Covid-19 Weapons of War: Masks

As the weeks go by, it is becoming ever more clear that masks will be a part of our lives for a long time to come. France announced on April 23rd that masks will be compulsory on public transport from May 11th. And the weekly usage of 45 million masks by mid-April is expected to rise sharply.

Surgical masks

These masks have long been widely been used in the hospital environment. In January, France had a stock of 117 million units. Five million surgical masks were then being used every week in French establishments. These single-use masks cannot be worn for more than four hours. They are generally made from a recyclable plastic called polypropylene.

These waterproof masks prevent droplets and most airborne particles from being transmitted from the person to person. However, they do not prevent the inhalation of very fine particles contained in the air.

There are three types:

- Type 1, with a bacterial filtration efficiency of 95%.

- Type 2, with a bacterial filtration efficiency of more than 98%.

- Type 2R, with a bacterial filtration efficiency greater than 98% and spray-proof.

FFP Masks

FFP stands for Filtering Facepiece Particles. Unlike surgical masks, these masks actually filter the air. Considered as respiratory protective equipment, they are used on building sites to protect workers from dust and other contaminants. These masks protect both the wearer and bystanders from airborne particles that may contain the virus. They also prevent the projection of droplets.

There are three types of these masks, according to the European standard:

-  FFP1, with an aerosol filtration percentage of at least 80% and an inward leakage percentage of not more than 22%.

- FFP2, with a filtration capacity of at least 94% and an inward leakage of not more than 8%.

- FFP3, with a filtration capacity of at least 99% and an inward leakage of not more than 2%.

Cloth masks

The textile industry has started to address the health crisis, with everyone from the NFL to your favorite rapper producing branded, reusable cloth masks. In France a group of companies has been formed in collaboration with the Strategic Committee of the Fashion and Luxury Industry in order to manufacture masks made of fabric for the general public as quickly as possible. These masks are washable and reusable. They have been approved by the Directorate-General for Armaments to ensure the highest level of protection.

As of April 7th, a total of 610 companies have been mobilized to produce 800,000 masks every day. They were first distributed to hospital staff. Healthcare workers at the Lille University Hospital received the Garridou® mask, which provides more than 95% filtration of air particles.  However, its lifespan is limited and its effectiveness is called into question after more than six washes. 

These masks should be all over the place in the next few weeks. The city of Clermont-Ferrand, for example, has ordered 600,000 cloth masks for free distribution throughout the city. In Paris, Anne Hidalgo announced that two million masks would be offered to the inhabitants. Health Minister Olivier Véran predicts that France will produce 17 million cloth masks every week by May 11th, as opposed to the eight million currently being produced. 

Homemade masks

Numerous efforts have been made to have masks made at home. There are models available on the internet, such as those made available by Afnor (the French national organization for standardization). These masks have been tested and are designed to provide a minimum level of protection. Afnor recommends that the mask be washed for a minimum of 30 minutes at 60 degrees and should not be left to dry outdoors.

According to pulmonologist Bertrand Dautzenberg, "If everyone wears a fabric mask it will be just as effective as wearing an FFP2 mask in front of someone who is not wearing a mask." However, this is only possible if the fabric mask protects against at least 70% of droplets.

A Toulouse woman has made a prototype for the deaf and hearing-impaired, which allows the mouth to show through. She raised €5,000 from an internet-based fund to finance the production, certification and distribution of these masks.

Visors

The demand for protective visors has also escalated. Although they can't filter the air, they allow human contact to be made while providing a minimum of protection. Private individuals have started manufacturing headbands using a 3D printer. Many models are available on the Internet. The "individual visor" initiative brings together manufacturers and people in need. Remember that it is preferable to complement the wearing of a visor with that of a mask.