Several European countries have made it mandatory the port of these more filter masks in some closed places. In France, health authorities do not recommend it for the moment.
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To cope with the Omicron variant of SARS-COV-2, should the use of FFP2 masks, more filter than so-called surgical masks? Due to the very large contagiousness of this variant, several European countries have generalized the port of these masks in some places.
Questioned on the subject by MPs, Wednesday, December 29, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, said he asked the opinion of the High Public Health Council “on the issue of FFP2 masks, including caregivers, account held the very strong movement of the Omicron variant and so as to avoid paralyzing in certain totally essential services “. At the hospital, the FFP2 mask is mainly used in services hosting many CVIV-19 patients, in resuscitation or surgical block.
Initially reserved for health professionals in particular, these masks are now sold in pharmacies or commercially. Some people, at risk or simply more worried about the virus, are already carrying it.
better filter capacity
The FFP2 responds to the European Standard in 149 (equivalent to N95 or KN95 standards in other countries). It protects the respiratory tract against fine and toxic particles, dust or virus, and protects both its carrier and its entourage.
It has a filter capacity of 94% of the particles of 0.6 micrometer. One of the advantages of the FFP2, when it is correctly put, is to encompass the entire face, from below the eyes to the chin, without the air out or penetrates by the edges of the mask or around of the nose. Indeed, the efficiency of a mask depends on both its filtration and its adjustment on the face of the wearer.
The surgical mask – the most widespread now – has the disadvantage of not being hermetic. Quite loose, it can pass from all small droplets, or aerosols, which can stay in the air when a place is poorly ventilated. It is also advisable to change it every four hours, against eight for an FFP2.
A study published on December 7th In The PNAS journal confirmed the effectiveness of FFP2 to protect and protect against virus. According to the researchers of the universities of Göttingen (Germany) and Cornell (United States), if a person not infected with the SAR-COV-2 carries a surgical mask during a discussion with an unbased infected at a distance of ‘1 m 50, the maximum risk of infection reaches 90% after thirty minutes. With a FFP2 mask, this risk lowers nearly 20%, even after an hour discussion. If both people wear a surgical mask, the maximum risk is less than 30%, even after an hour. But if both individuals wear a correctly adjusted FFP2 mask, then this risk falls to 0.4% maximum.
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