With the infections spreading fast especially with the new variant Omicron, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) doctor advised the public to wear a medical mask that contains three layers.
National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 Chair, and HMC Head of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal said that not all masks are the same and a mask with three layers is considered more effective compared with fewer layers.
In an interview with Qatar TV, he disclosed that the mask “should cover the nose and mouth, not just the mouth, and it is effective to limit the spread of the virus.”He added: “As for N95 masks, it is preferable to use them by people who are most vulnerable to infection with the virus, such as the elderly or those who have chronic diseases or who use immunosuppressive drugs. We advise them to use the N95 or KN95 mask, especially if they are in crowded places or close to other people.”
A report published by American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) in Spring 2021, revealed that a person wearing a surgical mask has 50 percent inward leakage and outward leakage, while a cloth face covering has 75 percent inward leakage and outward leakage.
Inward leakage is a percentage of particles entering the facepiece to be inhaled by a receiver.
While an outward leakage is the percentage of participles exhaled by a source exiting the facepiece.ACGIH said the time to infectious dose for someone not infected with COVID-19 as the receiver is wearing a cloth mask is 27 minutes, while 40 minutes for surgical mask. This means, there’s a higher chance that a person wearing a cloth mask can get infected faster compared to someone using a surgical mask.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has implemented on December 31 the mandatory wearing of masks in all closed and open public places.
The only exceptions are for children under six years old and people performing sport and exercise in open places
