Europe's growing mask ask: Ditch the cloth ones for medical-grade coverings

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Europe’s growing mask ask: Ditch the cloth ones for medical-grade coverings

By Loveday Morris and Rick Noack
1/20/2021, 7:13:53 a.m.

BERLIN ­— Faced with new, more contagious, strains of the coronavirus and a winter surge in cases, European nations have begun to tighten mask regulations in the hope that they can slow the spread of the virus.

Germany on Tuesday night made it mandatory for people riding on public transport or in supermarkets to wear medical style masks: either N95s, the Chinese or European equivalent KN95 or FFP2s, or a surgical mask.

It follows a stricter regulation from the German state of Bavaria this week that required N95 equivalents in stores and on public transport. Austria will introduce the same measures from Monday.

Meanwhile in France, the country’s health advisory council on Monday discouraged the wearing of inefficient cloth and homemade masks, also arguing they may not offer sufficient protection against the more highly transmissible coronavirus variants.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/europe-coronavirus-masks-regulations/2021/01/20/23463c08-5a74-11eb-a849-6f9423a75ffd_story.html

[luv2fly]

1. Our future?

I can't help but wonder if this is where we're headed... seems like we are often a few steps behind the Europeans.

[Doreen]

2. My masks are fun cloth masks but you can insert surgical masks into them.

I never use my cloth masks twice. They go into the laundry basket to be cleaned.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. I've been wearing the KN-95 masks for a few months now after reading that they are more effective

than cloth masks. They fit closer around the sides than the cloth masks.

[appalachiablue]

4. K-95 Masks come in Black color now, just saw new ads

[Tumbulu]

5. I wear an N95 with a cloth mask over it so that I can use the N95 multiple times

And wash the clothes ones after each use.

But on my farm, or other outside situations, just my cloth ones.