Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Face masks and respirators are the most widely used intervention measures for respiratory protection. In the wake of COVID-19, in response to shortages and lack of availability of surgical masks and respirators, the use of cloth masks has become a research focus. Various fabrics have been promoted with little evidence-based foundation and without guidelines on design principles for optimal performance. In these circumstances, it is essential to understand the properties, key performance factors, filter mechanisms and evidence on cloth masks materials. The general community might also need to decontaminate and reuse disposable, single-use devices as a last resort. We present an overview of the filter materials, filter mechanisms and effectiveness, key performance factors, and hydrophobicity of the common disposable masks, as well as cloth masks. We also reviewed decontamination methods for disposable respiratory devices. As an alternative to surgical masks and respirators, we recommend a cloth mask made of at least three layers (300-350 threads per inch) and adding a nylon stocking layer over the mask for a better fit. Water-resistant fabrics (polyesters/nylon), blends of fabrics and water-absorbing fabrics (cotton) should be in the outside layer, middle layer/layers and inside layer, respectively. The information outlined here will help people to navigate their choices if facing shortages of appropriate respiratory protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue for the medium term until an effective vaccine is available.1 Respiratory protective gear (RPG) (masks and respirators) are an important non-pharmaceutical intervention for use by health workers, the community and sick patients during the pandemic, which can reduce the risk of infection by 85%.2 3 In public settings, RPGs work by source control and protecting healthy wearers, whereas for healthcare workers (HCWs) use of RPGs is mainly for personal protection. RPGs not only protect unaffected people from inhaling contaminated droplets and aerosols but also reduce the spread of virus from those who are infected.4 5 A medical or surgical mask is designed to protect the wearer from splash or spray and is regulated on the water resistance. It does not fit around the face and the filtration quality is variable. A respirator is designed to filter >95% of airborne particles (<5 μm in diameter) and fits around the face to create a seal. Respirators are regulated on their filtration capacity. However, shortages of RPGs is placing HCWs and others at risk globally.6 In response to the scarcity of RPGs, there are unprecedented efforts at designing home-made cloth masks globally, using locally available fabrics, some of which involve sewing and others using no-sew methods.7 8 Various mask designs have been promoted with little or no evidence of effectiveness. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO have suggested home-made cloth masks, or even bandanas, as the last resort.9 10 Potentially, a cloth mask could be designed with features similar to a mask or respirator.7 10–14 Herein, as a last-resort strategy, we outline the principles of good design for a safer cloth mask, based on reported available evidence.

To inform appropriate fabric choices for cloth masks it is important to understand the desirable characteristics and design features of a home-made mask. An understanding of differences between filter mediums used in cloth masks, and the key factors that make masks more effective, can result in safer cloth mask designs. In addition, people may have to decontaminate and reuse disposable RPGs as a last resort. Disposable RPGs cannot be reused without compromising filtration efficiency or structural integrity.15 Only reusable respirators and cloth masks retain their properties after decontamination or washing. However, the decontamination of disposable products is commonly practised during the COVID-19 pandemic and should be done adequately and safely without compromising filtration efficiency.16 It is also essential to understand the evidence around available decontamination methods for single-use RPGs.

We present an overview of the key features of a cloth mask for optimal respiratory protection, optimal design features of cloth masks and the evidence on decontamination methods for single-use RPGs.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE Ovid and Scopus databases for relevant articles. The search terms included ‘Mask’, ‘Facemask’, ‘Respirator’, ‘Cloth mask’, ‘surgical mask’, ‘medical mask’, ‘N95’, ‘Mask fabrics’, ‘Personal protective clothing’, ‘Filtration’, ‘Fit’, ‘Water resistance’ and ‘Decontamination’. We also searched for unpublished manuscripts in medRxiv and BioRxiv, as well as news and reports using Google. The search was last updated on 3 August 2020. Only articles published in English were considered for the review.

Factors for optimal respiratory protection

For any RPG, there are design principles for optimal respiratory protection which deal with the key factors for determining the effectiveness of RPGs in providing adequate protection without compromising the efficiency. The key design factors that determine protection (shown in figure 1) are (1) proper fit and good seal, as air will flow down the path of least resistance-a poor seal will result in the air flowing preferentially through the gaps around the edges of the mask; (2) high filtration efficiency; (3) low breathing resistance; (4) type of filter material; (5) water resistance of the outer layer; (6) high surface area of filter media; (7) number of layers of filter material (at least three); (8) thread count (cloth mask) and fineness of weave; and (9) thickness and pore size of the filter medium. Compromising these principles can reduce effectiveness. Other properties such as antimicrobial activity and retention of filtration and fit after washing or decontamination may add to the protection.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the factors for an effective respiratory protective gear.

Filter materials and breathability

The selection of appropriate fibrous filter materials ensuring good breathability is very important for filtration performance. Common RPGs depend on both mechanical and electrostatic filter mechanisms. Multilayer filters (different layers with different properties) are commonly used to ensure optimal filtration.17 In surgical masks and disposable respirators, three to four layers of non-woven fabrics are commonly used as filter media, with non-woven polypropylene and polyester as the main materials.18 The outer layer is water-resistant, whereas the inner layer is hydrophilic to absorb expelled droplets and humidity and provide comfort. The middle layer/layers are usually positively charged, to attract aerosols and particles (which are negatively charged) by electrostatic force.19–21 Non-woven fabrics are preferred over woven fabrics because non-wovens provide a large and adjustable surface area that can be customised to various filtration conditions. Non-wovens also have a thicker cross-section, bulk and high permeability, which are further boosted by pleating of the raw materials.22 23

During shortages of respirators and surgical masks, the commonly available fabrics used for cloth masks (both natural and synthetic polymer) are cotton, wool, linen, polyamide, rayon, chiffon, cellulose acetate, polyester, nylon, polyvinyl and blends of these (in various percentages). Acidic polymers (such as polyester), which have acidic groups (−COOH groups or their derivatives) along the backbone, are suitable as filter media because they can efficiently trap and neutralise the virus. When a virus comes in contact with the surface, it gets caught and inactivated by the low pH of the acidic polymer.23 24 The CDC recommends using cotton T-shirts, while the WHO suggests a variety of different fabrics including cotton.9 10 The cloth mask should consist of multiple layers. Our recent study on cloth masks demonstrated that while a single-layered mask provides some barrier, each layer of cloth masks adds substantial protection from outward respiratory emissions during speaking, coughing and sneezing.25 Stretchy fabric like spandex or elastic should be avoided, as when stretched it can reduce the filtration efficiency. Thread count, thickness and pore size of the fabric also play an important role in protection against contaminants. Higher thread count and smaller pore size are beneficial for filtration. However, while selecting materials and number of layers, it is essential to ensure low breathing resistance.26 High breathing resistance causes discomfort. Optimisation between filtration efficiency and breathing resistance is very important. The breathing resistance or pressure drop should be within the standard guidelines. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health guidelines indicate that at 85 L/min air flow rates surgical mask and respirator filters cannot have an initial breathing resistance >35 mm Hg and exhalation resistance >25 mm Hg.27 ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) F2100 specifies a ‘differential pressure’ <5 mm H2O per square centimetre of material.28 The surface area of the filter material also plays an important role in protection. A large surface area contributes to a lower pressure drop for a given inhalation flow rate.29 To select the appropriate combination of fabrics for home-made cloth masks, people should be provided simple information about the common filtration mechanisms, water resistance properties and determinants of the filtration performance, which are discussed in the following sections.

Filtration mechanisms

There are a variety of contaminant particles in the environment having a variety of sizes30 (online supplemental table 1). To effectively capture the contaminants in a filter, a combination of physical and electrostatic filtration is necessary. The mechanisms by which RPGs remove contaminant particles and micro-organisms are electrostatic, diffusion, interception and impaction.31–33 Electrostatic filtration is predominant for negatively charged small particles (like virus/bacteria), while the other filtration mechanisms work for larger particle sizes. Different filtration mechanisms used by commonly used RPGs are depicted in figure 2A.

Figure 2

(A) Different filtration mechanisms used by the filter media. The figure depicts how particles are captured in fibres (cross-section) by electrostatic and mechanical forces. (B) Schematic filtration efficiency graph of different filtration types. (C) Real sessile drop images of cotton fabric at the intersection between the drop contour and the fabric surface. Our test revealed that water droplet rapidly absorbs into the fabric within 8 s. (D) Schematic of a preferred arrangement of fabrics recommended for cloth mask. (E) Schematic presentation of wearing a nylon stocking over face mask to improve fit.

Electrostatic filtration

This is the most commonly used mechanism by surgical masks and respirators. In electrostatic filtration, the filter media is given a positive charge. When the negatively charged dust particles and the micro-organisms pass through the filter, they are attracted by positively charged filter media and bound on the mask. The electrostatic charge of the filter becomes neutralised over time as the negatively charged particles are captured, hence the filtration efficacy drops rapidly over time.20

Diffusion

In diffusion, the particles contact the fibre due to Brownian (random) motion. When a particle is captured on the fabric, another particle comes to the vacant space to be captured. To enhance the chance of this phenomenon higher microfibre concentration is required. The possibility of capturing particle increases with increasing duration of exposure to particles in the capture zone.31

Interception

In the interception technique, a particle is captured, when the particle following a streamline comes within a distance of one particle radius of the fibre surface. Thus, the particle makes direct contact with the fibre and is captured. In this case, the particles are very small and only the particles following the streamline close to the fibre are captured.31

Impaction or inertial impaction

In the impaction method, owing to inertia, particles leave the streamline flow direction and impact on the fibre. This method mainly occurs for the particle whose size is >5 μm.19 34

The schematic of the filtration efficiency of different filtration types is given in figure 2B. The total filtration efficiency is the sum of all the filtration forces, which collectively happen to be weakest in a certain range of particle size which is small enough to escape mechanical filtration and large enough to escape capture due to diffusion. This size of particles is called ‘most penetrating particle size’ (MPPS), which is found to be different in separate studies. Pelet and Matheux35 stated that, when the diameter of the particles is in the range between 0.1 µm and 0.5 µm, the filtration efficiency is the lowest. Balazy et al36 demonstrated that MPPS of charged N95 respirators is around 0.05 µm, whereas for older uncharged filters MPPS was closer to 0.3 µm. Overall, particles having diameter range from 0.05 µm to 0.5 µm can be considered as the MPPS, and this is close to the mean size of most of the viruses.37 38 However, viruses generally travel on aerosol particles or droplets of a larger size than the virus itself, which are within the size range to be blocked or filtered by RPGs.

Fit and seal

A poor seal across the face is a major concern as non-filtered air enters into the respiratory system through the leakage. It is important to ensure that the RPG is properly fitted around the wearer’s nose, cheeks and chin to provide a tight seal so that air is not inhaled through gaps. In a poorly fitting RPG, the number of particles infiltrating through face seal leakage is much greater than those infiltrating across the filter medium.39 Straps, nose bridge, nose piece (nose foam), ear loops and ties of RPGs have an impact on fit. Ear loops generally result in poorer fit than ties. Irrespective of the design, it is important to fit the masks, ensuring proper sealing.40 41

The importance of proper fit and seal has been demonstrated in different research. Respirators have better protection than surgical masks and cloth masks.42 It has been shown that improper fit and weak seal can decrease respiratory protection by over 60%.7 Bad fit and loose sealing also increase the total inward leakage (TIL) of submicron-sized aerosols. Steinle et al43 tested the impact of facial fit through evaluation of TIL, where they found that a N95 showed the best result (9% TIL), while other masks (surgical mask and basic flat-fold mask) showed up to 35% TIL. Oberg and Brosseau44 used a different surgical mask to correlate filter performance with the facial fit and concluded that surgical masks do not have sufficient filter performance due to bad facial fit. Fit also plays a substantial impact on respiratory source control.45 46 In comparison with respirators and surgical masks, very few studies have been reported on cloth mask fit.

Davies et al47 performed fit testing of home-made T-shirt masks in comparison with surgical masks. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a substantial difference between the fit of a home-made and surgical mask, where a T-shirt mask fit was found to have a much poorer fit than the surgical mask. There has been very little research on improving the fit of surgical masks and cloth masks. However, one recent study showed that applying a nylon stocking over the surgical, cloth and N95 masks improved the filtration, probably by creating a better seal and fit.48 Another study showed a combination of rubber bands to make a ‘surgical mask brace’ and tourniquets can improve the fit.49 It is to be noted that when designing a mask, the facial dimensions of the wearer and facial hair are very important. Various research has shown the association of face dimensions and respirator fit.50–59 Most studies emphasise the importance of measuring facial dimensions for improving respirator fit. The face anthropometry can vary among races and ethnic groups.59 Even face dimension and fit can change as a function of time due to weight loss or gain.55 58 Therefore, face anthropometry and nose protrusion must be considered for designing fit test panel, head form and finally the respirator.52 56 57 Both seal check and formal fit testing are important for respiratory protection.56 A beard usually precludes a good fit and proper seal.60–62 As the fit is one of the most important factors for effectiveness, more research needs to be done on improving the fit of respirators and masks.

Water resistance

The fluid-resistant properties of the outer layer of RPGs protect from penetration of fluid droplets containing infectious micro-organisms. The water-resistant outer layer does not absorb fluid droplets and thus protects the inner layer from being contaminated.63 Surgical masks and disposable respirators have a well-designed structure (having fluid-resistant outer layer and fluid-absorbing inner layer). Generally, the outer layer of a surgical mask and a disposable respirator is made from spunbonded water-resistant polypropylene, which adds extra protection along with high filtration efficiency. The inner layer is generally treated with hydrophilic plastic/citric acid to make it fluid-absorbing.

Very few studies have reported on the water resistance of different masks64 and fabrics for cloth masks. There are some standards for testing the resistance of medical masks to penetration by synthetic blood. ASTM F2100-19e1 provides the performance specifications of materials for medical face masks, which include the resistance to penetration by synthetic blood,28 whereas ASTM F1862/F1862M-1765 and ISO 22609:200466 describe the detailed procedure. Due to the scarcity of surgical masks and respirators,67 people from many countries have resorted to using a wide range of cloth masks. A home-made mask should imitate the properties of a commercial surgical mask as much as possible. The most common fabrics used are cotton. Cotton fibres are water-absorbent due to oxygen-bearing hydroxyl groups and capillary action68 (figure 2C). It can readily absorb fluid, which is why it is not suitable as a barrier against blood and body fluid exposures. For this reason, cotton cloth masks are less effective against viral infection.69 Cotton is more suitable as an inner layer than an outer layer, as the water absorbency improves comfort. Silk and linen fabrics can also quickly absorb water.14 70 More suitable water-resistant fabrics include polyester and nylon. Both have very low fluid absorbency and are better choices for an outer layer.

Evidence of performance of various fabrics and cloth masks for respiratory protection

Micro-organisms can spread through contagious droplets and aerosols expelled during various respiratory emissions such as speaking, coughing and sneezing. Online supplemental figure 1 shows a photographic demonstration of a large number of droplets expelled during a sneeze. The extent of horizontal spread of droplets can vary based on different factors, however is greater than the assumed ~1 m reported for horizontal droplets, which can spread up to 26 m.71 There is inadequate evidence on the filtration performance of available fabrics choices for cloth masks.7 Here we summarised the studies that have reported on the performance of cloth mask and other potential fabric choices.

A randomised controlled clinical trial of cloth masks and medical masks in HCWs was performed by MacIntyre et al.69 They tested filtration performance according to the respiratory standard AS/NZS1716 and found lower filtration efficiency and higher infection rate in the cloth mask (two layers, made of cotton) in comparison with surgical mask. Our latest study found that increasing layers reduces respiratory emissions from the wearer, with a three-layered medical mask performing better than a two-layered cloth mask, which in turn was better than a single-layered cloth mask.25 Konda et al7 measured the efficiency of common fabrics (cotton, silk, chiffon, flannel, some synthetics and blends of them) used for cloth masks. For single layers, they found a maximum of 80% and 95% filtration efficiencies for particle size <300 nm and >300 nm, respectively. They found that because of the combined effect of mechanical and electrostatic filtration, hybrid fabrics (like cotton/silk, cotton/flannel, cotton/chiffon) showed better filtration efficiency for <300 nm particles. Higher thread counts also increased efficiency. Davies et al47 investigated cotton T-shirts as an alternative to surgical masks. They found surgical masks are three times more effective than a home-made cotton mask, and cotton-polyester blend is better than pure cotton. Rengasamy et al72 examined the performance of cloth masks and common fabric materials (sweatshirts, T-shirts, towels, scarves of a mixture of cotton and polyesters). They found marginal respiratory protection by cloth masks, as the penetration of aerosols was much higher than disposable respirators.72 Filtration efficiency of cloth masks and surgical masks in comparison with disposable respirators was evaluated by Shakya et al,73 who found that cloth masks are less effective in protecting individuals from 0.25 µm particles.73 Madsen and Madsen74 evaluated the efficiency of different masks and materials. The relative efficiency of the different masks was found in the following order: polypropylene fibres > polyester-rayon fibres > glass fibres > paper.74

Historically, circumstantial evidence showed that the cotton gauze mask was effective in military barracks and hospitals during the Manchurian epidemic.75 Tea cloth-based home-made face masks reduce the risk of respiratory infections.76 Case–control studies from the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic also suggest cloth masks were beneficial.77 78 A recent study showed home-made masks (four-layer kitchen paper + one-layer cloth) blocked 95.15% of the avian influenza virus in aerosols.79 Aydin et al14 evaluated the performances of different fabrics (from cotton to silk) for cloth masks and reported that the fabrics can substantially block liquid droplets. They found a two-layered cloth mask can block as well as a surgical mask without substantially compromising breathability.14 Rodriguez-Palacios et al12 assessed household textiles (various cotton and polyester) as environmental droplet barriers and found that two-layered textiles can reduce contaminant droplets as effectively as a medical mask/surgical mask.12 Chu et al3 showed that a 12-layered cloth mask was as effective as a surgical mask in protecting against SARS-CoV-2, SARS and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

Recommending cloth masks as a backup alternative to surgical mask/disposal respirators

One study showed that wearing a home-made cloth mask is more effective in an influenza pandemic than no mask.11 The physical barrier provided by a cloth may be beneficial compared with wearing no mask at all.11 80 It is important to keep in mind that the balance of filtration and breathability is vital. While selecting materials for better filtration, the breathability should also be considered. The ideal features of a cloth mask are shown in table 1. Where there is a shortage of commercial RPGs, the community should be provided with guidelines on the optimal cloth mask design which could be recommended as an alternative: multiple layers of fabrics, fine weave, water resistance of the outer layer, improved fit and daily washing.75 81 Based on the available evidence discussed, the following recommendations are made for a home-made cloth mask:

Table 1

Ideal features of a well-designed cloth mask compared with disposable products

Categories	Regular cloth mask	Surgical mask	N95 respirator	The ideal cloth mask
Physical barrier	✓	✓ ✓	✓ ✓	✓ ✓
Water resistance	✗	✓ ✓	✓ ✓	✓ ✓
Filtration	✗	✓	✓ ✓	✓ ✓
Fit around the face	✗	✗	✓	✓
Breathability	✓ ✓	✓ ✓	✓	✓
Multiple layers	✗ ✓	✓ ✓	✓ ✓	✓ ✓
High thread counts and fine weave	✗ ✓	N/A	N/A	✓ ✓
Retains properties after multiple washes with soap/detergents	✓	✗	✓ ✗*	✓ ✓
Low cost	✓	✓ ✗†	✗	✓‡

*Some respirators are disposable and others are reusable.

†Surgical masks are low cost individually, but cannot be reused and so require ongoing supplies, which can be costly.

‡Cost of surgical mask ~10–15 cents, cloth masks ~20–30 cents, N95 respirators ~ $1–3 and new hybrid mask ~ $3–4. A hybrid mask will be reusable (up to 1 year) and therefore would be cost-effective in the long run.

N/A, not applicable.

Materials

The cloth mask should consist of multilayer fabrics. The different layers should be of different composition. A variety of fabrics like polyester, nylon, chiffon, silk, cotton, linen and their blends can be used. Blends show better performance than pure fabrics. Stretchy materials such as elastic or spandex should be avoided as their filtration efficiency decreases when stretched. Cotton should only be used as an inner layer.

Layers ≥3

The inner layer should be made of cotton/linen, as this will absorb expelled droplets and humidity and be more comfortable. The outer layer should be made of polyester/nylon, which will resist aerosol and water droplets. The middle layer/layers can be blends (figure 2D). The thread count should be 300–350 threads per inch.

To improve fit, adding a nylon stocking layered over the mask and tied at the back of the head can provide a better fit48 (figure 2E). Alternatively, a mask brace (made of three rubber bands looped together) or two tourniquets fashioned together can be used over the mask to improve the fit.49 Daily washing in water that is heated to at least 60°C and soap (such as in the laundry) is recommended. The selected fabrics should be able to withstand at least 60°C.

Decontamination and reuse

Reuse of single-use RPGs by disinfection goes against manufacturer recommendations and must be done without compromising the efficiency. Shortages of masks and respirators have increased the importance of reviewing decontaminating methods for reuse. Recent research showed that SARS-CoV-2 can survive up to 72 hours on a plastic surface and up to 7 days on a surgical mask.82 83 Clogging of contaminants on the surface of the mask can also reduce efficiency.84 Therefore, any decontaminating method must ensure filtration efficiency is retained. Decontamination of masks and respirators must remove all threat of virus, without sacrificing the filtration efficiency or fit, and be safe (non-toxic) for the user.85 However, in the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs around the world have resorted to decontaminating and reusing masks and respirators. Among the reported available methods (table 2), UVC (Ultraviolet C) irradiation,86–89 hydrogen peroxide vapour87 and moist heat incubation89–91 are the most promising.16 For UVC irradiation, the time for effective disinfection may vary in different cases because of the different intensities of radiation in different lamps. Both UVC radiation86–89 and hydrogen peroxide vapour85 87 provide evidence of killing ≥99.9% bacterial spores and do not significantly impact filtration and fit. The moist heat technique at 65°C temperature and 85% relative humidity (RH) was reported to disinfect 99.99% virus,91 while 60°C and 80% RH showed minimal effect on fit and filtration.89–91 The other methods reported are microwave-generated steam,87 91 microwave steam bags,92 liquid hydrogen peroxide90 93 and ethylene oxide.86 90 Both microwave steam and steam bags showed 99.9% bactericidal capacity, but a negative impact on fit performance. Ethylene oxide is toxic to humans, so should be avoided.94 It is to be noted that microwave exposure can cause arcing and sparks to metal nosebands (if any). Liquid hydrogen peroxide has not shown any effect on filtration performance. Ozone disinfectants95 and rice cooker steamers96 have also been used to disinfect RPGs.

Table 2

Reported decontamination methods and effect of the methods

Method/chemicals used	Method reference	Antimicrobial efficiency of methods	Impact of decontamination on fit
Ultraviolet irradiation	85–89	99.9%	After three cycles fit test passing rate is 90%–100%.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) vapour	85 87	>99.999%	Until 20 cycles fit was unaffected.
Ethylene oxide	86 90	Not assessed	Not assessed.
Moist heat incubation	89–91	99.99%	Passed the fit test.
Microwave steam bags	92	99.9%	Not assessed.
Microwave-generated steam	87 91	99.9%	After 3 and 20 times, the fit test passing rate was 95%–100%.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) liquid	90 93	Not assessed	Not assessed.
Ethanol	85	Effective against SARS-CoV-2	Substantially distorted mask integrity.
Ozone disinfectant(SoClean Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Sanitizer)	95	Not assessed	No damage was reported to the functional property of the mask.
Rice cooker steam	96	Effective against bacteria	Not assessed.

Precautions are required while decontaminating, such as hand hygiene and the use of gloves. UVC radiation is harmful and people should not be exposed to it.86 Other methods such as autoclaving, heat drying (160°C), applying microwave radiation, using isopropyl alcohol (70%) and washing with soap and water substantially degraded the filter media, so should be avoided.86 93 There is some evidence that UVC fails to decontaminate rubber straps.97 However, very limited research has been done on decontamination, and the safety of reused personal protective equipment cannot be guaranteed.

Conclusions

The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in recommendations for cloth mask use by communities in many countries, to ensure that scarce supplies of disposable respirators and surgical masks are available for health workers. While cloth face coverings may not be as protective as surgical masks or respirators, an optimal quality cloth mask can be designed by an understanding of the principles of design and the differences between filter mediums, construction, mechanisms of action of different fabrics, key performance factors and limitations in these common masks. Another approach used during the pandemic to address the shortages of RPGs has been disinfection and reuse of single-use products. For health workers, the evidence supporting the disinfection and reuse of single-use masks is limited, and there is uncertainty around the safety of this practice. HCWs should use respirators, which are 96% protective compared with 67% for surgical masks against SARS, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.3 If the choice is between decontaminating a respirator or using a cloth mask, a reused respirator may be preferable to a cloth mask, and hydrogen peroxide vapour may be the best choice. Alternatively, hospitals could invest in reusable elastomeric respirators as a safer option. We believe that the information summarised here will help people to navigate their choices if facing shortages of appropriate respiratory protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Formal guidance of design principles for cloth masks should be provided by governments where cloth masks are recommended. Mask wearing in the general population with a well-designed cloth mask can flatten the curve in areas of high incidence98 and should be used in combination with other non-pharmaceutical options such as social distancing and hand hygiene.