Performance of fabrics for home-made masks against the spread of COVID-19 through droplets: A quantitative mechanistic study.

ABSTRACT: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may spread through respiratory droplets released by infected individuals during coughing, sneezing, or speaking. Given the limited supply of professional respirators and face masks, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended home-made cloth face coverings for use by the general public. While there have been several studies on aerosol filtration performance of household fabrics, their effectiveness at blocking larger droplets has not been investigated. Here, we ascertained the performance of 11 common household fabrics at blocking large, high-velocity droplets, using a commercial medical mask as a benchmark. We also assessed the breathability (air permeability), texture, fiber composition, and water absorption properties of

SUBMITTER: Aydin O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7417273 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature