

Home News Cloth masks can protect the public from new COVID-19 variants – Health Minister
… Only personnel in high-risk settings need more protection

Dr. Frank Anthony
News of new COVID-19 variants appearing in several locations around the world has raised questions about whether better protection measures are needed.
These were explained by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, who said on Monday that the general population can still use regular masks because they are not in high-risk environments.
During the coronavirus update, he noted that as long as there is some form of covering over the nose and mouth, people in the public domain are shielded from potential viral droplets. Although cloth masks do not offer the same protection as N95 and surgical masks, they will prevent these droplets from entering the respiratory system.
“The cloth masks would offer droplet protection but are not as protective as the N95 or surgical which is purpose-designed to prevent viral infections. Because most people are not in a high-risk environment, these masks would work just fine. It acts as a mechanism to prevent viral transmission and because you are not in a high risk environment, it would be protective. There are many studies that have shown this and our guideline is to ensure that people continue to wear some form of covering over their nose or mouth. It does not matter what stress or variation we are dealing with. Once we have taken these protective measures, you are going to stop transmission, ”the Minister explained.
In dangerous settings such as hospitals, the level of protection is more important especially when dealing with positive patients. This is where wearing an N95 or surgical mask, which is reinforced for greater protection, is considered.
“The recommendation is that if you are in a high risk environment, then you use material that would be appropriate. The N95 mask is designed for use in a high-risk environment like a hospital, doctor interacting with patients with COVID-19 … That’s one of your highest forms of protection because an N95 mask would have five layers. Then you have surgical masks, which are also highly effective and sometimes as effective as the N95 mask but are also used in more high-risk settings. “
COVID-19 transmission occurs via droplets or aerosols. People have been warned that having a facial cover in public will stop the spread of this viral infection.
The Minister detailed, “Aerosols are very small particles and so you want to guard against that so any surface covering that covers your nose and mouth would be a barrier to particulate matter, whether it is droplets , from entering the respiratory and relaxation of the individual system. It’s a way to physically stop that transition. ”
According to the World Health Organization, medical masks and respirator masks are similar in protective value. However, respirators are specific for some cases because they have a tightly fitted component.
“Breathing masks are designed to protect healthcare workers providing care to COVID-19 patients in locations and areas where aerosol production procedures are carried out. Healthcare workers should have a fitness test before using an inhaler to make sure they are wearing the right size. Wearing the loose respirator will not offer the wearer the same protection and may allow small particles to enter the mask through the sides, ”the organization detailed.
Apart from wearing masks correctly, there are other sanitation and social distance protocols to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus.
