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  • Masks: Mandatory use of masks: where and when to use them, exceptions ...

The director of the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), Fernando Simón , described the FFP2 masks as "selfish" during the press conference on Monday. According to the epidemiologist, although people who wear them are protected from possible infection, FFP2, both with and without a valve, are more likely to be infected than surgical patients, whom they consider "altruistic".

"From my point of view, they can be the" selfish "ones (the FFP2): I protect myself and the others worry me little. They also protect from infecting others, but not as much as the surgical ones", has criticized Simón, who has recognized However, the use of FFP2 can be considered in "a person who is sure that he is not infected and is very vulnerable", but "better without a valve".

Given the confusion generated, we remember what the different types of masks are and for which groups of people their use is directed.

FFP2 masks: not suitable for everyone

The EPI masks have the purpose of filtering the inhaled air avoiding the entrance of polluting particles in our organism. The truth is that the Ministry of Consumption has already warned that Individual Protective Equipment (PPE) masks (among which are FFP2) are recommended only for people in contact with the virus , such as health personnel, and for vulnerable groups, always under medical prescription, as there may be people with respiratory difficulties who cannot tolerate them.

Designed to create an insurmountable physical barrier, PPE can make breathing more difficult than hygienic or surgical ones, "so non-specialized personnel may tend to touch and reposition them continuously, with the consequent risk of contamination," reported Consumption.

Hygienic for the uninfected

For healthy people who are not in permanent contact with Covid-19, the scientific community recommends the use of hygienic masks , which can be single-use or reusable. If they are reusable, the manufacturer will indicate the maximum number of washes and, if they are not, their use is not recommended beyond four hours.

Very important to note that they must cover both the mouth and the nose. They come in various types and can be cloth, gauze, or breathable.

Surgical masks

Like PPE, Consumó recommended its use only for sanitary environments. They are also recommended for people who have been diagnosed with coronaviruses, both symptomatic and asymptomatic .

They are designed to filter out exhaled air. Its objective is to protect those around you, avoiding viral dispersal when sneezing, coughing or speaking. They must have a mechanism that allows it to be adjusted closely on the nose, mouth and chin.

However, they are the most visible masks on the streets due to their simplicity. They are sold in packages of up to 100 units and, except that it is not convenient to reuse them, they also have the function of protecting against contagion.

Homemade masks are also worth

Of course, to make them, it is necessary to use the materials recommended in the guide for the manufacture of masks and protective clothing of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. In addition to using this type of tissue, it is important that those of this type follow the shape pattern of the surgical ones. Important! One with a vertical seam in the middle of the mouth may not meet the established filtration parameters.

Official certification essential

It is important that, when we buy masks, we make sure that the packaging is CE certified so as not to choose a counterfeit product. Since the beginning of the epidemic, thousands of masks have been counterfeited, making them ineffective in protecting us against any virus.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Coronavirus
  • Masks
  • Fernando Simón
  • Covid 19

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