Data says surgical and cloth face masks are not very effective — but one type really is best

With coronavirus cases rising and vaccine efficacy waning, health officials are placing a new emphasis on face mask awareness.

New research published in the journal, Physics of Fluids just identified
N95 and KN95 masks as the best options for crowded indoor events.

What you need to know about mask materials

The researchers also determined that surgical and cloth masks offer very little protection against aerosols—which are active viral particles that become suspended in the air.

Previously published data on mask effectiveness has been limited to the strength of the material of a mask. Many factors affect a mask’s effectiveness, especially the way it fits.

With everything considered, face and surgical masks only filter out approximately 10% of coronavirus aerosols; the other 90% can come through the loose-fitting top of the mask. This also means that only 10% of viral material emitted from an infected person wearing a surgical or cloth mask is blocked from reaching their surroundings.

“There is a reason that medical practitioners wear N95 masks — they work much better,” says study leader Serhiy Yarusevych, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, in a university release. “The novelty here is that we have provided solid numbers and rigorous analysis to support that assumption.”

Why does mask data keep changing?

Contradictory information has surrounded COVID-19 research ever since cases began appearing in early 2020.

Government leaders sent mixed messages to the American public because even the scientific community was unsure of what to do. Masks and vaccinations became political issues ahead of a general election, so the topics were discussed on a daily basis. Meantime, the global stage was impacted by a lack of contact-tracing resources. Moreover, the emergence of new virus variants, like the Delta strain, compelled academicians to review previously published literature.

Current guidance suggests that no one measure against COVID-19 is reliably effective. Instead, disease prevention is earned by a confluence of preemptive steps: wearing masks, social distancing, getting vaccinated, etc.

The authors of the new report send a clear message that all masks worn in crowded areas, including N95s and K95s with tight fits, still have risks.

They even found that it’s possible to be infected with COVID from particles emitted from someone who is standing six feet away. Wearing a mask reduces the likelihood of this occurring, but it doesn’t eliminate it completely.

This is in part because COVID-19 transmission occurs after accumulative exposure. In other words, the novel coronavirus needs to infect a specific number of cells before a host actually becomes sick. This number varies depending on age, gender and health status.

Where to purchase effective N95 and K95 Masks

Recently, researchers from Colorado State University compiled a list of the most efficient face masks brands. Their research, which included reviewing data published by various government agencies and guidance released by the CDC, found Kimberly-Clark N95 Pouch Respirator and Powecom’s KN95 Respirator Mask (with ear loops) to be the most effective options.