MOH Has Confirmed: Bandanas, Scarves or Handkerchiefs Are Not Considered as Masks

I bet every dollar I have that before this incident, you didn’t know what neck gaiters are:

And I bet every cent I have that you think neck gaiters are allowed since according to the guidelines then, anything that covers the mouth and nose works, even if you used your used underwear.

After all, according to the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, a mask includes: “any paper or textile covering designed or made to be worn over the nose and mouth to provide the wearer protection against infections or air pollution, but excludes a face shield.”

Well, MOH has spoken, and a certain bus driver might be cheering now.

MOH: Bandanas, Scarves or Handkerchiefs Should Not be Used

Previously, the law indicates that the mask must closely and completely cover the nose and mouth (i.e. without leaving a gap between the mask and the face). In other words, using any cloth to cover your mouth and nose works.

However, MOH has just said in a media release that they might not work well.

They mentioned that there “have been recent queries on the efficacy of makeshift coverings such as bandanas, scarves, and neck gaiters in preventing disease transmission. As these makeshift coverings may not have a good fit around the person’s nose and mouth and are made from materials that are not specific for disease prevention, they may not perform as well as purpose-built masks.”

Pretty sure this must have stemmed from the viral incident mentioned in the first paragraph.

MOH added, “To ensure transmission rates in the community are kept low, it is critical for every member of public to put on masks that are designed or made specifically to prevent disease transmission. A mask should be worn such that it closely and completely covers the wearer’s nose and mouth, without leaving a gap between the mask and the face.

“Therefore, face coverings such as neck gaiters, bandanas, scarves, or handkerchiefs should not be used..”

They have since updated the FAQs section of their website, so you can’t say I don’t know liao.

So, why the change?

Other than the viral incident, there has also been a new study that shows the inefficiency of covering your face with your underwear.

New Study Shows Wearing Some Masks is Actually Worse Than Having No Mask

According to a new study by Duke University in the United States published in the Science Advances journal this month, some “masks” actually increase the spread of droplets, rather than reduce it.

The study found most masks provide a strong barrier against the spread of viruses, though none were 100% effective.

A fitted N95 mask and triple layer surgical mask were found to be the most effective, while a bandanna and a neck gaiter were the least helpful.

In fact, the neck gaiter led to 110% droplet transmission, which was 10% higher than wearing no mask at all, reported Forbes.

Researchers explained that the neck gaiter “seemed to disperse the largest droplets into a multitude of smaller droplets which explains the apparent increase in droplet count relative to no mask in that case”.

“Considering that smaller particles are airborne longer than large droplets (larger droplets sink faster), the use of such a mask might be counterproductive.”

So, how do we know if the type of mask we’re wearing is effective?

Well, here’s a good rule of thumb, according to The Straits Times:  the easier it is to breathe with the mask on, the less effective it is.

So, you’ll have to find a compromise between the two. Don’t focus too much on comfort though, because while you may be protected, others may end up getting infected.

Valve Face Masks

Take valve face masks, for instance.

For those who don’t know, valve face masks have a tiny plastic piece embedded in the fabric that creates an airway for your exhalation to leave the mask.

But it also closes when you breathe in, so you won’t be breathing in any infectious particles.

Sounds great, right? It keeps you cool and also protects you from the coronavirus.

The only problem is that it doesn’t protect those around you.

Regular face masks are designed to capture virus particles that you might inhale and exhale.

This prevents you from breathing in harmful or infectious particles, but it also prevents you from exhaling them out into the air.

On the other hand, when you wear valve face masks, your mouth is basically an “open exhaust”, said Fast Company.

Since the whole point of wearing face masks is to protect those around you, valve face masks are essentially useless.

If you want to protect yourself and those around you, a surgical mask, N95 respirator (without valve), and cloth mask (like the ones the gahmen gave you) are the best ones to go for.

We’ve already sacrificed travel and bubble tea, surely we can sacrifice a little comfort for the sake of others too?

How About Homemade Masks?

So far, MOH hasn’t made any update about homemade masks, and since they look and work like a reusable mask, there shouldn’t be any issue unless your homemade mask looks like this: