With NSW facing a potential second wave of COVID-19, the reality of compulsory face masks could be just around the corner.
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Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute's (IHMRI) Jane Whitelaw from University of Wollongong's School of Health and Society says face masks can be effective in minimising transmission of Coronavirus but they have to be well designed.
"To be effective you need a minimum of three layers of material. Homemade masks won't give as much protection. To be as effective as a surgical mask, you need up to 12 layers."
Ms Whitelaw advises that any mask should be made of at least three layers with a high thread count cotton (300-400) on the inside to absorb moisture from your breath, the middle layer should be a hybrid (such as cotton-silk, cotton-chiffon, cotton-flannel) blend which will give some electrostatic filtration properties and an outer layer of polyester nylon.
A nose clip and adjustable ear elastics will assist in gaining a tighter fit which can increase the effectiveness of the mask by five times.
Ms Whitelaw says COVID-19 aerosols or droplets remain viable for up to three hours. During this time, exposure, inhalation, and infection can occur both near and far from a source.
She said if people are going to wear a mask, it should be fitted before they go out in public and left in place for the entire time they are exposed.
Touching and adjusting the mask may lead to contamination of the hands and face and increase the risk of infection.
Care must be taken when removing the mask to reduce contamination.
Dispose of it immediately. If the mask is a reusable type, place it straight into a plastic bag without touching the outside, and wash daily in hot water. Be mindful that repeated washing will reduce the efficiency of the face mask.
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
