Importance of high quality (N95) masks to fight omicron - from Axios PM, Mike Allen, January 11, 2022

 


Data: Gholamhossein Bagheri and Eberhard Bodenschatz/Max Planck Institute. (The study examined FFP2 masks, which we denote as N95 here, given their similar performance.) Chart: Will Chase and Annelise Capossela/Axios

Wearing the right mask — the right way — can be the most powerful tool in your arsenal to slow the spread of COVID-19.

  • Fitted particle-filtering masks like N95s are up to 75x more effective at preventing COVID infection than surgical masks, Axios visual journalist Will Chase reports.

Researchers at Max Planck Institute in Germany investigated the risk when two individuals are speaking with each other at a close distance.

  • As shown in the data visualization above, only universal masking with well-fitted N95 or similar masks reduced the risk to below 1% after 20 minutes.
  • Surgical masks — and situations where one person wore a poorly fitting mask, or did not mask — reduced the infection risk. But it remained far above the acceptable risk level.
  • This study didn't include cloth masks. But other studies have shown that those provide even less protection than surgical masks.

The bottom line: The fit of the mask is the most important factor, study author Eberhard Bodenschatz told Axios.

  • Masks should have a tight fit around your face and nose, to minimize any air leakage.

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