Omicron and Barbijo variant: Am I protected if I am the only one who uses it in a closed environment?

Everything indicated that the pandemic was beginning its retreat, but, to paraphrase a former president, "things happened." The Omicron variant appeared, highly contagious in relation to Delta, and caused an exponential growth of cases in Argentina. The strain identified in South Africa already has community circulation in the country, and yesterday added more than 120,000 new infections, with a positivity rate that easily exceeds 70%.

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And in the middle of summer, with many people vacationing and enjoying the outdoors, the decision that the use of a mask is optional in open spaces, implemented in October when the infections accumulated 18 weeks of low , was again under the magnifying glass. It happens that people without masks are no longer seen only on public roads, but also in closed environments.

Several specialists consulted by El Cronista considered that it is necessary to reinstate the mandatory use of the chinstrap in open environments.

On the other hand, from the Ministry of Health they ruled out that possibility. The sources consulted by this medium argued for two reasons: on the one hand, the number of hospitalizations does not grow along with the epidemiological curve, but rather < u>remains stable; and on the other, although the use of a mask is optional outdoors, most people continue to use it.

OMICRON: IF I ONLY USE A MASK AND OTHERS DON'T, CAN I GET INFECTED?

In this context, which in practice is more like "full free will", a recurring question is: if you are the only person wearing a mask in a business or in another indoor space, are you protected from contagion?.

The first thing to know is that masks work best when everyone wears them. Why? First, because the mask worn by an infected person stops viral spread at its source, by trapping a large percentage of the infectious particles exhaled by the person.

But also, and this is just as important as the above, the mask protects the wearer even when others go with their faces uncovered.

"The mask acts as a defensive element to be used when one is in a place where the recommended distance cannot be maintained. If it is not used, the possibility of spreading the virus of The part of those who are infected is very high," explained Dr. Amadeo Esposto, head of the Infectious Diseases Service at the San Martín de La Plata Hospital.

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For her part, the infectologist and presidential adviser, Carlota Russ, points out "The foundation of the chinstrap is to create a barrier of protection against viruses and liquids, it is a protection for the person who uses it against the possible contagion of whoever circulates nearby. Well placed, of course, not under the nose as is usually seen".

Studies that validate that the chinstrap protects who wears it

He found that a standard surgical mask only protects the wearer from about 7.5% of the particles generated by a simulated cough. But adjusting the straps and folding the sides inside the mask reduced exposure by almost 65%

On the other hand, covering the surgical mask with a cloth one, a technique known as double masking, reduced exposure to simulated cough particles by 83% .

Examined the "inward protection" of homemade respirators, surgical masks, and face shields, based on particle size.

Research showed that most masks could block very large particles. But when researchers looked at the size of particles that are harder to block, protection varied between almost zero (with face shield) to around 30% (with surgical mask).

According to research, a two-layer cloth respirator made of a tightly woven, flexible fabric combined with a third layer of filter material (such as a coffee filter or surgical mask) could offer protection adequate, by reducing 70% of the most penetrating particles and trapping 90% or more of the largest particles.

They also found that straps that go around the head provide a better fit than straps that hang around the ears.

The research examined the protective ability of various types of face masks against coronavirus particles.

Results varied depending on whether viral RNA or the infectious virus itself was being measured, but the study showed that even a simple cotton mask provided some protection (17 to 27%) for the wearer. Medical masks performed better, including the surgical chinstrap (47 to 50% protection), a loose fitting N95 (57 to 86% protection), and a well-fitting N95 (79 to 50% protection). 90% protection).

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT