Fact Finders: New study finds neck gaiters may be worse than not wearing a mask
By Melissa Egan| August 12, 2020 at 7:18 PM MST – Updated August 12 at 10:59 PM
The new study from Duke University looked at mask efficacy for filtering droplets when you talk.
Researchers tested 14 different kinds of masks. They shined iridescent light form a laser through slits in a box while someone repeated a single phrase, to create droplets. A cell phone camera was used to record the droplets.
They then counted the droplets that were let through by the different kinds of masks. N-95 surgical masks were found to be the best, followed by the blue surgical masks you can by at a store. Professor Martin Fischer said cotton masks were also efficient in slowing the spread of droplets. Researchers found a popular option in Southern Arizona, or ‘gaiters,’ were not very effective. The study found a bandana may not help much, either.
Read the study HERE and the article HERE. Look at Atrium Health for information about different kinds of masks.