Cloth Masks No Match For Omicron

According to experts, cloth masks are not enough to protect against Omicron, which is three times more transmissible than Delta.

In the last two years since the pandemic, a new category has been added to fashion accessories - masks.  Facemasks of all colours, shapes, materials, and designs have been in fashion ever since the Covid-19 started spreading.  During the initial wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, health authorities discouraged the general public from using N95 masks since medical professionals were facing a shortage. The use of cloth masks was encouraged as they were cost-effective and reusable.

 

However, with the emergence of Omicron, scientists are suggesting N95 masks are the best as they are not in short supply for now. Even though these masks may look boring because they are available in white or black, they offer the best protection. According to experts, cloth masks are not enough to protect against Omicron, which is three times more transmissible than Delta. Erin Bromage, an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts in USA said that while cloth masks can filter large droplets, N95s masks can filter both large droplets and smaller particles.  

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