A CSIC expert points out that if everyone wore FFP2 masks “the probability of contagion would be close to zero”

According to the researcher of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) José María Lagarón, a specialist in filtration materials and masks, “If we all wore well-fitting FFP2 masks, the probability of contagion would be close to zero.”

As he has stated, this is confirmed by different studies, such as one recently published in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ (‘PNAS’). In this sense, the expert affects what to choose masks that fit well to the face of each user so that there are no gaps where the aerosols enter It is key to preventing coronavirus infections, especially with strains as contagious as Ómicron.

According to the researchers of the study published in ‘PNAS’, by the German Max Planck, if an FFP2 mask is used adjusted to the nose and with the simplest fastening more extended to the ears, the risk of coronavirus infection is almost zero, even after 20 minutes of contact with an infected person. “Which demonstrates the importance of choosing the most appropriate masks, such as FFP2, and their correct placement,” says Lagarón.

Must choose the most suitable size of FFP2 mask for the wearer’s nose-chin height, flatten the nose clip to eliminate the V-shape, fit it over the finger that most closely resembles the arch of the nose, and press once in place to seal well.

The standard indicates that, to maximize the fit of the mask, the fastening must be adjustable and, therefore, according to the standard, FFP2 masks must have the most flexible adjustable fasteners possible. If the mask is attached to the ears, it must be complemented with an adjustable extender at the nape, and if it has bands on the nape and neck, these should also have a mechanism to regulate their fit.

There is a wide debate at the moment about the most appropriate fit of FFP2 masks. In this sense, José Mª Lagarón clarifies that “optimal fit is achieved with various mask dimensions, at least SM and ML, and with an adjustable extender at the nape, in this way, different height and width dimensions of the head can be adjusted”.

Thus, masks with different dimensions ensure adjustment to different lengths of the face, and adjustable headband allows adjustment of different head widths. “Fortunately, the recently published study suggests that the contagion phenomenology would not occur (it is minimal) if we all wore an FFP2 mask with a good fit to the nose, even when the fastening is to the ears,” he reiterates.

Therefore, different sizes are recommended to choose the one that best suits the physiognomy of the face. This will avoid, above all, that when speaking the mask dislodges, as is more often the case with boat-shaped masks. There are other recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the masks, such as avoiding a beard, long sideburns or certain hairstyles that can interfere with support.