{"id":28306,"date":"2022-02-09T16:39:50","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T21:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=18573"},"modified":"2022-02-09T16:39:50","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T21:39:50","slug":"wilson-college-expert-explains-evolving-face-covering-guidance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2022\/02\/wilson-college-expert-explains-evolving-face-covering-guidance\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilson College Expert Explains Evolving Face Covering Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Sarah Stone <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the Coronavirus pandemic changes, so does scientists\u2019 understanding of how to best use face coverings to protect ourselves from the disease. That was one of the key messages Wilson College of Textiles Assistant Professor Bryan Ormond<\/a> wanted his audience to take away from a presentation to the university about face coverings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s not necessarily [that the guidance on face coverings is] flip-flopping back and forth, it’s just responding to what’s actually happening in the world and specifically with the virus,\u201d Ormond said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond, who has over a decade of research experience specializing in personal protective equipment (PPE), provided a thorough explanation of the science behind face coverings to NC State staff, faculty and students on February 2. He delved into how filtration works at the molecular level, the different factors of face covering efficacy, how different types of face coverings are tested and regulated, and how to spot counterfeit products. Additionally, Ormond shared his research group\u2019s progress in testing face covering efficacy<\/a> that takes movement of the head into account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Below, read some of the principle takeaways from Ormond\u2019s seminar. You can also watch it in fulI by clicking here<\/a> or scrolling to the bottom of the page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many types of face coverings can provide some level of both respiratory protection and source capture. Respiratory protection means that the air you breathe in is filtered, reducing your risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Source capture means that the air you breathe out is filtered, reducing the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for the people around you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t \u2018prevent\u2019 anything. It\u2019s all about minimizing the exposure, reducing the possibility that you could be exposed to something.\u201d Masks were never intended to work alone as a 100% preventative measure against contracting or spreading airborne infectious diseases like the Coronavirus. Instead, this measure is supposed to be layered on top of other proven preventative measures, such as social distancing and vaccination, to minimize the likelihood of contracting the virus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That means if you wore a face covering but you still contracted the virus, it doesn\u2019t mean that the mask didn\u2019t \u201cwork.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow do you define \u2018work\u2019? That’s incredibly important, because you have to understand \u2013 what are you asking these products to do? With all PPE, you have to understand what you’re asking that product to do. And it’s really important to understand,\u201d Ormond explained. \u201cAnd in this case, if you are asking a mask to serve as stopping and preventing any possible transmission of COVID to you whatsoever, then I hate to tell you \u2013 no mask is going to do that. We don’t \u2018prevent\u2019 anything. It’s all about minimizing the exposure, reducing the possibility that you could be exposed to something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your definition of a face covering \u201cworking\u201d will probably include unique combinations and prioritizations of factors such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you are wearing a mask made of material that has been tested and proven to be highly effective at filtering the particles you\u2019re breathing in and those you\u2019re breathing out, that mask will be highly ineffective with a poor fit. That\u2019s because unfiltered air can easily leak in or out through any gaps in the fit of your mask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s better to wear a mask with somewhat poorer filtration quality but proper fit than to wear one with top notch filtration but a poor fit. The good news? Brackets, fitters and varying mask designs exist to help you achieve the best overlap of fit and filtration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of these masks fall within the category of filtering facepiece respirators(FFRs). Each type is regulated differently and by a different country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The minimum filter performance that these types of masks must meet ranges from 94% to 95%. Filter performance is a measure of what percent of particles penetrate the mask. For example, for a mask with 95% filter performance, 5% of particles managed to penetrate the mask in testing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n By Sarah Stone <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the Coronavirus pandemic changes, so does scientists\u2019 understanding of how to best use face coverings to protect ourselves from the disease. That was one of the key messages Wilson College of Textiles Assistant Professor Bryan Ormond<\/a> wanted his audience to take away from a presentation to the university about face coverings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt's not necessarily [that the guidance on face coverings is] flip-flopping back and forth, it's just responding to what's actually happening in the world and specifically with the virus,\u201d Ormond said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ormond, who has over a decade of research experience specializing in personal protective equipment (PPE), provided a thorough explanation of the science behind face coverings to NC State staff, faculty and students on February 2. He delved into how filtration works at the molecular level, the different factors of face covering efficacy, how different types of face coverings are tested and regulated, and how to spot counterfeit products. Additionally, Ormond shared his research group\u2019s progress in testing face covering efficacy<\/a> that takes movement of the head into account. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMasks don\u2019t \u201cjust\u201d protect others<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
– Assistant Professor Bryan Ormond<\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nFace coverings are your last line of defense, not your only form of defense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
All face coverings \u201cwork\u201d <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fit is crucial <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Different types of testing, regulation exist for different types of face coverings in the U.S.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some basic differences exist between N95, KN95, KF94 and FFP2 masks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rewatch the full seminar below<\/h3>\n\n\n\n