The mouth mask is advancing in the streets and with it we see more and more different species appear. Some masks are equipped with a valve, transparent window or have an extra splash shield for the eyes. What types are there? PlusOnline lists them.
Disclaimer: The masks discussed below are non-medical and therefore do not have a CE mark*, because these masks are not subject to legal requirements regarding the quality and protection they offer. Any health claims that providers make are therefore not proven to be true.
1. Textile face masks
We start with one of the most common mouth masks. There is a good chance that you have this washable variant of textile at home. Some textile mouth masks have a compartment on the inside where you can put a filter. You can also make fabric mouth caps yourself, here we share a handy sewing pattern.
2. Disposable mouth cap
These are – we cannot emphasize it enough – meant to be thrown away after one use. That is why you often buy them in larger packages. They are now also offered in vending machines at stations, for travelers who have forgotten their cap at home.
3. Mouth cap with valve
Now we buy from the less common mouth caps. There are also washable mouth masks for sale with a valve. Such a valve would make it easier to inhale and exhale. The valve would also provide fresh air supply.
4. Mouth cap with window
We don’t see them much on the street yet, but they do exist: mouth caps with a transparent window in the middle. Stichting Welzijn Deaf Rotterdam recommends them on its website, because in this way the deaf and hard of hearing do not miss a facial expression. The foundation shares here also a pattern for those who want to make a mouth cap with a transparent window themselves.
5. Splashback
Conductors regularly use it and We also see splash screens in education. You attach such a face shield to your forehead. “These are a bit more comfortable and you can easily keep them on for a long time,” says researcher Siddhartha Verma, who studied how they work. in Scientias. Moreover, people like that others can still see your mouth.
6. Clear mouth cap/half splash shield
It is sometimes referred to as a transparent mouth cap, but it is actually not really, because it fits less well than a washable or disposable mask. It looks more like a half splash shield that only covers the mouth and nose. Hospitality and museum employees are already wearing it in some places, because it comes across as more hospitable. That is what the Rotterdam caterer Van der Linde says in the Algemeen Dagblad.
7. Mouth cap with splash guard
There is also a combination between a mouth cap and a splash screen. The fabric mask has a plastic screen that also protects the eyes. We just haven’t seen them on the street yet.
* An CE marking indicates that a product meets the minimum requirements for safety, health and the environment that are stated in the European directive for the relevant product group.