What is the purpose of masks?
Wearing a mouth-nose mask protects others and yourself against the spread of the coronavirus.
With a mouth-nose mask, you cover your nose AND mouth. When you sneeze, cough, or talk, droplets (so-called droplets) and much smaller droplets (so-called aerosols) fly around. The primary purpose of a mouth-nose mask is to stop the droplets (from a potentially infected person). Therefore, you wear a mouth-nose mask mainly to protect others.
Mouth-nose masks of the surgical mask type or fabric "community" masks are intended to protect the environment. They therefore primarily form a barrier from the inside out, and not the other way around.
Filtering or respiratory masks (FFP2, FFP3), on the other hand, protect the wearer, provided they are accompanied by an adequate fit-test. This therefore concerns a barrier from the outside in. When these masks are not equipped with an exhalation valve, they also form a barrier from the inside out.
| Surgical mask | Fabric mask | Respiratory mask | Respiratory mask with valve |
| Disposable, single use | Reusable/washable cf. manufacturer | Disposable | Disposable |
| Protects others | Protects others | Protects others & yourself | Protects yourself |
| Use in public spaces | Use in public spaces | Use in public spaces | Not permitted in public spaces |
| Healthy people & people with infection symptoms | Healthy people | mainly Healthcare sector | mainly (industrial) sectors with other risks |
Please note that neither surgical masks nor fabric masks ensure that you are 100% protected. The effectiveness of (homemade) reusable fabric masks is highly dependent on how the mask is made, what materials are used, how many layers are used, etc. Furthermore, filtering masks are best reserved for essential sectors that deal with high-risk contacts (hospitals, residential care centres, dental practices, etc.).
For the current government position (including where a face mask is mandatory), we refer to the government website: https://www.info-coronavirus.be/nl/mondmasker/, due to frequent changes in recommendations.
What is allowed and what is not?
At the beginning of the pandemic, scarves, bandanas, neck gaiters, etc. were allowed as an alternative to mouth-nose masks to protect your surroundings, due to the scarcity of masks on the market. Since this is no longer the case, the aforementioned examples may NO LONGER be used as face masks.
So-called face shields are also NOT an alternative to mouth-nose masks. These may only be used as an alternative if the wearer has a valid medical reason for it. For people wearing a mouth-nose mask, a face shield offers additional protection against incoming droplets.
Plastic face masks or splash masks are NOT a substitute for fabric or surgical type mouth-nose masks. It is NOT permitted to wear these to protect your surroundings.
Fabric mouth-nose masks with a transparent window are allowed. Think of situations where lip-reading or facial expressions are important.
Use (and reuse) masks.
On the Premed extranet, you can find instruction sheets on how to correctly put on and take off masks.
- How to use surgical masks correctly?
- How to use respiratory masks (FFP2, FFP3, N95) correctly?
Homemade fabric masks can be washed at 90° C, or at 60° C provided that soap/detergent is used. Always pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions for the mask and the maximum number of washes. Frequent washing at high temperatures can damage the elastic bands of the mask. Replace them or discard the mask.
Other rules of thumb:
- When the fabric of a mask becomes thin due to frequent washing, it is best to dispose of the mask correctly.
- After 4 hours, a fresh mask or when it becomes damp is recommended.
Surgical masks are intended for single use. Storing a used surgical mask (or fabric mask) in the car is strongly discouraged. Even if the mask has only been worn for a short time, various microbial pathogens will reproduce during the period that the mask lies unused. These will then be inhaled the next time the mask is used.
Beware of counterfeits!
It is essential that face masks, no matter where they come from, offer adequate protection.
Conformity requirements for respiratory masks FFP2, FFP3 etc.: https://economie.fgov.be/nl/themas/ondernemingen/coronavirus/informatie-voor-ondernemingen/coronavirus-conformiteitseisen
Conditions for the supply and release of surgical masks
https://www.fagg.be/sites/default/files/content/info_aanbieden_chirurgische_maskers_1.pdf
For other questions, please contact info@premed.be or 016 308 111
