Just want to provide a little clarity here. There’s been some confusion about masks, what they do, which ones do what, and soap vs sanitizer. So let’s clear up this confusion.

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Masks

Ok, masks come in many forms. The short version is that a mask blocks where a respirator filters and must be sealed. That means that even if you have a respirator or a mask you may not be getting the benefit you expect from it.

For more details from the CDC and FDA, take a look at the links at the bottom.

That said, let’s take a look at the types of face coverage available.

Not a Mask

Little to no protection for anyone

This is a bandana. In this category are fabric “masks” with loops sewed on or any other pure fabric. Obscures your face, might keep out a little bit of very large particles, particularly if wet, but this is not a mask.

This and other homemade masks are a last resort only, though it can help prevent dispersion of material from coughs.

Surgical Mask

Protects the people *around* the person wearing it.

This keeps droplets from spreading – when someone wearing a surgical mask coughs, the droplets are kept in by the mask.

When you breathe while wearing this, air comes through the mask but also around the edges, which means you are not protected from airborne material, and the mask does not filter viruses and bacteria.

Please wear these if you are sick so as to not spread the contagion.

Respirator

Protects the person wearing it – if you have the right one and are wearing it properly.

Respirators come in many shapes and sizes. Some only filter dust or gas while others filter 95 or even 99 (N95/N99) percent of small particles including bacteria and viruses.

These must be fitted and worn properly. Air takes the path of least resistance. If there is a leak around the edges you will receive no protection – breathing must happen through the material of the mask.

Current guidance is to stay home, don’t expose yourself, and don’t wear a mask if you do have to go out, as these are desperately needed for healthcare workers.

Gas / CBN Masks (Respirators)

Overkill, but effective overkill

These masks, known generally as “gas masks”, are actually made to protect against Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear particles, thus “CBN”. They cover the full face including eyes, are usually made of a heavy rubber, sometimes come with drinking tubes, and require 1 or 2 specially-made filter canisters to do their job. Like other respirators they require a complete seal around the face to ensure air is filtered through the canister. These can often be found as military surplus.

Soaps and Sanitizer

What are these doing, and when should I use which?

Soaps “mechanically remove” viruses and bacteria from the surfaces that are washed. This means they are actually no longer on the surface.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, meanwhile, kill the microorganisms they come into contact with.

Both of these methods leave some microorganisms behind – nothing is perfect, but this is part of the reason that we are told to wash regularly and disinfect commonly-touched surfaces.

So if you are home, wash! Save the sanitizer for trips out. Wipe the germs off of your hands with soap and hot water, and if you have a lot of extra sanitizer, consider donating to a doctor or nurse.

Hand Moisturizer an important part of safety?

With all of this washing, you may find your skin responding by drying out and turning red. Unfortunately this can cause tiny micro-perforations in your skin which are a great entrance-point for germs. Combat this with a moisturizer to protect your skin.

Sanitizers only in healthcare?

You may see recommendations that indicate healthcare environments should only use alcohol-based sanitizers. This is not a problem of effectiveness but of time and hand safety.

In the healthcare environment doctors, nurses, and other workers need to maintain hand cleanliness constantly. Stopping for 20 seconds of hand washing and a spread of moisturizer (to protect against the inevitable tiny hand cuts) is not feasible in that environment, so sanitizer is recommended as the most expeditious effective method. It’s just a lot quicker, and they have a lot of patients to see, especially right now.

References and additional reading

FDA – N95 Respirators and Surgical Face Masks from

CDC – FAQ About Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

CDC – How to Protect Yourself

CDC – FAQ For Healthcare Personnel

Healthline – Can Face Masks Protect You from the 2019 Coronavirus? What Types, When and How to Use

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