Defence Against COVID-19: 3 Layered Cloth Masks Essential

Face masks are now a dominant part of everyday human life. To ensure one’s safety a task is mandatory at all times. The market is brimmed with varieties of the mask to offer. But a constant shift towards fabric face masks can be witnessed amongst the people. Fabric mask is considered to be more comfortable and breathable. The fabric masks or the cloth masks tend to have an upper edge over other masks, as they can be reused, are environmentally friendly and are convenient to use. WHO in the admits of the situation issued the latest guidelines, for the usage of the face masks for protection against the novel coronavirus.

WHO in the recent guidelines talk about the layers one should have in masks in order to safeguard themselves. As per the WHO report, a minimum of three layers is required in a non-medical mask. The innermost layer in the mask will begin contact with the wearer’s face, the middle layer will act as a filter and the outmost layer will be exposed to the environment. Inclusion to this, the report also states that  ‘Fabric cloths when folded into two layers, provides 2-5 times increased filtration efficiency compared to a single layer of the same cloth, and filtration efficiency increases 2-7 times if it is folded into 4 layers.’

Epidemiologist Maria D. Van Kerkhove, the WHO technical lead on COVID-19, during a media briefing said, “Those layers in that order can provide a mechanistic barrier.” She also highlighted that is based on ‘New, Novel Research’ which has been commissioned by the WHO.

In the latest video by the WHO, Dr April Baller, Infection Prevention And Control, WHO Health Emergencies Programme informs about how to wear a fabric mask and the things you need to keep in mind while using it.

Guidelines regarding how to wear a mask are as follows:

Before wearing a fabric face mask, you need to clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Spend 20-30 seconds in case of sanitiser and 40-60 seconds for washing hands with soap and water.

Pick up the mask and inspect it. It should be clean and not damaged.

Place the mask on your face, covering your nose, mouth and chin. Make sure that there are no gaps between your face and the mask.

To avoid contamination, do not touch the mask while wearing it. If you accidentally do touch the mask, clean your hands again.

Guidelines about how to take off a fabric mask are:

Before touching the mask, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

As you remove the mask, lean forward slightly, and remove the loops from behind the ears, without touching the front of the mask.

Do not forget to wash your hands after taking off the mask.

WHO also focuses on the mask maintenance process, as it is also a crucial part. The report makes it mandatory that despite a mask is a fabric mask, it should only be used by a single person and should not be shared with anyone. If a mask is wet or visibly soiled, it should be changed on immediate bases. One should remove the mask without touching the front of the mask, and one should never touch the eyes or mouth after the mask removal. The mask shall either be discarded after it is removed or shall be kept in a sealable bag until it is washed and cleaned for further use. Hand hygiene should be kept in mind and be followed immediately afterwards. 

Adhering to the guidelines will keep everyone safe and will protect themselves against the pandemic. A little effort on individual bases will help the world fight with the spread of the deadliest virus- Coronavirus.