One study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that using a mask fitter enhanced a surgical mask's filtration efficiency from under 20% to over 90%. You could also try a mask fitter or brace - an elastic frame that fits over a mask to make it seal more tightly to the wearer's nose, mouth and face. That raised the mask's filtration efficiency to nearly 65%. This boosted the surgical mask's filtration efficiency to 60%.Īnother simple hack is to use a hair clip, as in the photo above at right to hold the ear loops tightly at the back of the head. One trick they tested: Tie the ear loops into a knot as close to the edges of the mask as possible, then tuck the side pleats in to minimize any gaps that appear along the edges, as in the left photo, below. But filtration efficiency jumped when they tried various hacks to make the mask seal better.
Researchers found that the surgical masks they tested blocked out just 38.5% of small particles on average when worn normally. Or use a hair clip to hold the ear loops tightly at the back of the head to achieve a tighter seal.Įven at this late stage in the pandemic, it still bears repeating: Don't let your nose hang over your mask – that defeats the purpose! And to get the best protection, you also need to make sure that your mask fits as snugly as possible over your mouth and nostrils, up to your nose bridge and that you don't see any gaps.Ī mask's filtration efficiency varies depending on how well it conforms to your face, as a study in JAMA Internal Medicine illustrates. Tie the ear loops close to the edges of the mask and tuck in the side pleats to minimizes gaps (left). And remember, no matter what you choose, the best mask is ultimately the one you will wear consistently. If you opt for one of these respirators, make sure they also fit tightly to your face. You may also want to check NIOSH's list of foreign-made respirators it tested for filtration efficiency in the past, though the agency has now stopped doing those tests. However, you can still search the FDA's list of formerly approved KN95s. And the FDA recently revoked the emergency use authorization it had granted to KN95s, which allowed them to be used in health care settings. However, counterfeits have also been a problem with KN95s. KN95s are regulated by the Chinese government, and, like N95s, they're supposed to filter out at least 95% of small airborne particles, although the testing standards differ in each country. In that case, you can also consider KN95 respirators, which often attach with more comfortable ear loops. Some people have a harder time with the straps that N95s use to attach to your head.
So whatever you do, make sure there are no gaps under cheeks or chin where the virus could sneak in. So what makes a high-performing mask? Marr says a mask's filtration efficiency is a function of both what material it's made of and how well it seals to your face. All of that means it's imperative that you make sure your mask is protective, and not simply a bedazzled decoration for your face. It's now one of the most contagious respiratory viruses we know of.Īnd it also replicates quickly in the noses and throats of infected people, so they could be walking around with 1,000 times more virus in their body than with the original strain. The delta variant transmits more than twice as easily as the original strain of the coronavirus. "Masks still work, but with delta, we need better-performing masks," says Linsey Marr, a researcher at Virginia Tech who studies airborne virus transmission. With delta surging and health officials urging indoor mask use in many places, you've likely pulled out your old cloth masks. It's been updated throughout to reflect new developments and the latest science.
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