Masks do not prevent the wearer from breathing in the virus that comes from an infected person sneezing, new research suggests
Masks do not prevent the wearer from breathing in the virus that comes from an infected person sneezing, according to a new academic study.
According to the latest issue of Physics of Fluids, researchers at Fukuoka University describe using computer models to analyze the path of particles of gas generated by a sneeze, and find that the flow of the sneeze travels around the face shield to reach the wearer’s nose and mouth.
If the sneezer is infected, the virus in the mist is inhaled by the mask wearer.
In the researchers’ visual model, a meter away from the mask, the mist flying from the sneeze is actually blocked by the mask’s front, but the spray spreads out when it hits the mask, creating a circular airflow.
Japanese researcher Dr Fujio Akagi explained that the circular airflow, known as a vortex ring, is a swirl of doughnut-shaped airflow, the Daily Mail reported. ‘It’s like a bubble made by a dolphin,’ he says.
Small particles in the vortex ring flow to the top and bottom edges of the mask, where they are inhaled by the wearer.
The study notes that the mask also does not confine the air to the mask when the wearer sneezes. In other words, if an infected person wears a mask, the virus in his or her sneeze can still spread around the body and be inhaled by someone nearby.
Other researchers have pointed out that masks do not stop the spread of aerosols, so people wearing masks can spread the virus around their bodies as they breathe or sneeze.
Since the outbreak of the Communist Party of China (CPC) virus in Wuhan, many people, especially beauty companies and hairdressers, have worn masks instead of masks, but researchers point out that they do not protect against the virus.
Wearing masks also comes with its own set of inconveniences, with about a quarter of people saying they interfere with communication, the Daily Mail added.
For example, wearing a mask can cause slurred voice, anxiety, depression, depression, and so on. Even wearing a transparent mask can make people feel uncomfortable and difficult to communicate with. As a result, many people choose to wear masks.
Researchers are developing masks that can protect against the virus. “We are currently developing and testing several modified masks that we believe will allow health care workers to be truly protected very soon,” Professor Fujio Akagi said.
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