Covid, which mask is best to use on public transport?

by time news

Coronavirus, masks and public transport. Which is better to use to avoid contagion in one of the situations most at risk of gatherings? Here is the opinion of the experts, who intervene in the ongoing debate on a possible indication for the priority use of these devices in public transport, as is already the case in other countries.


“Using the Ffp2 mask in an environmental situation such as that of public transport certainly offers greater protection. But everyone should be guaranteed the possibility of having them. There is no doubt that, compared to the circulation of more contagious viruses, the Ffp2 offer greater safety. L It is important that they are worn correctly “. The virologist told Adnkronos Salute Giovanni Maga, director of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Cnr of Pavia. In any case, he adds, “if everyone wears a surgical mask and there is no excessive crowding on the vehicle, thus respecting the indications on the number of passengers allowed, the protection is still high – specifies the virologist -. The Ffp2 has the difference which guarantees greater safety to the wearer. We all know by now that the surgical mask protects above all those in front of us, preventing the particles we emit from reaching the other. The Ffp2 has a higher barrier even when entering. obviously there is a greater guarantee. It is a question of making sure that everyone has the opportunity to acquire it. Once this is done, it could be sensible to indicate it on public transport “.

“Objectively, in particular crowded situations, the Ffp2 masks guarantee more”, he explains to Adnkronos Salute Fabrizio Pregliasco, virologist at the University of Milan. “The important thing, however, is the attention of each of us, Ffp2 can serve as an extra help. Surgery can also be fine with an ‘anti-contagion etiquette’ to be used systematically. Telling citizens that Ffp2 is needed is something that can be burdensome. Because in any case – explains Pregliasco – the filter masks are effective for 4-6 hours, then they must be changed. And this is the factor that makes them expensive for the citizen. period of longer exposure and throw them away after 4-6 hours of use “.

“Ffp2 masks are certainly preferable” to protect against Covid-19 “on public transport, as these are very promiscuous places. But above all, even if it was recommended to fill them to 50%, there are for example subways that are full at critical times over 50%. So it would be advisable to use the Ffp2. Certainly not mandatory, because obviously these devices have a cost “, he tells Adnkronos Salute Maria Rita Gismondo, director of the Laboratory of clinical microbiology, virology and diagnostics of bioemergencies at the Sacco hospital in Milan.

“Modeling studies document that the risk of infection could be 3 times higher in a closed and crowded environment, such as public transport, with close contacts and possible conversations. It is evident that the good filtration of airborne material coming from the ‘exterior becomes an absolutely priority for us. And the devices equipped with important filters are only those indicated with the abbreviation Ffp2 “. The immunologist underlines this to the Adnkronos Health Mauro Minelli, responsible for the South of the Italian Foundation of Personalized Medicine. “If the interventions we have become accustomed to (distancing; deferred entry into shared spaces; masks) are all able to offer a certain level of protection, it should also be recognized that the extent of the risks can change depending on the environment – he remarks Minelli – If we are outdoors on a beach, for example, we can give ourselves some more freedom, since no outbreaks related to public beaches have been described so far. But indoors it is completely different. I mean that the risk of Covid transmission outdoors is not excluded, but it is definitely lower than the chances of indoor contagion “.

“And it is since March 2020 that we have been repeating, having learned from studies published by super-qualified magazines at the time, that ordinary masks, surgical masks to be clear, have a filtering capacity from the outside towards the wearer equal to about 20%, therefore – concludes the immunologist – completely unable to guarantee valid protection against the virus that comes from outside of us. Certainly equipped with a good filtering capacity (up to 95% for bacteria) from the carrier towards the external, but not the other way around because they have larger meshes than the size of the virus “.

“The surgical mask is not very protective. Due to the characteristics it has, also for how it is worn, the Ffp2 firmly adheres to the face protects the nose and mouth well and has a much higher efficacy. It could be a particularly good advice. in closed, confined environments, where there is potential crowding, ergo public services. It seems to me an excellent suggestion “, then explains the virologist to Adnkronos Salute Francesco Menichetti, Head of Infectious Diseases at the Pisa hospital. And if used correctly, you don’t even need to throw it away every time you use it. “The mask has a survival time of 8 hours of effective use – explains Menichetti – so for example I renew it a couple of times a week. It also depends on how one keeps it. Obviously it should not be thrown here and there as one. rag, but folded and put back in the bag or in any case kept as something you wear. The ladies who wear make-up – concludes the virologist – may have to replace it a little more often “.

For the microbiologist Andrea Crisanti, yesterday a guest of Piazzapulita asked about the school in attendance, “on public transport access should be limited, the figure of the conductor or conductor who years ago blocked the accesses would be needed. Or, it is decided that on the buses you can only get on with the Ffp2 mask. Sample swabs at school is certainly appropriate. We need to understand which situations are the most risky and test “.

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