COVID-19 masks FAQs: How can cloth stop a tiny virus? What’s the best fabric? Do they protect the wearer?

Although cloth masks have been widely adopted, many people still have questions about them. (Usplash/Vera Davidova) Catherine Clase, McMaster University; Edouard Fu, Leiden University, and Juan Jesus Carrero, Karolinska Institute Face masks reduce the spread of viruses passed on from respiratory secretions. While cloth masks are imperfect, widespread use of an imperfect mask has the potential to make a big …

When a person sneezes, tiny droplets, or aerosols, can linger in the air. Jorg Greuel via Getty Images Stacy Morford, The Conversation Scientists have been warning for months that the coronavirus could be spread by aerosols – tiny respiratory droplets that people emit when they talk or sneeze and that can linger in the air. The Centers for Disease Control …