Coronavirus face masks sell out as prices soar 800%: But do they really work and which one should you buy?
(DailyMail) - Coronavirus panic in Britain means face masks are selling out and online profiteers are ramping up the cost by up to GBP 120 per pack - but experts are still split over whether they work at all.
More than 81,000 cases of coronavirus have been recorded across the world - and with the global death toll topping 2,800 and increasing every day in Europe more people in the UK are now choosing to cover their mouth and nose in public.
In Britain, there have been 15 confirmed coronavirus cases and the prices of masks are now rocketing as shops sell out. One pack of five 'anti-coronavirus' masks is on sale online for £150 today - when the cost of the same pack was less than £30 just five days ago.
However, one medical expert told MailOnline that masks 'cannot' protect against the virus and that wearing them may even make it worse. Meanwhile Public Health England has warned that there is 'very little evidence' that masks are effective 'outside of clinical settings' such as hospitals.
Yet recent testing by the Health and Safety Executive has found that any kind of protection is better than nothing.
Dr Stephen Griffin, Associate Professor Section of Infection & Immunity, University of Leeds, said: 'Standard facemasks provide relatively little protection from respiratory aerosols – they can stop larger droplets and some studies have estimated an approx. 5-fold protection versus no barrier alone. Also, once they are worn for a time, they become moistened and protection diminishes further. Exhaled droplets also reduce in size quickly by evaporation, and of course virus particles are far smaller than the fibre mesh in these sorts of masks.
'However, wearing a mask can reduce the propensity for people to touch their faces, which happens many more times a day than we all realise and is a major source of infection without proper hand hygiene. They are also useful for people that are themselves symptomatic in stopping coughs and sneezes, primarily by encouraging good 'etiquette', i.e. catch it, bin it, kill it…
'There are higher specification masks that contain filters and, when properly fitted and sealed, provide significantly better protection. However, these aren't as easy to come by and are obviously more expensive.'
The World Health Organisation said masks had to be combined with good hand hygiene and other measures for them to have any positive effect.
They recommended that masks should only be worn by those with a cough, fever, or who people who have difficulty breathing.
They added: 'The main purpose is a psychological thing they make people more aware but physically they are not a prevention.'
The spike in demand has meant that pharmacies including Boots are no longer selling masks online and stores are sold out.
Others listed at retailers including Amazon, Screwfix and Medisave are either sold out or have dramatically increased in price from £10 in December to nearly £80.
As of Thursday morning, ordinary surgical masks being sold on Amazon were far more expensive than last December, or even just a few days ago.
One listing for a pack of 50 surgical masks had jumped eight times in price, from £4.99 on December 1 to £39.20 on Thursday.
Another, for five masks with ear loops, sold by Cosy Cloud, has jumped from £6.99 just three days ago to £13.99 on Thursday.
A further listing for 10 masks, which was £10.99 on February 22 was being sold for £19.99 on Thursday.
Of more expensive masks, some of which are being marketed as protectors against Coronavirus - many have hiked dramatically in price.
One, a 3M Disposal Respirator, has jumped from just £20 on December 1 to £52 on Thursday.
Another similar product has gone from £10 at the beginning of December last year to £79.99 today.
Another listing for a respirator is now priced at £200, whereas it was just £24 in November last year.
Elsewhere, the masks are out of stock entirely. On the website of Medisave - which sells medical supplies in the UK - all masks are out of stock.
At Boot's pharmacist, 'Safe & Sound' surgical masks which were sold out last month continue to be unavailable.
The listing simply says 'stock coming soon' and there are no available alternatives.
At Screwfix, dust masks are still being sold but a message warns customers that there is a limit on the numbers they can purchase.
It reads: 'Due to unprecedented global demand, orders containing more than 5 units of any mask will be reduced to 5 at the point of collection.'
A Boots spokesman confirmed to MailOnline that masks are out of stock both on their website and in store.
They advised: 'The best way to help prevent catching a virus is by making sure that you regularly wash your hands with soap, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent transmission from surfaces, especially after blowing your nose, sneezing and coughing.
'Antiviral hand foams and gel can also be useful when you are out and about.'
So which face mask should you buy to protect against coronavirus?
Experts have lab tested face masks used by NHS medics to try to stop patients giving them illnesses spread through the air like flu, ebola and other illnesses similar to coronavirus such as SARs.
The Health and Safety Executive uses a specialist machine that sprays water droplets at a person wearing a mask to accurately replicate being hit with a cough or a sneeze.
People wearing different types of mask were also sprayed five times from a metre away while breathing in. The same test was also done while standing still, walking towards someone and walking away to see how much, if any, of the spray got through.
Here are the best and worst performers:
Best - Mask respirator with filters
Chances of getting coronavirus: 100 times less likely than wearing no mask
Description: The NHS uses this kind of face mask to treat patients with the most dangerous airborne illnesses such as coronavirus, swine flu or ebola.
Related:
Buy from Lazada Malaysia
Buy from Lazada Singapore
It has the highest level of protection because it filters the air and has a rubber mouthpiece meaning that no droplets from a cough or sneeze could get into the mouth or nose.
It also has multiple straps that ensure it is fitted tightly to a person's head and face.
Safe bet - Mask respirator with no filter
Chances of getting coronavirus: 78 times less likely than wearing no mask
Description: This cheaper face mask is designed to offer protection from gases, hazardous materials and a small amount of liquid.
In Britain, there have been 15 confirmed coronavirus cases and the prices of masks are now rocketing as shops sell out. One pack of five 'anti-coronavirus' masks is on sale online for £150 today - when the cost of the same pack was less than £30 just five days ago.
However, one medical expert told MailOnline that masks 'cannot' protect against the virus and that wearing them may even make it worse. Meanwhile Public Health England has warned that there is 'very little evidence' that masks are effective 'outside of clinical settings' such as hospitals.
Yet recent testing by the Health and Safety Executive has found that any kind of protection is better than nothing.
Dr Stephen Griffin, Associate Professor Section of Infection & Immunity, University of Leeds, said: 'Standard facemasks provide relatively little protection from respiratory aerosols – they can stop larger droplets and some studies have estimated an approx. 5-fold protection versus no barrier alone. Also, once they are worn for a time, they become moistened and protection diminishes further. Exhaled droplets also reduce in size quickly by evaporation, and of course virus particles are far smaller than the fibre mesh in these sorts of masks.
'However, wearing a mask can reduce the propensity for people to touch their faces, which happens many more times a day than we all realise and is a major source of infection without proper hand hygiene. They are also useful for people that are themselves symptomatic in stopping coughs and sneezes, primarily by encouraging good 'etiquette', i.e. catch it, bin it, kill it…
'There are higher specification masks that contain filters and, when properly fitted and sealed, provide significantly better protection. However, these aren't as easy to come by and are obviously more expensive.'
The World Health Organisation said masks had to be combined with good hand hygiene and other measures for them to have any positive effect.
They recommended that masks should only be worn by those with a cough, fever, or who people who have difficulty breathing.
They added: 'The main purpose is a psychological thing they make people more aware but physically they are not a prevention.'
The spike in demand has meant that pharmacies including Boots are no longer selling masks online and stores are sold out.
Others listed at retailers including Amazon, Screwfix and Medisave are either sold out or have dramatically increased in price from £10 in December to nearly £80.
As of Thursday morning, ordinary surgical masks being sold on Amazon were far more expensive than last December, or even just a few days ago.
One listing for a pack of 50 surgical masks had jumped eight times in price, from £4.99 on December 1 to £39.20 on Thursday.
Another, for five masks with ear loops, sold by Cosy Cloud, has jumped from £6.99 just three days ago to £13.99 on Thursday.
A further listing for 10 masks, which was £10.99 on February 22 was being sold for £19.99 on Thursday.
Of more expensive masks, some of which are being marketed as protectors against Coronavirus - many have hiked dramatically in price.
One, a 3M Disposal Respirator, has jumped from just £20 on December 1 to £52 on Thursday.
Another similar product has gone from £10 at the beginning of December last year to £79.99 today.
Another listing for a respirator is now priced at £200, whereas it was just £24 in November last year.
Elsewhere, the masks are out of stock entirely. On the website of Medisave - which sells medical supplies in the UK - all masks are out of stock.
At Boot's pharmacist, 'Safe & Sound' surgical masks which were sold out last month continue to be unavailable.
The listing simply says 'stock coming soon' and there are no available alternatives.
At Screwfix, dust masks are still being sold but a message warns customers that there is a limit on the numbers they can purchase.
It reads: 'Due to unprecedented global demand, orders containing more than 5 units of any mask will be reduced to 5 at the point of collection.'
A Boots spokesman confirmed to MailOnline that masks are out of stock both on their website and in store.
They advised: 'The best way to help prevent catching a virus is by making sure that you regularly wash your hands with soap, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent transmission from surfaces, especially after blowing your nose, sneezing and coughing.
'Antiviral hand foams and gel can also be useful when you are out and about.'
Experts have lab tested face masks used by NHS medics to try to stop patients giving them illnesses spread through the air like flu, ebola and other illnesses similar to coronavirus such as SARs.
The Health and Safety Executive uses a specialist machine that sprays water droplets at a person wearing a mask to accurately replicate being hit with a cough or a sneeze.
People wearing different types of mask were also sprayed five times from a metre away while breathing in. The same test was also done while standing still, walking towards someone and walking away to see how much, if any, of the spray got through.
Here are the best and worst performers:
Best - Mask respirator with filters
Chances of getting coronavirus: 100 times less likely than wearing no mask
Description: The NHS uses this kind of face mask to treat patients with the most dangerous airborne illnesses such as coronavirus, swine flu or ebola.
Related:
Buy from Lazada Malaysia
Buy from Lazada Singapore
It has the highest level of protection because it filters the air and has a rubber mouthpiece meaning that no droplets from a cough or sneeze could get into the mouth or nose.
It also has multiple straps that ensure it is fitted tightly to a person's head and face.
Safe bet - Mask respirator with no filter
Chances of getting coronavirus: 78 times less likely than wearing no mask
Description: This cheaper face mask is designed to offer protection from gases, hazardous materials and a small amount of liquid.
Related:
Buy from Lazada Malaysia (N95 mask)
Buy from Lazada Singapore (N95 mask)
If a coronavirus sufferer sneezed or coughed in your face while wearing it it would still offer good protection. But because the mask is smaller, particles from the virus could linger on the face. It would have to be disposed of after one use. It should not get wet.
Basic protection - standard surgical mask
Chances of getting coronavirus: Six times less likely than wearing no mask
Buy from Lazada Malaysia (N95 mask)
Buy from Lazada Singapore (N95 mask)
If a coronavirus sufferer sneezed or coughed in your face while wearing it it would still offer good protection. But because the mask is smaller, particles from the virus could linger on the face. It would have to be disposed of after one use. It should not get wet.
Basic protection - standard surgical mask
Chances of getting coronavirus: Six times less likely than wearing no mask
Description: Surgical masks protect against large droplets, splashes and contact transmission with illnesses such as coronavirus.
But testing by the Health and Safety Executive found that when a sneeze landed on them traces were found inside.
The report on preventing the spread of swine flu says: 'They should not be used in situations where close exposure to infectious aerosols [sneezes and coughs] is likely. This level of protection might not sufficiently reduce the likelihood of transmission via this route'.
Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8050587/Coronavirus-face-masks-selling-one-buy.html
Related: Where to buy N95 masks in Singapore?
But testing by the Health and Safety Executive found that when a sneeze landed on them traces were found inside.
The report on preventing the spread of swine flu says: 'They should not be used in situations where close exposure to infectious aerosols [sneezes and coughs] is likely. This level of protection might not sufficiently reduce the likelihood of transmission via this route'.
Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8050587/Coronavirus-face-masks-selling-one-buy.html
Related: Where to buy N95 masks in Singapore?
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