A study at Duke University has determined which face masks are the most of effective at preventing the spread of droplets emitted by people when talking, a crucial aspect of limiting exposure to COVID-19.
The results of the low-cost study into 14 different styles of face mask were shared in Science Advances, and shows a significant disparity between the best performing and worst.
Unsurprisingly, the best at preventing droplets are the N-95 masks (without an exhalation valve) that are used heavily in medical settings, which the study found blocked more than 99.9% of droplets emitted by a person wearing the mask.