is reason to be alert to the risk of a narrowing of the genetic pool for crops. For example, if every farmer in the world is growing one of five or six different varieties of corn, a new disease could emerge that would attack those limited types and could have a huge impact on world harvest levels. As a result, scientists are operating storehouses of seed to maintain the genetic base for new varieties.

An ever-growing world population and the desire to keep it healthy and well-fed is driving research that has made it possible to do things no one dared dream a generation ago.

by Jane Brown