An animated interactive article from the New York Times offers a microscopic view of how face masks help prevent infection from the coronavirus, as well as information on the most effective types of masks.
The October 30, 2020 article was created with the help of 10 experts, including Joseph Allen, associate professor of exposure assessment science at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of the School’s Healthy Buildings program.
The article explained that all masks work basically the same way, by using layers of fibers to capture large respiratory droplets and smaller airborne particles, known as aerosols, that can contain viral material. Tightly woven cotton works better than most fabrics to stop the particles, according to the article. A nonwoven material, like that found in N95 respirators, works best.
Allen noted that the public health debate on masks is settled: They work.
When you wear a mask, he said, “you protect yourself, you protect others, you prevent yourself from touching your face.” And you signal to others that wearing a mask is the right thing to do.
Read the article: Masks Work. Really. We’ll Show You How.