Coronavirus, are masks needed or not? The answer of the experts

Mask yes or mask no? The spread of the coronavirus is advancing. According to experts, it will be necessary to wait another ten days to see the effects of harsh containment measures imposed by the Government and therefore to finally see the contagion curve go down. In the meantime you have to stay at home and try to preserve yourself and others.

For weeks, the daily worsening of the situation has prompted many citizens to try to protect yourself by using disinfectants and masks, products that have now become luxury goods to all intents and purposes. They can't be found around anymore on the internet you risk having to buy them at exorbitant prices. 

Above all, there is a lot of confusion about the masks, even more opinions and the answers to the most frequently asked questions are far from simple to provide. Two main questions posed by citizens: are masks needed? And if so, what types should you buy? Let's see what the experts' answers are.

ARE MASKS NEEDED? WHO'S ANSWER

Sul Ministry of Health website, some are provided indications that refer to the directives of the World Health Organisation. We quote verbatim: 

“To prevent the risk of infection with the new coronavirus, it is a priority to take care of the hygiene of hands and respiratory secretions. The World Health Organization recommends also wearing a mask only if you suspect you have contracted the new coronavirus and have symptoms such as coughing or sneezing, or if you are caring for a person suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus. The use of the mask helps to limit the spread of the virus but must be adopted in addition to other respiratory and hand hygiene measures. It is not useful to wear multiple overlapping masks. Furthermore, the mask is not necessary for the general population in the absence of respiratory disease symptoms".

Source: Ministry of Health

The ministry led by Roberto Speranza also provides some advice, which we report, on the right way to wear masks: 

“Here's how to do it: before putting on the mask, wash your hands with soap and water or an alcoholic solution. Cover your mouth and nose with the mask, making sure it fits snugly on your face. Avoid touching the mask while wearing it, if you touch it, wash your hands. When it becomes damp, replace it with a new one and do not reuse it; in fact they are disposable masks. Remove the mask by taking it from the elastic and do not touch the front of the mask; immediately throw it in a sealed bag and wash your hands.”

Source: Ministry of Health

MASKS: WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Walter Ricciardi, consultant to the Ministry of Health and member of the WHO executive committee, participating in the TV broadcast of La7, DiMartedì, he explained: “We need to distinguish between the different types of masks. The surgical masks, the gauze ones to be clear, are used by healthcare personnel and surgeons to prevent saliva droplets from falling on the operating field. They are to protect patients and to protect others from patients. So they do not serve to protect the healthy”. “For the healthy – the government consultant remarked – they are absolutely useless. They have no protection against the virus that penetrates through those sheets of gauze and therefore do not protect ". 

“They exist then the Ffp2 and Ffp3 masks which are not those of gauze, but those equipped with a filter – continued Ricciardi -. Those truly protect, but they must be used only by health personnel who treat infectious patients and by the forces of order who in certain circumstances may find themselves in contact with the sick". 

A similar opinion was provided by Roberto Burioni, doctor and professor of Microbiology and Virology at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, who is a guest on the TV show What's the weather like he said: “The virus is transmitted via droplets that travel about one metre. The masks available block them but must be used by healthcare professionals. Those who are well do not need to wear a mask. Those who must strictly wear the mask, even the surgical one, are instead those who are sick ": 

Pier Luigi Lopalco, epidemiologist at the University of Siena, said during the tv broadcast, Tagada: “Masks are only needed if there has been a medical indication. If your doctor tells you to wear them because, for example, you are a potentially at risk person or you can infect your family members, then they should be used. Otherwise the mask is useless. It is much more useful to wash your hands". 

MASKS: THE TYPES ON THE MARKET 

As mentioned, there are various types of masks on the market, more or less effective or suitable for the circumstances. Generally:

• masks FFP1: they are commonly considered "dust" masks, they have a filtering efficiency of 78% and are insufficient to protect against the coronavirus;
• FFP2 and FFP3 masks: they have a filtering efficiency of 92% and 98% respectively and are both recommended for those who need to protect themselves from the virus such as doctors, nurses and health personnel;
• surgical masks: they serve to prevent the sick from spreading the infection, but they do not protect the healthy from contagion. Also useful for doctors and healthcare professionals to prevent droplets of saliva from falling on patients;
• disposable masks with valve: they do not prevent the sick from spreading the infection, but they can have incoming efficacy.