Making your own mask is a great way to reuse left over material. Rather than buying yet more plastic, chopping up an old t-shirt or tea towel enables us to get the most out of fabric we already own.
But just how effective are these DIY face coverings? Sure they might look cute, be great for the planet and cover our noses and mouths but are they actually offering much protection against coronavirus?
Experts initially warned that face coverings weren’t that effective in protecting against the virus and one reason may be because there’s a vast difference between a covering and actual personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE has long been used by healthcare professionals as a means of keeping them and patients safe, so we know that it can be effective in halting the spread of infection.
Simon Kolstoe, senior lecturer in Evidence Based Healthcare at the University of Portsmouth, says the argument has now moved away from wearing face maks and towards ‘face coverings’ in public. Face coverings, he says, do reduce the spread of virus in a similar way to covering your mouth when you cough.
But the fact is that some coverings are more effective than others. So, how can we tell which is doing a better job?
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Writing in The Conversation, Simon says that the most effective way of avoiding catching coronavirus is still to avoid crowded places, don’t touch your face and wash your hands regularly. If you are out and about, however, here are the two efficacy tests he recommends for homemade coverings:
The vape test
There are loads of videos online showing people vaping through their facemasks. The vapour tends to be directed over the top of their head, down onto the chest and behind them – it doesn’t spread like it would if you weren’t wearing any covering.
If you or someone you know vapes, see how far the vapour spreads while wearing your face covering. It’ll help you decide what kind of design works best – ear loops versus scarves, types of nose fittings and face shields versus face masks.
The candle test
If you don’t vape, here’s a very simple test you can try (being careful with the naked flame, of course).
Simon suggests lighting a candle and holding it in front of whoever’s wearing the face covering.
‘Initially, the distance coupled with the strength of exhalation could be investigated, but then face coverings made from different materials and critically with different numbers of layers could be tried. The design of face-covering that made it hardest to divert the candle flame will probably provide the best barrier for projecting the virus forward and through the face covering.’
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