A team of researchers studying the effectiveness of different types of face masks has found that in order to provide the best protection against COVID-19, the fit of a mask is as important, or more important, than the material it is made of.To get more news about famous mask wholesale, you can visit tnkme.com official website.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, carried out a series of different fit tests, and found that when a high-performance mask — such as an N95, KN95 or FFP2 mask — is not properly fitted, it performs no better than a cloth mask. Minor differences in facial features, such as the amount of fat under the skin, make significant differences in how well a mask fits.

The results, published in the journal PLoS ONE, also suggest that the fit-check routine used in many healthcare settings has high failure rates, as minor leaks may be difficult or impossible to detect by the wearer. While the sample size was small, the researchers hope their findings will help develop new fit tests that are quick and reliable, in the case of future public health emergencies. The current study only evaluated the impact of fit on the wearer of the mask — the team will evaluate how fit impacts the protection of others in future research.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made well-fitting face masks a vital piece of protective equipment for healthcare workers and civilians. While the importance of wearing face masks in slowing the spread of the virus has been demonstrated, there remains a lack of understanding about the role that good fit plays in ensuring their effectiveness.

“We know that unless there is a good seal between the mask and the wearer’s face, many aerosols and droplets will leak through the top and sides of the mask, as many people who wear glasses will be well aware of,” said Eugenia O’Kelly from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, the paper’s first author. “We wanted to quantitatively evaluate the level of fit offered by various types of masks, and most importantly, assess the accuracy of implementing fit checks by comparing fit check results to quantitative fit testing results.”

For the study, seven participants first evaluated N95 and KN95 masks by performing a fit check, according to NHS guidelines. Participants then underwent quantitative fit testing — which uses a particle counter to measure the concentration of particles inside and outside the mask — while wearing N95 and KN95 masks, surgical masks, and fabric masks. The results assessed the protection to the mask wearer, which is important in clinical settings.

N95 masks — which are a similar standard to the FFP3 masks available in the UK and the rest of Europe — offered higher degrees of protection than the other categories of masks tested; however, most N95 masks failed to fit the participants adequately.

In their study, the researchers found that when fitted properly, N95 masks filtered more than 95% of airborne particles, offering superior protection. However, in some cases, poorly-fitted N95 masks were only comparable with surgical or cloth masks.

“It’s not enough to assume that any single N95 model will fit the majority of a population,” said O’Kelly. “The most widely-fitting mask we looked at, the 8511 N95, fit only three out of the seven participants in our study.”
One observation the researchers made during their study was the width of the flange of the mask — the area of the material which comes in contact with the skin — may be a critical feature to fit. Masks that fit the greatest number of participants tended to have wider, more flexible flanges around the border.

In addition, small facial differences were observed to have a significant impact on quantitative fit. “Fitting the face perfectly is a difficult technical challenge and, as our research showed, small differences such as a centimeter wider nose or slightly fuller cheeks can make or break the fit of a mask,” said O’Kelly.

The German state of Bavaria will begin mandating FFP2 masks in shops and on all public transport from Monday.When the announcement was made last Tuesday, State Premiere Markus Söder said it was "to make everyday life safer."To get more news about famous type I mask price, you can visit tnkme.com official website.

Since the wearing of face-coverings was made mandatory across Bavaria last April, people were allowed to wear pretty much anything that covered their mouth and nose. Those "community masks", said Söder, were used to protect others, "FFP2 masks will also protect you."FFP2 or their equivalent N95 or KN95 in other parts of the world, filter up to 94 percent of the particles, droplets and aerosols from the air and have been used by many in professional fields such as construction and healthcare for some time now.

While other nations have resisted mandating them to avoid any supply issues for those working on the front line of COVID, Söder says "the availability in the trade is sufficiently guaranteed" while Bavaria's Health Minister, Klaus Holetschek, says "the market has developed incredibly."

Yet supply and price for the general public has been of some concern. Individually, a one-time use, disposable FFP2 mask costs between $2.40 and $6, while prices have been increasing amongst the many retailers selling them.State officials have promised two-and-a-half million free FFP2 masks to people in need, yet many pharmacies feel they have been left responsible for their own distribution without any state help.

Stefanie Salb, the owner of Lackner Pharmacy in Munich, said: "We didn't get any support. We only got the information that we had to hand over the masks. To get the masks, we had to contact dealers ourselves so that we could get them."

Salb says she believes in the new regulation and wants to help the people with supply, but it has been made difficult for her."We really try to help everyone and if it is not possible, it is definitely not possible," she attests. "Many decisions that are made by politics are made so ad hoc and we are the ones who then have to implement them."

Out on the streets of Munich, many residents say they agree with the new ordinance on the basis of public health and safety.

Munich Resident Benni Harvey, told CGTN Europe: "I think it's a great thing because they are proven to work well, better than the other masks, so I think there is no reason to not wear them. But if people are not able to buy them, I think the state should help out."

"Yeah I have no problem at all," said 79-year-old Karl Taxis. "They are affordable and I got 12 in one shop. The only thing that is disturbing is the ear (strap) so sometimes I put it a little bit down."Even opposition parties in the state are relatively supportive of the new measure and Germany's centre for disease control, The Robert Koch Institute, says FFP2 masks are effective if worn properly, tight and covering the mouth and nose.

Germany has reported more than two million COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began and daily numbers have not seen a substantial decrease despite a nationwide lockdown that began in November.

While Bavaria's implementing of FFP2 masks is only state-wide, Germany's parliament will now debate whether to make them mandatory across the country.

Individuals wanting to use off-post public transportation or retail stores in Bavaria will now be required to wear a medical-grade FFP2 mask, starting Jan. 18, 2021. Children under 15 years old are not required to wear this specific mask. However, children above the age of 6 are still required to wear a cloth face covering of some type.To get more news about famous nonmedical mask stock, you can visit tnkme.com official website.

FFP stands for “Filtering Facepieces,” and FFP2 masks can be purchased at local Apothecaries and other stores off-post. On-post retailers are working through the logistical chains to make FFP2 variants available, but it will take some time. Additionally, the use of FFP2 mask equivalents, like the N-95, is currently under discussion. The USAG Bavaria Public Affairs Office will release more information about the availability and use of similar masks once additional information is received.

While FFP2 masks can be more expensive, these masks can be reused with proper handling and storage. Here are some tips to extend the longevity of these medical-grade masks:

Never reuse an FFP2 mask that is soiled, damaged, or hard to breathe through; if this occurs, dispose of it in your regular household trash.
Only masks with elastic ear hooks should be reused (tie-on face masks are less suitable because they are more difficult to remove and may lead to self-contamination)
Additional FFP2 mask handling pointers:

Individuals should wash their hands before removing their masks.
Only touch the straps of the mask to remove.
Do not touch the front of the mask; this is the most contaminated part.
After removing the mask, it should be hung by the straps to allow it to dry. Do not store the mask in an airtight container.
Store the mask such that the inside of the mask does not get contaminated by other surfaces.
Store the mask in low-traffic areas of your home.
Hand washing should occur before and after removing the face mask.
FFP2 masks are NEVER to be cleaned or disinfected with disinfectant spray. The disinfectant spray could damage the filtering material.
Do not share masks among household members.
To ensure that masks are not shared, consider using a sharpie to put initials or names on the straps before first use.