Masks Are Helpful

Why in news?

Studies say that the Covid-19 spread can be contained significantly if many people begin to use masks.

What does the New York study reveal?

A study using mathematical models for population in New York was conducted by popular universities.
It shows that if 70% of people wore a professional mask every time they ventured outdoors, the pandemic could be eliminated from the city.
The same result could be achieved in the entire US, if at least 80% of the population regularly used masks.
Even low-quality home-made masks could lead to significant reduction in the disease spread, along with other interventions to eliminate it.

Will usage of masks, shorten the lockdown period?

Another study said that for preventing community transmission of the disease, home-made masks were adequate.
These are adequate, even if these were about thrice less effective than professional masks in blocking transmission of smaller particles.
It said mask usage by a large proportion of the population could help in reducing the lockdown period as well.
However, these masks should be used in conjunction with quarantining, testing, contact tracing, hand washing and physical distancing.
Using a mask is a two-way protection. It protects the person wearing it and prevents the possibility of infecting others.
If people stop wearing masks, the probability of a second wave in winter may be greatly increased.

What does an Indian study reveal?

A study by Indian researchers from government and private institutions simulated the aerodynamic flow of particles from the mouth.
This showed how masks could block airborne transmission of the virus.
Simulation - Without a mask, a turbulent jet forms (during cough or sneeze), and droplets with a broad size distribution are ejected.
Large droplets (greater than about 125 microns in diameter) fall to the ground within about 2 metres.
However, the turbulent clouds transport a mist of small aerosolized droplets over significant distances (approx. 5 m).
Without mask - Within a minute of sneezing, around 37% of potential viral load in the ejecta was found deposited within 2 m on the floor.
The remaining 63% are suspended in the air, between 2 m and 5 m from the individual.
With mask - 70% of virus-laden droplets were deposited on the mask.
While those droplets that escaped could potentially take the virus no farther than 1.5 m but it falls off sharply after that distance.
Conclusion - A loosely fitted simple cotton cloth mask qualitatively changes the propagation of the high velocity jet.
It also largely eliminates the turbulent cloud downstream of the mask.
Airborne transmission of virus could be reduced by wearing a simple mask and maintaining a strict physical distancing of 2 m.

Source: The Indian Express