Face Coverings During COVID-19

Personal masks and face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us all, including many conflicting messages about masks. Our Certified Occupational Hygienist, Melanie Cox provides the facts to help make masks simple!

Respiratory protection has been used during the pandemic to prevent the spread of illness. There are two main reasons for wearing a respiratory protective device.

1.     Wearer protection

To protect the wearer against the inhalation of harmful airborne contaminants entering nose, mouth and lungs, or to shield the wearer against a stream of bodily fluids from another person e.g. blood, vomit.

2.     Source Control

To protect other people from secretions produced by the wearer e.g. from coughing, sneezing, spitting.

Three different types of respiratory protection can be used depending on the type of protection needed: respirators, surgical masks, and face coverings. These different types are worn in different situations by different groups of people.

Respirator:

A respirator is a device which provides a high level of wearer protection from airborne particles.

Respirators must comply with specific standards to ensure they are manufactured to the correct requirements for filtration of particles. In addition, a fit test is required to ensure the respirator fits the wearer.

Surgical Mask:

A surgical mask is a device which provides the wearer with a level of wearer protection against bodily fluids but has limited protection against airborne particles. A surgical mask also provides source control to protect other people from the wearer’s secretions.

A surgical mask must comply with specific standards to ensure they are manufactured to the correct requirements for bodily fluids.

Face coverings:

A face covering is a device which provides sources control to protect others against wearer secretions only.

A summary of respiratory protection used during COVID-19 is shown below.

Which face covering should be worn by the general public during COVID-19?

The general public can wear:

• Surgical Masks (single use)
• Cloth Face Coverings (reusable after washing and drying)
• Cloth, sock or bandana covering (1 ply) only if no other option is available

The general public should NOT wear:

• P2 respirators – these respirators are recommended for healthcare or specific industries under the guidance of a health professional
• Any face covering with a one-way valve – a one-way valve allows unfiltered wearing secretions directly from the covering

Management of face coverings for the general public

The wearing of face coverings is a new and unfamiliar situation for the majority of the general community. It is therefore important that the general public are given the correct information as early as possible, if face coverings are required to be worn.

To protect the general public against COVID-19, the most important factor is to maintain healthy habits, including:

• Stay at least 1.5 metres distance from other people
• Stay home is you are feeling unwell
• Wash hands often with soap and water
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow (respiratory etiquette)

The respiratory protection discussed in this article is only in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Respirators are used also in a workplace to reduce exposure to airborne contaminants generated by the workplace, for example, dust and welding fume.

Please do not hesitate to contact our team if you require clarification regarding any part of this report. Enquiries should be directed to [email protected]

 References

• Australian Government. Face Masks: How they protect you and when to use them.
• Australian Government. Infection Control Group (2020). The use of face masks and respirators in the context of COVID-19
• Victorian State Government – Department of Health and Human Services (2020).  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Victorian State Government – Department of Health and Human Services (2020). Face coverings: whole of Victoria
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC (2020) CS 316488A How to safely wear and take off a cloth face covering