To control the spread of the coronavirus during airplane travel, various health authorities such as WHO and the U.S CDC make it compulsory to wear face masks. Just like Covid-19 testing, wearing a face mask is also mandatory for the public. Nowadays, you may see people wearing different kinds of face masks like disposable masks, N95, KN95, cloth masks, and hand-sewn masks. The choice of face mask depends on personal interest and availability.

With the spread of the coronavirus, different health authorities implement various SOPs as a part of urgent care to prevent the chances of Covid-19. Such measures include frequent hand washing, social distancing, and wearing a face mask.

Types of Coronavirus Masks

You can purchase a variety of face masks from the market to protect yourself from the coronavirus. There are many myths about face masks. The question arises, which mask is effective that fulfills our aim to protect against the coronavirus. The face mask must cover the nose, mouth, and fit against the face. The following are the different kinds of face masks used by many people.

Cone-style masks
Cone-style masks have a strip of metal at the top which is used to secure the mask at the bridge of the nose, and it fits over the mouth and nose. Cone-style face masks are less reliable at containing droplets as compared to fabric or cloth masks as they are made up of quilting cotton. However, cone-style masks are more useful than a bandana.

Surgical Mask
Surgical masks are used by medical professionals during different medical procedures and surgeries as personal protective equipment (PPE), they are also called disposable covers. There are many colors of a surgical mask, commonly green, blue, white, and black. They are made up of plastics and paper. They do not protect against smaller droplets but are intended to protect from large respiratory droplets. If you are affected a by coronavirus, then it may protect other people around you. They are disposable, which means they cannot be reused and washed like cloth masks.

N95 masks
N95 masks are an ideal choice as a part of primary care during covid-19 as they provide a higher degree of protection than fabric or surgical mask. When a wearer breathes, N95 masks filter out both small and large airborne particles. They can block 95% of liquids or particles that may come in contact with your face that’s why they are called N95. These masks are reserved for medical and health professionals and sometimes used by the general public for max protection. It is not suitable for people suffering from medical conditions like cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases. It is better to consult your healthcare provider before using N95 masks.

Fabric/cloth masks
They are widely available in the market and are easy to purchase. They control the coronavirus spread by trapping droplets that are released when a person wearing the mask talks, sneezes, or coughs. You must buy new cloth or facial mask if it becomes dirty and wet.

KN95 Mask
KN95 mask is a Chinese product and is similar to the N95 masks. They are intended to create an airtight seal around the face of user and can filter up to 95% of droplets or particles. KN95 became popular due to the shortage of N95 masks during the early days of Covid-19. The FDA also recommends the use of KN95 masks as a part of urgent care and prevention for Covid-19. The effectiveness of KN95 is due to its non-woven material that can filter particles measuring 0.5 microns in diameter.

Benefits of wearing a facemask

By wearing a face mask in this pandemic, you can protect yourself from pollution and avoid getting sick due to coronavirus. The following are the benefits of wearing a face mask.

Masks Protect You
As we know that, the coronavirus is spread by respiratory droplets from one person to other due to talking, coughing, and sneezing of an infected person. That’s why wearing a face mask protects you against many diseases including Covid-19.

Masks Protect Other People
It provides mutual benefit as face mask protect everyone and prevent the transmission of the virus, if circulating in the community.

Face mask and other Alternatives
As we don’t have any other options to fight against Covid-19, wearing a face mask is a simple way to protect yourself and others from this deadly infection. Face masks are our only option for defense against Covid-19 in the absence of a vaccine.