It may be an intriguing idea, but how useful are masks with anti-viral coating?

There haven't been enough rigorous independent studies to establish the effectiveness.

By AP | Nov 11, 2020, 06.20 PM IST

Do masks with antiviral coating offer more protection?

It's an intriguing idea, but there haven't been enough rigorous independent studies to establish whether antiviral masks are better at protecting wearers or preventing the spread of the virus.

Their specifics vary, but many antiviral masks are supposed to be made or coated with materials that have extra virus-fighting properties, such as copper.

Websites for several antiviral masks do not provide detailed information about how researchers tested their safety or effectiveness, said Hyo-Jick Choi, a materials science expert at the University of Alberta.

But it usually takes years to design and test new mask technology, said Choi, who is part of a group that has been developing a different type of antiviral mask since before the pandemic.

Masks marketed as being "antiviral" often cost more than N-95 and surgical masks. A single coated mask can cost up to $10; disposable surgical masks and N-95 masks sell at large retailers for between 35 cents and $3 per mask.

Choi said a simpler way to boost the effectiveness of the masks you're already using is to ensure you're putting them on, wearing them and taking them off correctly.

And no mask can fully protect wearers, "but almost any mask can help to protect others around the wearers," said Jiaxing Huang, a professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern University.

Invest In The Right Masks, Consumer Immunity-Boosting Foods: Tips To Stay Healthy As Delhi Chokes

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The past week has seen hazardous air quality levels in India's National Capital. Delhi has been covered in a thick layer of haze and dust, compromising the health of its residents.

As air quality worsens, a health emergency has been declared in Delhi - schools are closed, cars on the roads have been reduced with the 'odd-even' scheme, and construction has been halted.

The current crisis, that led Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to describe the National Capital as a 'gas chamber', has turned into the worst in three years. Smog levels have exceeded those of Beijing by more than three times, according to a report in news agency AFP.

Fourteen Indian cities including the capital are among the world's top 15 most polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization.

Even as environmentalists and residents call for measures to fight the pollution, there are some precautions that you need to take to stay safe during such severe conditions.