Failure to place the mask in public and overcrowded areas is punishable by a fine of 2,000 lek and at the same time endangers dozens of people around. That said, using protective masks against Covid-19 is important, but at the same time just as important is choosing an effective mask. With so many products on the market, the question arises how can one distinguish good masks from those that do not protect 100%?
Initially it is important to understand the function of the mask. The anti-Covid-19 mask is not intended to protect you from the virus, but to protect those around you if you are infected. So the function of the mask is to reduce the chances of you transmitting the virus to someone else.
A simple 1-second test tells you if the mask you are using is effective or not. Prof. As.Dr. Natasha Mubeen Chida from Johns Hopkins Medicine said in an interview with Curious City | WBEZ Chigaco (a platform that covers answering public questions) that to test how functional a mask is, you can use a candle (or lighter).
All you have to do is try to put out a lighted candle by holding the mask on. In case you manage to turn it off, the mask is not doing its job well, because the main and only purpose is to block the air outlet.
