DON’T FORGET TO WASH YOURS …

BRITAIN’S poor hygiene habits may be a reason why masks are failing to have the desired effect.

In October, a YouGov poll found that as many as 85 per cent of Britons are not washing reusable face coverings properly between uses. Shockingly, 15 per cent said they had never washed them at all.

In September, the Government’s scientific advisory group, SAGE, published a report urging people to wash their masks properly, warning that dirty masks could increase the risk of transmission of Covid-19.

Professor Julian Tang says: ‘Studies show that touching an unwashed mask could lead to Covid transmission if the virus is present on the surface.’

Similarly, reusing disposable masks is a problem. A University of Oxford study found that continually using disposable surgical masks for longer than six hours loosens the fabric, making it less able to trap expelled droplets and airborne particles. Those clogged with dirt attracted viral particles which stuck to the material, increasing the risk of infecting the wearer.