Which are best and which are best avoided?
Face coverings are one of the key tools we have in slowing the spread of Covid-19. They offer not only protection against the virus by inhibiting the spread of droplets, but also reassurance for a nervous public.To get more news about sterile mask factory outlet, you can visit tnkme.com official website.
But some news last week was anything but reassuring. Many face masks, it turns out, aren’t that effective. The National Standards Authority of Ireland has warned that the majority of face masks on sale do not protect against the virus. The authority has been working on a new standard for face coverings, and project leader Elizabeth O’Ferrall said most masks for sale, including designer labels and major sporting brands, do not do all they are supposed to – though she acknowledges international public health advice that “any face mask is better than no face mask”.
While all masks may look equal, some are “more equal than others” when it comes to protection, comfort and value for money. With these criteria in mind, The Irish Times assesses nine different coverings, with help of Lynda Quigley, a Dublin-based nurse.We say The first thing we notice about the blue-tinged surgical masks is the price. We buy a packet of 10 for €4.50. We are pretty sure that several weeks ago the very same packets of 10 were selling in the very same shop for €2 more, a reflection perhaps of the easing of demand or the increase in supply. These masks are easy to put on and to take off and very comfortable to wear. The metal ridge means they sit more securely on the bridge of the nose and they appear to offer considerable protection both for the wearer and those around them. An obvious downside is the impact products like this have on the environment and the sight of such masks – and by no means just the ones selling in Tesco – casually discarded on streets and in parks has become one of the more dispiriting symbols of 2020, a year in which dispiriting symbols have not been in short supply.
We say We find this mask, complete with its fancy-looking valve, selling in a hardware shop. It is pricey but you get what you pay for, right? Certainly to our untrained eye and untrained face, it appears to give a substantial degree of protection. It fits snugly and the metal bridge and foam back secure it to our face for a considerable time. The valve means it is more breathable than some other masks.
Nurse Quigley says There is a reason these are only sold in hardware shops. They are for dust only, I would think. It took me a minute to figure out how to put it on, and it was so uncomfortable. I couldn’t wait to take it off. It looks impressive but I wouldn’t buy it.
We say “In unity there is strength”, the inside of this self-styled designer mask we find on the shelves of Boots tells us. The two-layer mask has clips on the strap to allow it to be sized differently depending on the size of your head. We find the clips incredibly fiddly but our fumbling fingers might be to blame for that rather than any inherent design flaw. There is no altering the size of the actual face mask – it is only massive. That may actually be to its credit and while it probably won’t offer any more protection than other cloth masks around the edges, its coverage might give it an edge. Boots notes that the mask “does not protect you from any virus or airborne disease. This facial covering is designed to reduce the transmission of vapour droplets”.
Nurse Quigley says I had to look up who Julien MacDonald [the designer] was for a start. It is a lovely fit, fierce trendy, has great coverage and feels thick (layered) for protection. I would buy this and I like the adjustable straps on the side.
The Wall