Surgical masks are hard to come by these days in Taiwan. Demand is high in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Now Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration is suggesting alternatives that offer similar protection.
Surgical masks are the only kind of mask proven to block 95% of the viruses in the air. That makes them the mask of choice for people looking for protection from COVID-19. But supply cannot keep up with demand, and Taiwan’s government has had to ration the sale of masks.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Wednesday that they’ve tested over 40 other types of mask currently on the market. They found that masks made out of non-woven cloth, masks designed to block PM2.5, and ones that contain active carbon are all capable of blocking about 80-90% of the virus suspended in the air.
An FDA official said that these alternative mask options offer adequate protection on public transport and in other close quarters. She said, though, that people who visit hospitals and clinics still have to follow the regulations and wear a surgical mask.