With the mass production and usage of fabric nose masks in Nigeria, experts have warned that only the homemade masks with filters in between cotton or silk fabrics as well as tick breathable materials can ensure blockage of the smallest particles and therefore protect against aerosols of the coronavirus and prevent transmission. CHIJIOKE IREMEKA reports


Medical and laboratory experts in Nigeria have said that fabricmade or homemade nose masks may not be fashionable in preventing transmission of aerosols of the novel Coronavirus, saying it may lack the capacity of blocking out every small particles in it, except there is a filter in between the materials to ensure that the smallest particles are blocked out.

Experts, who spoke to Sunday Telegraph in different interviews said though homemade nose masks may not be able to block out every particle when poorly sewn without filters, yet they can help in some circumstances in addition to the known benefits and precautions. They insist that social distancing on walk ways and in stores, thorough hand-washing and personal hygiene are still the most effective way of containing the coronavirus and preventing infection.
According to Dr. Ngozi Cynthia Obiora, fabric face masks may block large particles ejected from sneezing and coughing, but might also not help in protecting others from one’s sneezes and coughs if one acquired the virus without any symptom in public. But she, however, stated that the use of fabric nose or face masks could also encourage more mindful behaviour, including avoiding touching one’s mouth, nose and eyes.
“The severe shortage of N95 or surgical masks, which help to protect medical professionals like doctors and nurses from contracting the coronavirus, has meant that ordinary citizens needed an alternative to help slow down the spread of the virus,” she said.


She noted that production of fabric nose masks got more impetus since last week’s presidential broadcast on partial relaxation or easing of Covid-19 induced lockdowns as well as government resolve to implement the mandatory use of nose masks in the public among Nigerians. She continued: “Since then, the country has witnessed a spike in use of nose masks and production of different types, especially the homemade nose mask, and sometimes, without recourse to whether they are able to protect one against the deadly virus.

“Hence, there is an urgent and growing concern for the country to address the issue whether these things guarantee prevention against the virus or the masses are just wearing face masks for the sake of wearing it. This is the point I am making.

“Many of them are intended to block out large particles such as dust; air pollution from cars, factories or ash; and allergens such as pollen, but not the smallest particles of the aerosols, hence, the virus is spread by droplets that can spray into the air when those infected talk, cough and sneeze.

“The only way the use of non surgical face masks or handkerchief will be effective is to fold or double the handkerchief to ensure that the small spores are well covered, while filter or gum should be put in between the fabrics.” Speaking on the medium of transmission of coronavirus, she added: “The virus can enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth, either directly or after touching a contaminated object, hence regular washing of hands with stop for, at least, 20 seconds is advocated.”

More so, a clinical and research professor of Neuroscience and Academician of International Academy of Astronautics, the UNESCO body for space research, Prof. Philip Njemanze, said the general use of home-made face masks in public transport, crowded churches, banks and other public places would be effective to prevent viral transmission in droplets. He said if the face mask is of high quality, it stops the ‘aerosol spread’ of the virus to some extent but warned that face masks made of ordinary cloths can only trap the saliva from infected who had not gone symptomatic.

Prof. Njemanze said homemade nose masks are good and can prevent spread of virus if the masks are of good quality, saying that the only challenge with non-surgical face masks is that some manufacturers use ordinary cloths which does not protect against transmission of the aerosols of the virus. He quickly noted that having poorly sewn homemade one is better than not having anything at all, saying at least, it can help to trap large particles from coughs, sneeze and saliva of infected persons.

He said: “The reason is that when somebody, who is an asymptomatic patient, coughs in a bus, it helps to trap the person’s contaminated saliva but does not trap the aerosols if the person is a carrier. So in this regards, the person is with his saliva. It also prevents the wearer from picking the saliva. “The way to make homemade nose masks effective is to ensure that there are filters inbetween the cloths to ensure that the aerosols will not be transmitted. The masks from China are really bad but we can make good ones at home that the masses will use.

“However, the science is that, when humidity is high, there are several natural aerosols in the air, and when someone coughs, the aerosols come out and collide with the ones in the air and get neutralised, and hence no transmission occurs.

“Therefore, in the open space, when there is high humidity and hot weather, the aerosol spread of the virus is low if not negligible and transmission of the virus is less likely. “We may not require people to wear masks in the open space in public. However, when the wind is dry, transmission of aerosols with viruses goes up.”