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Observation | Clinical Science and Epidemiology

Effectiveness of Face Masks in Preventing Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Hiroshi Ueki, Yuri Furusawa, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Masaki Imai, Hiroki Kabata, Hidekazu Nishimura, Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Michael J. Imperiale, Editor
Hiroshi Ueki
aDivision of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Yuri Furusawa
aDivision of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto
aDivision of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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  • ORCID record for Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto
Masaki Imai
aDivision of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Hiroki Kabata
bDivision of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Hidekazu Nishimura
cClinical Research Division, Virus Research Center, National Hospital Organization Sendai Medical Center, Sendai, Japan
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Yoshihiro Kawaoka
aDivision of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
dDepartment of Special Pathogens, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
eDepartment of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Michael J. Imperiale
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Roles: Editor
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DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00637-20
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ABSTRACT

Guidelines from the CDC and the WHO recommend the wearing of face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus (CoV) disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, the protective efficiency of such masks against airborne transmission of infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) droplets/aerosols is unknown. Here, we developed an airborne transmission simulator of infectious SARS-CoV-2-containing droplets/aerosols produced by human respiration and coughs and assessed the transmissibility of the infectious droplets/aerosols and the ability of various types of face masks to block the transmission. We found that cotton masks, surgical masks, and N95 masks all have a protective effect with respect to the transmission of infective droplets/aerosols of SARS-CoV-2 and that the protective efficiency was higher when masks were worn by a virus spreader. Importantly, medical masks (surgical masks and even N95 masks) were not able to completely block the transmission of virus droplets/aerosols even when completely sealed. Our data will help medical workers understand the proper use and performance of masks and determine whether they need additional equipment to protect themselves from infected patients.

IMPORTANCE Airborne simulation experiments showed that cotton masks, surgical masks, and N95 masks provide some protection from the transmission of infective SARS-CoV-2 droplets/aerosols; however, medical masks (surgical masks and even N95 masks) could not completely block the transmission of virus droplets/aerosols even when sealed.

  • Copyright © 2020 Ueki et al.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

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Effectiveness of Face Masks in Preventing Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2
Hiroshi Ueki, Yuri Furusawa, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Masaki Imai, Hiroki Kabata, Hidekazu Nishimura, Yoshihiro Kawaoka
mSphere Oct 2020, 5 (5) e00637-20; DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00637-20

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Effectiveness of Face Masks in Preventing Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2
Hiroshi Ueki, Yuri Furusawa, Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Masaki Imai, Hiroki Kabata, Hidekazu Nishimura, Yoshihiro Kawaoka
mSphere Oct 2020, 5 (5) e00637-20; DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00637-20
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KEYWORDS

COVID-19
N95 masks
SARS-CoV-2
aerosols
droplets
face masks

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