Dubai: Since the outbreak of
Covid-19, there's been a worldwide shortage of face masks — particularly, the
N95 ones, now researchers have developed a membrane that can be attached to a
regular N95 mask and replaced when needed. The filter has a smaller pore size
than normal N95 masks, potentially blocking more virus particles, the
researcher from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi
Arabia, said. According to the study, published in the journal ACS Nano, N95
masks filter about 85 per cent of particles smaller than 300 nm. SARS-CoV-2
(Covid-19) is in the size range of 65-125 nm, so some virus particles could
slip through these coverings. Also, because of shortages, many health care
workers have had to wear the same N95 mask repeatedly, even though they are
intended for single use. To help overcome these problems, the research team
wanted to develop a membrane that more efficiently filters particles the size
of SARS-CoV-2 and could be replaced on an N95 mask after every use. (IANS)