我罩你-I care u | Different aspects of face masks

(1) Types and styles

Generally, when we open a mask, there is a steel bar which we called nasal line. The soft, elastic ear band can solve the problem of making the ears tried and sore when wearing a mask for a long time. The invisible moldable bar can adapt to various kind of face types, avoiding the occurrence of pressure mark on the face. Comparing to flat face masks, 3D face masks gives the user more space. It prevents the problem of feeling stifling when sweats.

The chairman recalled that, at the time when SARS broke out, many people purchased virus-inactivation face mask, activated charcoal face masks, general medical face masks and general cotton masks. People generally do not have much knowledge about these four types of face masks, so they misuse them frequently. The chairman told us the so called N95 face masks is those which prevent over 95% of smog, which includes 95%, 99% and 99.7%. From the beginning of its invention, N95 face mask was designed to be able to prevent bacteria that are under 0.1 micrometers. Another type of mask, the activated charcoal mask, serves the main purpose of resisting formaldehyde. It can be used in special working occasions, such as spray-painting industries and chemical plants with heavy smog, to prevent heavy pollution, dust, viruses and chemicals.

When the general public enters various kind of venues of assembly, they need use medical masks of three layers. Face masks made of cloth are reusable, which can prevent waste and are friendly to the environment. Based on the situation now, unless being sick and having to change a mask every two to three hours, the general public can change a mask a day. There are three types of masks in the market:

the standard mask or masks made of gauze: only capable of filtering bigger particles. Can be used in cleaning work.
Surgical masks: Capable of blocking over 90% of 5 micrometer particles. Should be changed every day. When broken or gets dirty, should be changed instantly. Suitabe for hospitals and clinics.
activated charcoal masks: Capable of absorbing gas and toxic dusts. Without antibacterial function. When breathing with effort or incapable of absorbing odor, should be changed instantly. Suitable for spray-painting or pesticide spraying.

Image:Comparison of types of common masks / Image Source:Google Search

(2)MIT quality guarantee

There are many face mask factories in Taiwan, but only a few has double certification. To protect people’s health, the government has established medical facilities managing law. In chapter two and three of this law, it regulates that the masks factory should follow certain standard when manufacturing face masks. To make people capable of identifying qualified face masks, there would be a GMP printed on the masks just like that of food. Double certification means there would also be a “MIT” print on qualified masks.

In addition, since the medical masks articulating in the name-based mask rationing plan are in bulk, people may not be able to identity if they are made in Taiwan from the box. Afraid of giving unscrupulous manufactures opportunities of passing, the medical flat masks made domestically have to mark “MD(the abbreviation of medical device)”and “Made in Taiwan” with emboss to make identification easier for the public.

Image:Manufacturing face masks

(3) The way to wear a face mask

Chairman Chen shared with us that many people thought it is enough to protect themselves simply wearing face masks. However, many people wear masks under the nose. It is said that diseases enter through the mouth, viruses would enter from respiratory tract as well. The correct way is to first set the nasal line on your nose, then make sure the face masks fully fits your cheeks. Thus, when wearing masks, we should first cover our chin, and then cover our nose. After feeling fit, one can start set the nasal line. When the face mask fully fits with one’s face, she should not feel two breathing holes.

Video:Wear a mask correctly

(4) Cheap and cheerful

The domestic production capacity of face masks now is 1.88 million masks a day. To cooperate with the demand, the manufacturers can expand the demand to 2.44 million masks a day. The supply is more than enough. Among them, 1.3 million masks are supplied for domestic demand, which includes use of household and medical need. The production capacity of Taiwan national face mask team has reached 20 million masks. However, confronting the price rising of raw materials around the globe, the price of masks around the world starts rising as well. To make sure that everyone can get masks, the government prohibited the exportation of mask and launched the name-based mask rationing policy. This controls the price of face masks, preventing manufacturers from jack up prices.

Comparing to other countries, the price of face masks in Taiwan is relatively low. For example, comparing to the price of a mask in the U.S., 9.9-24.33 NTD, that in Taiwan is only 5 NTD. The name-based face masks rationing plan has maintained “receiving 9 masks in 14 days” since this April. So far, the price is 45 NTD, which means 5 NTD a mask. The command center’s newest policy is going to further lower the price to 40NTD 10 masks, which equals 4NTD a mask.

The commander, Chen Shi-Chung explained, name-based face masks rationing policy changed to 10 masks every 14 days, 4 NTD for a mask. People can get an additional mask and save 5 NTD compared to the former policy. Pharmacies will not have to pack the masks in the future. Before distributing out of the factory, the packaging of face masks will be finished as 10 masks a pack.