During the epidemic, rumors were flooding the Internet, and rumors spread all over the place. If you read more, you might believe it. For example, as a mask for important epidemic prevention products, many consumers are faced with practical problems such as the distinction between true and false, model distinction, and whether they can be used repeatedly. If you can’t buy a mask, netizens have invented various methods to extend the duration of the mask, and there are many rumors about the mask.

Rumor 1:

The mask is impermeable to water, indicating resistance to novel coronavirus.

Authority unpack: the cloth of general face mask surface is polypropylene spin stick nonwoven cloth, polypropylene itself is a kind of hydrophobic material, after making its face mask use nonwoven cloth, also have certain waterproof. The flow of water is difficult to penetrate unless a great deal of pressure is applied to the material.

The standard gb19083-2010 (medical respirator) and yy0469-2011 (medical surgical mask) have the technical requirements of resistance to synthetic blood penetration, and gb19083-2010 (medical respirator) has the technical requirements of surface moisture resistance, while YY/ t0969-2013 (disposable surgical mask) does not have these two technical requirements.

In fact, non-n95 and non-medical surgical masks may not be resistant to novel coronavirus even if they are impermeable to water. Some of the fake masks surface can also be waterproof polypropylene spun-bonded non-woven material, but for the middle layer of the mask to play a core protective role of melt-sprayed non-woven cloth, some fake masks with spun-bonded cloth pretend, cannot have the effect of filtering viruses. Therefore, only through whether waterproof to identify is not reliable.

Rumor 2:

Disposable mask middle layer does not burn is the real thing.

Authoritative interpretation: standard gb19083-2010 (medical protective mask) and yy0469-2011 (medical surgical mask) have the index of flame retardant performance; However, YY/ t0969-2013 (disposable surgical mask) does not require flame retardant.

For the flame retardant performance of medical protective masks and surgical masks, the corresponding standard requirements: masks should be made of non-flammable materials, and the burning time of masks should not exceed 5 seconds after they leave the flame. Many of the fake masks may have used flame retardant materials, but other key properties such as particulate filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency do not meet the standards.

Rumor 3:

Use alcohol to disinfect masks?

Authoritative interpretation: disposable masks can not be “disinfection”, alcohol is liquid, with alcohol to the mask disinfection, may destroy the surface material of the mask hydrophobic treatment process, and then affect the surface blocking performance and intermediate layer filtering effect, so it is not recommended. Many expensive masks use filters that cannot be washed with water.

Rumor 4：

Use oven, microwave or boiling water to disinfect the mask and reuse it.

Authority unpack: high temperature can kill virus really, but mask product especially medical model mask, the material that USES as well as the coating outside, it is to have special material (polypropylene melt spray), if use steam, high temperature wait for way disinfection, can change mask material qualitative, affect the protective effect of mask.

Rumor 5：

The mouth of the mask is lined with a tissue folded in half to extend the use time.

Authority unscramble: mask from outside to inside is to resist water layer, filter layer, hygroscopicity layer respectively, those who have protective effect basically is intermediate filter layer. The longer the mask is used, the less effective it is. Ordinary sanitary tissues can only absorb the water vapor from the mouth, and cannot replace the filtration effect.

Rumor 6：

The more masks you wear, the safer it is.

Authoritative interpretation: as long as the correct wearing of qualified surgical mask, only one can achieve the expected protective effect. Wearing multiple masks on top of one another can theoretically add some protection, but it can increase ventilation resistance and discomfort, and can be a waste of supplies.

Rumor 7：

A strong dryer can sterilize the mask, face and hands in 30 seconds.

Authoritative interpretation: the warm wind of household hair dryer is about 55℃, hot wind exceeds 70℃ generally. According to the “novel coronavirus infected pneumonia treatment scheme (trial fifth edition)” issued by the state health commission, novel coronavirus is sensitive to temperature, 56 ℃ under 30 minutes will die. But the hair dryer, no matter how high the temperature is set, can only blow on the surface of the skin, it is impossible to blow to the respiratory tract. Whereas a novel coronavirus mainly infects the respiratory tract. Even if you want to sterilize the surface of the skin, keep blowing at 56℃ for at least 30 minutes, it is likely to damage the skin, as alcohol disinfection more convenient.

Rumor 8：

In the family napkin, gauze, etc. can make masks.

Authority interpretation: masks include water blocking layer, filtration layer, moisture absorption layer, such as paper towels, plastic wrap, cotton cloth, gauze and other materials, it is difficult to play the role of water blocking and filtration, especially covid-19 virus diameter is about 60-140nm, these materials can not effectively filter the virus. And clingfilm itself basic airtight, want to be able to breathe is to rely on the gap between DIY mask and face, how can you prevent virus to breathe if there is gap?

Rumor 9：

The mask should be cut into pieces or disinfected after use.

Authority interpretation: for the general public, because the risk is low, the mask can be removed directly discarded, do other treatment to increase the risk of hand contact with the face of the mask, but increase the risk of infection. Also, wash your hands after handling the mask. Of course, if there is thought to be a risk of contact with a suspected patient, the mask should be properly disinfected before removal.

Rumor 10：

When you have a cold, you should turn the colored side outwards and vice versa.

Authority interpretation: in fact, there is only one correct way to wear a mask, that is, the colored side facing out, white or light side facing in. In general, the correct direction can be determined by observing the position of the ear band and nose clip. Changing the face of the mask will cause harmful bacteria that have been blocked by the mask to be inhaled into the body.