Double Masking Has Limited Effects: Japan Team

Tokyo, March 4 (Jiji Press)--Simulations by Japan's Fugaku supercomputer have shown that wearing two face masks has limited effects in reducing the spread of droplets, a team led by researchers at government-affiliated institute Riken said Thursday. "It's important to put a single mask made of nonwoven fabric appropriately," said the team, led by Makoto Tsubokura, professor at Kobe University. The team simulated effects to curb the spread of droplets when a nonwoven mask is worn tightly by using a nose bridge wire or when it is used without a wire. When a mask fits well, 85 pct of droplets were curbed, with the effects falling to 69 pct for an ill-fitting mask, the team said. When an ill-fitting nonwoven mask is covered by a urethane mask, the reduction effects came to 89 pct, equivalent to a single unwoven mask with a good fit, according to the simulations. "Masks have limits in their effects to curb the spread of droplets," Tsubokura said. "It's important to take measures against infectious diseases comprehensively, including washing hands, ensuring ventilation, keeping social distancing and limiting the duration of contacts with others," he said. END