Guides to masks

News (1)

What kind of mask has a good filtering protection function?

The authorities have updated the guidelines for wearing masks and recommended that the public use masks with good filtering protection functions to deal with mutant strains that have a higher transmission rate.

What is "filter protection function"?

According to CNA, the English-language media of New Media, masks are usually marked with Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE). As the name suggests, it is to measure the efficiency of masks to filter bacteria. At this point, the materials or fabrics used to produce masks are very important. .

Having a high BFE means having a better filtering effect, which can more effectively prevent the spread of bacteria. Generally, surgical masks have a bacterial filtering effect of at least 95%, which means that 95% of bacteria can be filtered out.

Surgical masks have a filtering function of at least 95%.

According to the latest mask guidelines, suitable masks include surgical masks or reusable masks made of at least two layers of fabric. If you don’t know which reusable masks are effective, you can refer to the masks issued by the People’s Association and Temasek Fund. Those are reusable masks with good filtering functions.

News (2)

The best anti-epidemic method: Wear a mask

Associate Professor Mai Xiwei, Director of Medical Services of the Ministry of Health, reminded  people that if they have good masks, they must wear the masks well in order to achieve the greatest effect. He said, "No matter how the virus spreads, wearing a good mask is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus."

The Ministry of Health also reminded to ensure that the mouth and nose are well covered when wearing a mask.

Laurent Renia, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, suggested that disposable masks should be replaced every 4 hours if they are worn for a long time, and reusable masks should be washed every day.

 

News (3)

Singapore's current regulations for wearing masks

At present, the authorities stipulate that all members of the public over 6 years old must wear masks when going out. Children under two years old are not recommended to wear masks for safety reasons.

Once they are found not wearing a mask when going out, first offenders can be fined S$300, repeat offenders will face higher fines, and serious offenders can be charged to court. The public can only take off the mask when doing strenuous exercise, but they must wear the mask back after exercise.

News (4)

Which masks are not suitable?

Masks with exhaust function cannot effectively filter bacteria, so they are not suitable for wearing.

In addition, plastic masks or other face masks such as neck gaiters, bandannas, scarves and handkerchiefs are not considered masks. The Ministry of Health also pointed out that face masks cannot effectively stop the spread of the virus and cannot replace masks. 

Ref: https://www.8world.com/news/singapore/article/which-masks-have-good-filtration-efficiency-1482476#cxrecs_s

News (5)

Recommend 9 masks that comply with Singapore government guidelines

Reporter: Wu Shuhui / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

The recent emergence of the covi clusters shows that the mutant strain has a stronger transmission rate and can also be transmitted through aerosols. Therefore, the government interdepartmental anti-epidemic working group updated the "Guiding Principles for Wearing Masks" on 18 May 2021 to reduce the risk of infection.

New principles for choosing masks:

Best choice for medical masks

- Choose a reusable mask with at least two layers of fabric and a filter

- The two layers of fabric should be of different materials, and the outer layer should be waterproof

- Put the reusable mask in the sun, it should not transmit light

- Try not to use exhaust masks

Apart from the reusable masks issued by the People’s Association and the Temasek Foundation, where can I buy masks that comply with the “Guiding Principles” without losing a sense of fashion?

Love Bonito

Wearing a mask for a whole year is still very uncomfortable, and there is frequent mask acne. Consider the Ivy Silk Mask ($13.90) from Love Bonito. The mask is made of 100% mulberry silk, and even the inner layer of the mask is made of silk fabric, which is soft and skin-friendly. The mask also comes with a filter to provide extra protection. It is recommended to wash by hand after daily use and then air dry.

Where to buy: https://www.lovebonito.com/sg/ivy-silk-mask-(adult).html

Beyond The Vines

The Soft Jersey Reusable Face Mask ($20), launched by the local women's brand Beyond The Vines, is made of ultra-soft Jersey fabric with a 100% cotton inner pad to ensure thick and breathable. The mask has a small pocket so you can change the filter. Available in black, ivory white, olive green and navy blue, the front color matching and lining contrast design, small details make the mask more fashionable.

Where to buy: https://www.beyondthevines.com/collections/masks

Burberry

British boutique brand Burberry's Vintage Check Cotton Face Mask ($190) uses the brand's most iconic classic check pattern as the mask color. A total of 3 colors are available: beige, brown and light blue. If you don’t like plaid, Burberry also launched 4 pure plain masks, including black, light blue, light pink and skin tones.

This reusable mask is not only effective for protection, but also made of recycled antibacterial materials, and has a particle filtration efficiency (Particle Filtration Efficiency). The mask will also come with a special travel storage bag that has been treated with antibacterial technology, which is a good choice for fashion and convenience.

Where to buy: https://sg.burberry.com/search/?query=mask

Cocoonese

If you wear a normal plain medical mask, you can also put on Cocoonese's reusable mask outer lining (from $13.90) to make the medical mask more fashionable. The outer lining of these masks is made of 100% cotton, which is light and breathable, and comes in two sizes for adults and children.

The outer lining of the mask has a variety of colors and styles. Whether it is cute animal patterns, classic polka-dots, simple plain colors, and elegant patterns, you will surely find what you like.

Where to buy: https://www.cocoonese.com/collections/reusable-cloth-mask-cover?page=1

Marvelous Works

Marvelous Works, a local social enterprise, specializes in hand-made clothing, bags and other fashionable daily necessities. The mask outer lining ($15) sold by the brand is the same concept as Cocoonese. As long as the medical mask is stuffed into the pocket of the mask outer lining, the medical mask can be "put on new clothes". In addition to medical masks, Marvelous Works also has a mask outer lining for ship-shaped masks.

The outer linings of these masks are made of 100% cotton and come in adult and child sizes. You can also add a filter to the inner lining of the mask to reduce the risk of infection. It is recommended to wash by hand after daily use and then air dry.

Where to buy: https://marvelousworks.sg/collections/reusable-face-mask-sleeve?page=1

Minor Miracles

Local artist Dawn Bey is famous for his dreamy tie-dye scarves and skirts. During the epidemic, she also began to design masks, and the profits from selling masks will be donated to two guest worker foundations.

The City Kitty Mask ($12) is made of super soft, breathable Jersey fabric. The mask provides a small pocket so you can change the filter. City Kitty Mask has 3 patterns: Made in Horizon, All eyes on You and Pick Up Lines. Among them, Made in Horizon is inspired by the work of artist Fleur Isbell, the pattern is like ocean waves, abstract and eye-catching.

Where to buy: https://minormiracles.shop/collections/masks-scarves/products/city-kitty-mask

The Form

The masks launched by the brand are loved by consumers, so they took advantage of the opportunity to launch the second-generation FACE MASK V2 ($22). The outermost layer of the mask is soft silk polyester, which can become very elegant when worn out on the street. The inner layer of the mask is made of 100% cotton, and a filter is attached. The second-generation mask is characterized by a stiffer face, which reduces the friction between the mask and the face.

Where to buy: https://theform.com.sg/product/face-mask-v2-2/

White Trousseau

Ryan and Liu Zixuan's queen stylist Lirong founded White Trousseau, a dress rental brand. In addition to renting dresses, Pure Mulberry Silk Face Mask with Filter ($32) was also launched.

The mask is 100% made of mulberry silk, and it is the top 6A mulberry silk, so despite the protection of 3 layers of fabric, it will not feel stuffy when using it. It helps prevent maskne and is very suitable for sensitive skin. In addition, this mask has a UV protection factor of UPF 50+, a filter is also attached, and it can be reused 200 times, so it is very popular.

This mask has 9 color numbers: silver, black, emerald green, lavender purple, navy blue, tender pink, coffee, champagne and red. It can be gentle and noble, and has a special temperament. Many artists and Internet celebrities are all of them. Admirer.

Where to buy: https://www.whitetrousseau.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/mulberry-silk-mask

Enro

The world's first reusable 3D mask, with more than 70 designs and 6 sizes to choose from. Enro's masks are equipped with the highest specification PM0.1 filter, which is equivalent to the level 2 surgical mask ASTM F2299, which can effectively resist pathogens and pollution transmitted through the air.

In addition, the fabric used in Enro's masks uses "Featherlite technology", which is 50% lighter than other reusable 3D masks, and is more breathable. It does not even need to be taken off during exercise. Even the American supermodels Kaia Gerber and Arnold Schwarzenegger Female, Katherine Schwarzenegger, who is also a well-known writer, loves to use it.

Enro's masks are priced at $23 and can be reused about 100 times.

Where to buy: http://www.enro.com/ 

Ref: https://www.8world.com/lifestyle/fashion/article/fashionable-reusable-face-masks-that-provide-enough-protection-1482946

News (6)

Is your mask filtering function adequate? Walk into the laboratory to understand how to distinguish

Reporter : Chen Chenghui / Direct translation

Various covi mutant strains  are coming fiercely. Recently, there have been many confirmed cases in the local area that are suspected of being infected with the more transmissible B1617 mutant strain. The government recommends that the public use masks with higher filtering protection functions and wear masks correctly to achieve the maximum protection effect.

Going out without leaving the mouth has become the new normal under the epidemic. Can your masks protect against mutant strains? In this episode of "Lion City Magnifier" let us find out.

Surgical masks vs reusable masks

"8world News" conducted a survey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Telegram the day before yesterday (20th) and found that among more than 1,700 Internet users, 69% said that they usually use surgical masks, and the rest use reusable masks.

Reporters took to the streets to interview the public. Almost all interviewees said that they often use surgical masks because they provide better protection, they are easier to breathe when worn, and they can be thrown away immediately without cleaning.

Huang Yongshun, a 37-year-old manufacturing employee, revealed that based on safety considerations, the company mandates that they wear surgical masks when they go to work. He also feels that this type of mask has a higher filtration efficiency than cotton masks. He will also pay attention to the instructions on the packaging before buying, including details such as the country of production and the filtration efficiency of PM2.5 particulate matter.

Yang Liling, in her 40s, said that she does not like wearing reusable masks because they will shed hair after washing and they have a little smell.

Before buying a surgical mask, she will pay attention to whether it has a filtration efficiency of at least 90%, and she will also make a choice based on the design and pattern. "We wear masks every day. If we look at the same color all the time, we will feel very bored. Life is about having a little style of life.

Ms. Zheng, a 50-year-old office worker, said that she would use surgical masks when she went to work, and would wear reusable masks if she went out briefly. As for the requirements for masks, she thinks that they are durable.

Lin Wenbin, a 29-year-old office worker, said that he often wears reusable masks because they can be used again after cleaning and there is no need to buy surgical masks all the time. He admitted that even if he wants to buy a surgical mask, he will not read the information on the package, as long as it says "surgical mask" and the price is reasonable, he will buy it.

What are PFE and BFE?

The Health Sciences Authority earlier introduced new guidelines for masks to remind the public of the correct way to buy and wear masks. Among them, locally manufactured surgical masks must meet international testing standards.

Li Weiliang, Director of the Respiratory Protection department of ST Engineering, told reporters that the filtration efficiency of masks can be viewed from two aspects, namely particle filtration efficiency (PFE) and bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE). How high its filtration efficiency is is mainly related to the quality of the meltblown filter.

As the name suggests, melt blown cloth is made of plastic melted and sprayed out of very small holes with plastic lines, organized into a cloth similar to a spider web.

Li Weiliang emphasized that the electrostatic performance of meltblown cloth is very important, because it uses static electricity to attract particles in the air, similar to the principle that magnets attract steel. "So its thin plastic lines have an electrostatic function that can attract particles. The stronger its electrostatic function, the better its filtering function."

How to test the mask filtering function?

Li Weiliang revealed that ST Engineering focuses on testing the PFE of masks. The machine uses particles of 0.1 micron size to test whether the mask can filter these particles. Coronavirus and bacteria are about three microns. This means that if the mask passes the test and can filter 0.1 micron particles, it will be more difficult for viruses and bacteria to break through the mask's defenses.

In order to distinguish which mask has a higher filtering function, "8world News" entered the mask manufacturing factory of ST Engineering, and asked experts to test the three brands of surgical masks on the market. They are a mask advertised as a medical grade. Three-layer masks without melt-blown cloth, and three-layer masks with melt-blown cloth.

First, place the mask on the pneumatic clamp of the filtration efficiency tester. When the clamp is closed, the air with particles will flow into the inlet hood, the air will pass through the mask, and the particles will be filtered out.

The results showed that the PFE index of the masks advertised as medical grade and the three-layer mask without meltblown cloth were only 78% and 27% respectively; as for the three-layer mask with meltblown cloth, the filtration efficiency reached 98%.

What should consumers pay attention to when buying masks?

Li Weiliang advises consumers to pay attention to the packaging box before buying surgical masks to see if the PFE and BFE of this mask reach 95% recommended by the Ministry of Health, and it has the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM F2100) or European standard (EN14683) logo.

He said that the mask specifications of the US and European regulations are similar. Their specifications are divided into three levels. The first level of masks means that their BFE is greater than 95%, and the filtration efficiency of the second and third levels of masks is greater than 98%.

In addition, surgical masks produced locally must be approved by the Health Sciences Authority, and overseas importers must also notify the authorities of the details of imported masks. If safety problems are found, the authorities will remove the products from the shelves.

In addition to surgical masks, the Ministry of Health stated earlier that the reusable masks previously issued by the People's Association and Temasek Fund also have good filtering functions, but users should control the number of repeated use according to recommendations.

As for exhaust masks, Associate Professor Mai Xiwei, Director of Medical Services of the Ministry of Health, said that although this type of mask is more comfortable, it is more suitable for use in dealing with haze. From the perspective of public health and infection control, it cannot provide adequate protection to prevent the spread of the virus.

Masks have a shelf life

Did you know that the original masks also have a shelf life? Li Weiliang explained that general masks are marked with a three-year validity period, because the electrostatic function of the meltblown cloth of the mask will become invalid over time. "After three years, its electrostatic function may decline, and the filter efficiency of the mask may also decrease."

Wearing two masks = double protection?

The US CDC released research results in February this year, showing that wearing an extra layer of fabric mask on the outer layer of surgical masks can effectively reduce the spread of the virus by more than 90%. Senior officials such as US President Biden and Vice President Harris were also found wearing two-layer masks on multiple public occasions, causing concern from all walks of life.

However, for Li Weiliang, it is not necessary to wear two masks. The most important thing is to find a mask with a filtering function of more than 95%. "If you have two masks, but their filtration efficiency is not good, then it will not be able to achieve effective protection."

Ref: https://www.8world.com/news/singapore/article/singapore-close-up-ep3-face-mask-filtration-capabilities-1484881