Guidance on the Use of Masks for the General Public

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The face of the entire world changed due to the COVID-19 virus. The proper name of this virus is SARS-CoV-2 and it is one of the coronaviruses. Firstly, in China, the virus was transmitted from an animal to a human, and since then it has been spreading like a wildfire. WHO declared it a global pandemic and as per the development of the studies on this virus, the guidelines from WHO and CDC keep on changing accordingly.

There is so much information available on the internet regarding this virus that it can be overwhelming to the general public. We all know the basics: Wash/sanitize your hands frequently, maintain social distancing, and wear a face mask. For the former two, things are pretty clear, but the information on the face masks and face-covering keeps on changing.

Allow us to brief you on all about face masks in reference to COVID-19.

When to wear a mask?

First things first: When to wear a mask? This is a question that is dividing everyone"s knowledge and beliefs about the coronavirus. With so many backlashes across the globe, the suggestion of wearing a face mask is not welcomed everywhere.According to the guidelines, everyone over the age of 2 who can medically tolerate a face mask or covering over their nose and mouth must wear it in a public place where social distancing is not possible. Examples include:

When feeling sick
While coughing or sneezing
Shopping at essential businesses, like grocery stores or pharmacies
Picking up food from the drive-thru
Visiting a health care facility/provider
Traveling by public transportation
Interacting with customers, clients, or coworkers at essential business settings.

Note: Those who are staying indoors and are not in close contact with COVID-19 affected people, need not wear masks. Even if you are doing chores in and about your house like: Running, exercising, lawn mowing, car washing, etc, you need not wear a mask.By following these guidelines you help in the protection of others in case you"re infected but don"t have symptoms.

Important: One must have knowledge of what type of masks should be worn by whom.

Face mask hygiene etiquette:

Always sanitize or wash your hands before you put on your mask
Make sure your mask is facing the right direction, so your face is not touching the exterior of the mask
Wear your mask snuggly over both your mouth and nose
Avoid touching the mask while you’re wearing it
When you are removing the mask, touch only the attached strings or elastic bands
After removing the mask, place it on a sanitized surface if you have to wear it again, or simply throw it directly into the wash bin. Then wash your hands again.

How do I make my own mask or face covering?

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It is very easy to make a fabric mask at home. You can do so, by watching online YouTube videos on this. But since not all fabrics are the same, fabric/cloth masks are not recommended by the CDC. Read CDC DIY Cloth Face Coverings guidelines.

Information on visors (face shields)

Face shields or visors are primarily used for eye protection of the person wearing it. But they came into the picture in reference to the protection against COVID-19. However, at this time, there is not much research on the level of protection visors offer. There is currently not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of visors/face shields for source control. Therefore, the CDC does not currently recommend the use of face shields as a substitute for masks

How often should you wash your mask?

According to the experts on this, the frequency of washing the masks depends on the frequency of using it. Washing it every day after use is highly recommended. However, if you suspect that you have been exposed to the virus, extra precautions must be taken.

Which mask offers the best protection against Sars-CoV-2?

While there are several masks available both online and in stores, from fashionable to single-use, most of them don"t claim to protect you from the Sars-CoV-2 virus. When your and your family"s health is your utmost priority then go for Eco Airmask. This antimicrobial, self-sanitizing, washable/reusable mask, based on BluFenz technology, offers protection against H1N1, Sars-CoV-1, and Sars-CoV-2. Above all, Eco Airmask doesn"t contribute to PPE waste!

Guidance on mask management

WHO has released detailed information on Guidance on the Use of Masks for the General Public . Follow the link for detailed and updated information.

Conclusion

One important thing to keep in mind is that when you wear a mask, you are protecting other people from your germs, and when others wear a mask, they protect you. Since coronavirus is likely to stay with us till the near future, you must take all the precautionary measures to avoid contracting the virus and to stop the spread. We are in this together!

Test Article Counts	Test Article Counts	Average Control Counts	Filtration Efficiency (%)
1	10	12,921	99.923
2	2	12,609	99.984
3	7	11,693	99.940
4	3	12,185	99.975
5	6	12,513	99.952

Test Article Number	Percent BFE (%)
1	99.5
2	98.3
3	>99.9
4	99.8
5	98.9

Test Article Number	Percent VFE (%)
1	98.8
2	99.4
3	>98.9
4	98.2
5	99.5

Test Article Number	Inhalation Resistance (mm H2O)	Exhalation Resistance (mm H2O)
1	6.9	5.6
2	6.3	5.7
3	7.0	6.1

Test Article Number	Delta P (mm H2O/cm2)	Delta P (Pa/cm2)
1	6.3	62.0
2	6.0	58.6
3	6.1	60.0
4	5.9	57.4
5	5.3	52.5

Size	Jaw Line
Small (S)	5.2″ – 6.7″/ 13cm -17 cm
Medium (M)	5.9″ – 7.5″ / 15cm – 19cm
Large (L)	6.7″ – 8.2″ / 17cm – 21cm

Sl. No.	Time (min)	CM001- ECO AIRMASK
		SARS-CoV-2
		E Gene			S Gene
		Ct Value*	Delta Ct**	%Reduction in Viral load	Ct Value	Delta Ct	%Reduction in Viral load
1	0	25	–	–	24	–	–
2	30	29	4	–	27	3	–
3	45	31	2	>95	29	2	>95
4	60	ND^#	–	99	ND	–	99
5	Positive control	29	–	–	29	–	–
6	Negative control	ND	–	–	–	–	–