The Best Mask or DIY Face Covering for COVID-19

Considerations for DIY and bought face masks: Twenty different materials put to the test.

Here is the whole series so far:

We’ve looked at the past and how these viruses emerge, then at the present and how to respond to COVID-19. Next we’ll look to the future:

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

Image credit: Hanabishi/Wikimedia

[ARockinVegan]

I laughed at the end 9:15 and thought, "Are you serious?!" 🤣

[sharit]

Thanks for doing the research and posting...great ending!

[tahiyamarome]

The researchers should have consulted some sewists before organizing their study. As a fiber geek i am willing to bet even money that the fiber and thickness is not nearly as impacting as whether it's a woven or a knit. The sock results alone should have been a clue. 2-3 layers of knit fabric with a divider at the seams to keep an air channel between them is probably better than a surgical mask. Knitted fabric would act as a baffle where woven can only bar what won't fit throught the weave.

[chrischung]

Do a video on Sweden please. They had 9 deaths yesterday in a country of 10 million that NEVER had mandatory lockdown of middle class businesses.

[adhiantos]

Who else gasped at the ending hahaha.Thank you for the informative video Dr Greger and team!

[swaggastronomer]

Dr greger on rich roll interview said surgical masks dont cut down the risks of transmission and that the cdc has no data that surgical masks cut down transmission so why dr greger didnt say that here?

[Wildgrovehomestead]

LOL!
Literally, I laughed out loud
Great ending

[Shane-The-Pain]

As a new health care worker, I am reviewing these vids because I found that this channel is a reliable source of well-researched information.

[onion]

lol you got me with the hanes thing at the end =D

[hunterklapperich]

will you do a video on the health consequences of mask wearing...and the studies showing mask wearing increases viral infection.

[Sayerdify]

I just do the best I can. I have masks with three layers then line them with a cotton dish towel cut to fit then line that with a coffee filter. I will now see if I can replace that coffee filter with a vacuum bag. I do touch my mask, the front part too because it keeps riding up blinding me.

[TCTGFAM]

My question to these first studies is, what is the size of bacteria vs viruses. It is possible for masks to stop bacteria because they are larger, but are viruses large enough to be filtered by face masks?

[Angelas.Eye_]

Thanks for the informative video Dr! And for the laugh at the end :)

[ratherrapid]

this seems more a compilation of questionable studies than any helpful conclusions. The Doc seems to have overlooked the research on anti-microbial (with sliver) coated spandex--you put a running shirt--made of the right very light spandex-- over your nose--it fits tightly, u can layer it---1-2-3 layers depending on degree of risk--u can breath through it, and nobody is going to force any aerosol particle through 3 layers, and very unlikely with two. I find anything made of cotton highly questionable.

[sherriawilliams]

Thanks for the research. I swear I am so overwhelmed with all of this information. I wish the CDC and the WHO's information would line up. However, they arent on the same page either. This can be quite confusing and difficult for 'us' who's trying to make informed decisions everyday.

[lblov]

Regarding cloth masks, can’t you just leave it out for a few days to get it back to good, rather than washing?

[beereal]

Although the information is definitely on the late side, thank you for sharing it Doc !

[paulasmith]

My work wants everyone coming back in (dumb, we sit at our computers all day). They say we don’t have to wear masks in our cubes. I have a partition behind me (2’ away) and another person on the other side of the partition. Across our ADA compliant aisle (3’) is another person. Pretty sure we’re not 6’ apart. This can’t be legal to require us back to work and not require masks 100%.

And what about office air flow and circulation??? Is there a study on that?

[jackhartcup]

What about if the t-shirt is wet? I also like to leave a essential oil/ soap residue too, given how prone to degenration the virus microbes are. I'm hoping the virus would get trapped and messed up by this combo.

[someguy]

What about face shields as an alternative to masks?