As of 29th June 2020, COVID-19 has cut a wide swath all over the world, with over 10 million confirmed cases and over 5 lakh deaths.
India too is grappling to contain the crisis. Here’s what the COVID-19 situation looks like for the country:
| Confirmed | Recovered | Deaths |
| 5,48,000 | 3,22,000 | 16,475 |
The 5 hardest-hit states are:
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- Delhi
- Gujarat
- Uttar Pradesh
Lockdowns and social distancing norms have been implemented in many Indian states at one point or another since March 2020. Still, maintaining control of the pandemic is proving to be a huge challenge. Testing numbers are much lower than what is needed, and a vaccine to cure the disease won’t be available until at least early next year. Moreover, in states where lockdowns have been reversed and restrictions lifted, the risk of the infection spreading to ever-larger portions of the population remains very high.
Continuing lockdowns indefinitely will have a huge economic impact on the country. However, going back to pre-COVID ‘life as usual’ is no longer an option. Is there a middle ground? Can we achieve a measure of control over the pandemic and increase confidence among the general public? The answer is yes we can, through the use of masks.
Many of us are already using masks when we step out of our houses. However, we need masks for our population that provide better protection than the cloth ones – often homemade – many of us wear now, and that are closer in calibre to the high-filtration surgical masks used by professional healthcare workers.
Why we need ‘better’ masks
COVID-19 is believed to be transmitted mainly via virus-containing particles that are emitted when we speak, cough, sneeze and even breathe. When worn correctly, N95 masks are highly effective at blocking the spread of the virus. High-filtration surgical masks can also block much of this transmission. But unlike N95 masks, they are not as effective against smaller particles (aerosols).
Cloth masks do provide a level of protection against the spread of the virus but they cannot compare in efficacy to N95 or surgical masks. In fact, the primary function of these masks is ‘source control’. This means that they cannot protect you if the people around you are not wearing masks themselves – a common problem all over the country.
Moreover, N95 masks are uncomfortable to wear for longer periods of time. Furthermore, there is a shortage of both surgical and N95 masks, even for health workers, so neither option is feasible for the general population.
But if we are to substantially and quickly curb transmission, we definitely need better masks than current cloth and homemade ones. Masks that effectively block the virus from coming in and going out would control the spread of the virus while giving people a sense of control over their own safety – two benefits that will provide the incentive to wear the mask as well the confidence to resume their day-to-day activities, especially those that are economically important.
What makes a mask ‘better’
So now we know that we need better masks than the cloth/home-made ones most of us are currently using.
But what makes one mask better than another?
Protection is obviously the most important parameter, especially because it determines how well the mask is able to fight COVID-19. Protection results from deflection, filtration and fit. Some studies have shown that the first two may be achieved by combining cotton with some other materials like chiffon, silk or flannel. Fit can be enhanced by adding a lining or brace (with a rubber band or elastic band) to the mask. Like masks, face shields, which also stop particles from entering a person’s body might also provide sufficient mouth and nose protection.
That said, protection is not the only criterion that determines whether a particular (type of) mask is ‘better’ than other masks.
Other factors like scalability, reusability and comfort matter as well. Let’s tackle the last factor first.
Why is comfort an important factor for judging the efficacy of a mask?
Answer – because people are more likely to wear a comfortable mask for longer periods of time. Some researchers are experimenting with more ‘breathable’ masks that will protect their wearers for longer without them needing to touch them or take them off too frequently due to discomfort – a common problem with today’s cloth masks.
In addition, it is important for a mask to be reusable. This means it should be easy to clean. If a replacement is needed, only certain parts should need to be replaced (e.g. filters) to ensure that its reusability factor remains high.
Scalability is another important factor because it will be easier to get a scalable mask to reach more people. Such a mask must use commonly available materials that can be purchased in bulk and at low cost.
Designing and producing masks that meet all these criteria while persuading India’s 135-crore population is not easy. In fact, together, these endeavours pose a number of challenges.
But Cynergi is up to this challenge! We have ******* with a number of designers and manufacturers to produce masks that provide ongoing protection against COVID-19. In addition, our masks are reusable, trendy and environment-friendly.
To know more or to order, contact us at:
- Website: cynergi.org | www.cynergiconnects.com
- Phone: +91 9833837428
- Email: info@cynergi.org
Bulk orders will receive huge discounts!