By Kayla Rivas for Fox News
Experts say more research is needed.
Health experts are leaning toward the notion that neck gaiters are likely less effective in reducing the spread of respiratory droplets amid the COVID-19 crisis, though some say more research is needed.
A recent proof-of-principle study from Duke University tested a simple experimental setup to evaluate the efficacy of some commonly available mask types. Study co-author Warren S. Warren told Fox News the study “was never intended to be a definitive characterization of face masks” due to the small number of masks involved in the study. Warren is a James B. Duke professor of physics, chemistry, radiology and biomedical engineering, and also director at the Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Imaging at Duke University.
The findings from Duke showed that N95 masks without valves performed the best at limiting droplet spread, while face masks with thinner materials and looser fits were less effective, including bandanas and neck gaiters. Cotton masks offer more protection, and surgical masks are even better at blocking droplets, researchers found.
Warren said the thinner fabric of bandanas and neck gaitors likely isn’t much good when it comes to reducing droplet spread. However, the Duke University study only tested one neck gaiter on one person.
“We know that covering the mouth and nose can mitigate the amount of infectious droplets released into the air and slow down the ones that do escape,” according to Christopher Sulmonte, project administrator for the Biocontainment Unit at Johns Hopkins University. “More studies need to be done to develop a comprehensive understanding of how unique face covers, like neck gaiters, contribute to the reduction of COVID-19 spread.”
“Neck gaiters, by their design, can’t be easily removed without touching the mask’s fabric, making them less effective from an infection-control standpoint,” Sulmonte added. Read more from Fox News.
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