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Which Face covering is the most effective in slowing the spread of the coronavirus? Maybe no neck gaiters. Alarmist stories have made the rounds that these face-worn tubes of fabric do not offer protection against the spread of the coronavirus, citing a study by researchers at Duke University published in Science Advances. However, according to the study's authors, these reports don't tell the full story.
The researchers tried to develop and test a method for evaluating the effectiveness of several Types of face coveringsfrom N95 masks to bandanas to stop breath droplets from spreading in the air. Current research suggests this Coronavirus is common through these breath droplets that we expel when we speak, scream, sneeze, cough or sing.
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A total of 14 different face coverings were tested, most of which were cloth masks, just like the ones you can basically buy anywhere right now. They also tested a fleece neck gaiter and a headscarf. The results of their tests show that the bandana and fleece gaiter transferred so many or more breath droplets that they were not wearing any face covering.
However, the researchers say these results shouldn't be extrapolated to all bandanas and neck gaiters out there. Dr. Martin Fischer, one of the authors of the study, told CNET: "Our work has focused on developing a technique that can be replicated in other laboratories rather than a full mask test. As we noted in the article, our work was a preliminary study which comprised only a fleece mask (also called a gaiter mask or neck gaiter) - we did not conduct a systematic study of many masks, speakers and wearing conditions. Further studies are needed to provide specific recommendations for use. "
In response to the Duke study, a team of researchers from Virginia Tech tested two types of neck gaiters to see how effective they were at holding breath droplets. One was made from a single layer of polyester and the other made of polyester and elastane used two layers of fabric. They found that both offered a similar level of protection as typical cloth masks, although the two-layer mask was more effective.
Neck gaiters have become a popular face covering because they can be worn in many different ways and typically Don't pull your ears like a face mask. Before the pandemic, they were usually worn to protect your face and neck from the cold, or to wick sweat away from your face and neck. Many of them are made up of a single layer of thin tissue, and they weren't originally designed to block breath droplets or slow the spread of viruses.
For this reason, Dr. Fishermen suggest that they may not be as protective as other types of cloth masks. "The non-woven mask we presented was a polyester / spandex mask. Usually these masks are quite thin to allow breathability. This is probably why many particles are broken into smaller pieces," he said. "However, we expect there will be differences in performance for different masks (even of the same type) and for different users wearing identical masks."
Given that there are different types of neck gaiters made from different fabrics, we cannot say that everything Neck gaiters either won't slow the spread of the coronavirus or are worse than not wearing face covering.
More research needs to be done before we can definitively establish what types of non-medical face coverings are best to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. We know N95 are respirators among the most protectiveHowever, these masks are reserved for medical professionals only. For the rest of us, reusable cloth masks are the best option we have right now, and at least some health officials say that still includes neck gaiters.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions about a disease or health goals.