Cotton Masks for Protection Against COVID-19
COVID-19 is the fifth documented pandemic since the 1918 flu, but the first one during my lifetime. This virus has disrupted our personal lives and almost all aspects of society. There are many things about COVID-19 that scientists are still investigating. Yet, there is clear evidence that wearing a mask is an effective way to reduce the spread of the virus. Keep reading to learn more about how to protect yourself in public. I will review the different types of masks available. I recently purchased cotton masks and think they are great to wear outside of healthcare settings.
How to reduce the spread of COVID-19
COVID-19 is a respiratory virus. Symptoms of infection may include cough, intermittent fever, and/or severe pneumonia. Respiratory droplets may pass into the air after a person coughs or sneezes. The virus spreads when droplets are inhaled by someone near (within 1 m) an infected person. Transmission can also happen through contact with surfaces or objects.1 The virus has an incubation time between 2–14 days. So, people who might have an active infection or those at high-risk should stay in quarantine for at least two weeks. Some infected persons do not show any signs or symptoms. Yet, they may still be contagious and spread the virus to others.
Good hygiene practices are important to decrease your risk of infection. It is important to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You may also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. It is best to check product labels since only those containing more than 60% alcohol will kill the virus. You can disinfect surfaces in your home or surroundings with 70% isopropyl alcohol. 2
Which type of mask works the best?
One study done by the Duke University School of Medicine tested 14 face masks, one patch of mask material, and a fit-tested N95 respirator. Researchers measured the relative respiratory droplet count passing through each mask. They found that the fitted N-95 mask offered the best protection. Interestingly, wearing a neck gaiter was less effective than wearing no mask at all. Cotton masks decreased droplet count by 70-80% compared to not wearing any mask .3
Even though the study did not include surgical masks, they offer more protection than cotton masks. Surgical, or medical masks, are appropriate if you are showing respiratory symptoms. They are also a good choice for people at higher risk of infection. These include the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions. It is important to remember that surgical masks are for one time use only. Click here to see a video showing how to wear a medical mask.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not recommend that the general public wear N95 masks. Only healthcare workers and medical first responders should use them. So, cloth face coverings are an option for use by the general public. 4 Recently, I have been looking for 100% cotton masks. Luckily, I did find ones that are comfortable, breathable, stylish, and affordable.
Caraa cotton face masks
I love this set of 5 universal masks from Caraa available here. They are 2-layer cotton, pleated masks. Caraa’s masks are available in seven different color schemes. I got the set of assorted classic colors which are blush, robin’s egg, olive, latte, and black. I like that these colors make it easy to match and coordinate with different outfits. Also, they have adjustable nose bridge wires and elastic ear loops. These improve the fit and wearability of the masks. I love that the brand donates one mask pack per sale through their charity, Caraa Cares.
Caraa Universal Mask Filters
The masks have a filtration efficiency of 75% on their own. Still, I chose to buy Caraa’s mask filters for extra protection. These come in handy on days I plan to be in closer proximity to others. Intertek Labs tested the filters. They have a Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of over 99%. The filters fit inside all Caraa Universal Mask filter pockets. It is important to wash your hands before and after touching them. Filters are for single-use only. You should wear them for no longer than 10 hours.
How to wear, wash, and care for cotton masks
You may wash cotton masks and wear them more than once, unlike medical masks. When ready to remove, hold the elastics and do not touch the surface of the fabric. You should be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash your hands immediately afterward. Hang the mask in a place where the outside will not be in contact with other surfaces.
It is generally best to wash the mask daily, especially if you are wearing it for more than 8 hours. I like to hand-wash my masks for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap. Then, I place them into the dryer on high heat (130° F). According to Professor Travis Glenn, heating a material at this temperature will kill greater than 99.99% of the virus after 20 minutes. 5 Hand-washing is generally best to increase the lifespan of the masks. But, it is still alright to machine wash using detergent if you prefer. Ironing your masks using the cotton or linen setting will kill the virus as well.
References
- Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: Implications for IPC precaution recommendations. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations. Accessed September 9, 2020.
- Keni R, Alexander A, Nayak PG, Mudgal J, Nandakumar K. COVID-19: Emergence, Spread, Possible Treatments, and Global Burden. Mini Review. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020-May-28 2020; 8(216) doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00216
- Fischer EP, Fischer MC, Grass D, Henrion I, Warren WS, Westman E. Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech. Science Advances. 2020; 6(36):eabd3083. doi:doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd3083
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health. N95 respirators, surgical masks, face masks, & barrier face coverings. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-surgical-masks-face-masks-and-barrier-face-coverings. Accessed September 2, 2020.
- Baggett L, Baggett L. Heat is key to killing coronavirus on surfaces. UGA Today. https://news.uga.edu/heat-key-killing-coronavirus-surfaces/. Accessed September 2, 2020.
