• Menu
  • Menu
  • News
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print subscription
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print subscription
Trending
UAE holidays 2022 Golf in UAE Gratuity Calculator Mind Your Migraine
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Government
      • Sheikh Khalifa passes away
    • Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Ask the Law
    • Reader Complaint
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Corporate News
  • Best Buys
    • Electronics
    • Home and Kitchen
    • Offers
    • Consumables
    • Lifestyle
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
  • Friday
    • Beauty
    • Wellbeing
    • Art & People
    • Home
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Spell It
    • Play
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • Discounts
  • Play Games
  • Magical Dubai
    • Dubai Life
    • Live the Luxury
    • Culture and History
    • Adventure
    • Staying Connected
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
    • Special Reports
    • Games
    • Corrections
  • Special Reports
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Gujarat
        • Lucknow
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
    • Motorsport
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Rugby
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Eagle Eye
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
    • News
    • Photos
    • Pavilions
    • Visit the Expo
    • Experience the UAE
    • Entertainment
    • Videos
  • Going Out
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
    • Community
    • Fashion
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
    • Technology
  • Travel
  • GN Focus
    • Special Features
  • Mind Your Migraine
  • 50 MENA Leaders
  • The Kurator
    • Share
    • Dare
    • Flair
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Gold-Forex
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • Newsletters
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    COVID-19: Which mask should you wear?

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Tuesday, July 5, 2022
    Gold / Forex

    Photos News

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    COVID-19: Which mask should you wear?

    Is a homemade mask as good as one from a store?


    Published:  April 18, 2020 08:06 NYT

    1 of 10
    Facemask
    Face masks have become an emblem in the fight against the coronavirus, with officials in the United States and elsewhere recommending - and in some cases requiring - that people wear them to help slow the spread of the deadly outbreak. Figuring out what to wear is not so easy. Image Credit: Pixabay
    2 of 10
    Facemask
    N95 and medical masks, which offer the most protection and are heavily in demand, should be reserved for health care workers who are regularly exposed to infected patients. A mask is effective only if worn properly, fitting snugly from the top of the nose to below the chin with no gaps. Masks should be worn the entire time you are outside and should not be moved up and down. While no mask is 100% effective, it can help keep both you and others safe when combined with social distancing and regular hand-washing. Image Credit: Agencies
    3 of 10
    Various types of masks
    Here's a look at some of the types of masks you might encounter, how they work, what to consider when making your own and the level of protection they could provide. Image Credit: NYT
    4 of 10
    BC N95 face mask
    The N95 is the most recognizable and effective mask. Its name means it can block at least 95 per cent of tiny particles - 0.3 microns - that are the hardest to capture. An average human hair is about 70 to 100 microns wide. These masks, which are designed for single use, are made with polyester and other synthetic fibers, including layers of tangled fibers that act as a filter to make it harder for particles to pass through. Image Credit: Shutterstock
    5 of 10
    N95 mask
    Make sure there are no gaps between the edge of the mask and your skin. This one includes a nose piece that is molded to your face. Many health care and other workers do annual fit tests that check for air leakage and ensure that masks are sized and fit properly. (If you have facial hair, you won't get a proper fit. They don't fit well on children, either.) Some N95s have exhalation valves on the front, which make it easier to breathe. Those masks are often used in construction. A mask with a valve should not be used in areas that are meant to be sterile, like hospital operating rooms. Image Credit: Pixabay
    6 of 10
    Facemask
    Medical masks come in a few varieties and are less effective than N95s: Some filter as much as 60 per cent to 80 per cent of small particles under lab conditions. When worn properly, they can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus by catching droplets when you cough or sneeze. Image Credit: Agencies
    7 of 10
    Dubai Health Authority face mask
    Medical masks are often made out of layers of breathable, paperlike synthetic fabric that is cut into a rectangular shape and has pleats to help it expand and fit more snugly around your face. They are disposable and designed to be used just once. While they can protect you from large droplets and splatter, their looser fit is partly what makes them less effective than N95s. Image Credit: iStock
    8 of 10
    Facemask
    With medical masks in short supply, many have turned to making or buying homemade ones. Depending on the fabric and how it's made, a homemade mask can sometimes protect the way a simple medical version does. And any face covering is better than nothing. A good homemade mask uses a material that is dense enough to capture viral particles but breathable enough that you can tolerate it. Image Credit: Agencies
    9 of 10
    Coronavirus, Lungs, Facemask
    You can use materials like a heavy cotton T-shirt, flannel or a tightly woven dish towel. Material with a higher thread count - which allows very little light to filter through - will likely offer the best protection. Various patterns for making a cotton mask have spread around the internet. Look for one that has at least two layers of material, comes up over your nose and below your chin and has secure straps. Image Credit: Pexels
    10 of 10
    Copy of 815339-01-08-1586839175763
    Some homemade masks have a pocket sewn in to hold an additional filter. Coffee filters and paper towels have been tested. One experiment found that two layers of paper towels on their own blocked between 23% and 33% of 0.3-micron particles. People have been experimenting with filtering materials, including air filters and vacuum bags. They can be effective but can present risks. Many are not breathable and may contain harmful fibers that you could inhale. Also, the average person doesn't need the level of filtration that these materials provide. Make sure there is a layer of cotton or a similar material on either side of the filter. Image Credit: AFP

    Trending

    • Pictures: Pakistan Mango Festival brings joy in Dubai

      Pictures: Pakistan Mango Festival brings joy in Dubai


    • Eid rules for worshippers, Hajj pilgrims -  in pictures

      Eid rules for worshippers, Hajj pilgrims - in pictures


    • Meet the new Miss India 2022, Karnataka’s Sini Shetty

      Meet the new Miss India 2022, Karnataka’s Sini Shetty

    Latest In

    • Middlesex University largest UK university in Dubai

      14 minutes ago

    • Abu Dhabi eases lease rule for 1,200 businesses

      17 minutes ago

    • Director Paul Haggis released from house arrest

      23 minutes ago

    • Saudi consumers are again getting a slice of Pizza Hut

      55 minutes ago

    • Lanka admits bankruptcy, crisis to drag through 2023

      55 minutes ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Friday
    • Watch Time
    • getthat
    • Jobs
    • Commercial Printing
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or