The boss of a major face covering maker has predicted mask wearing will be the new normal even after the pandemic is over - but he warned that those currently worn by the majority "don't give much, if any, protection".
Mike Murray is chief technology offer at Vita Shield, part of multi-national firm Vita Group, and spoke to BusinessLive about the future of the product, what he called "inconsistent" safety standards - and the problems with the majority of coverings.
Mr Murray, of Rochdale-based The Vita Group, a world leader in advanced materials, and a major 海角视频 face covering manufacturer, welcomed the "breakthrough" of the vaccine, with millions having already received their jabs.
But he said even when the majority of people have been vaccinated, he still foresees a world where face masks are still worn.
He said: "[Post-pandemic], it is arguable that face coverings will still be required as a part of everyday life – whether that’s to protect against a new influenza surge, a new variant of coronavirus or to make a conscious choice as a courtesy to our fellow workers, or members of the public.
"We are therefore likely to see a shift towards wearing face coverings in public or work environments becoming more culturally accepted in the West, similarly to how it has been the norm in the East for decades."
But in Mr Murray's view, that would not be a bad thing. He said: "Covering your face daily, especially in busy confined environments, could have an extremely positive impact on the public’s health.
"By wearing a face covering – especially when feeling under the weather – we are helping protect those around us from a variety of airborne illnesses and viruses.
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"Colds and flus are often circulated in the air and can be passed around as germs spread in a variety of settings including shops, offices, restaurants and on public transport.
"Wearing a quality certified face covering that is proven to protect can help significantly reduce this transmission and may contribute to improving the health of the overall population.
"Not only that but the physical act of wearing a face covering can drive awareness and support other important behaviours, such as maintaining social distancing and frequently washing hands."
One of the biggest problems in Mr Murray's view is that most face coverings worn by the public have not been tested and so do not have any certification - meaning they "don't give much, if any, protection".
He said: "This urgently needs to change. The only way this can be done is if minimum standards are adhered to, including ensuring that the face coverings we wear are comfortable, with good breathability and a minimum level of performance.
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"If these standards are in place, and most importantly, are adhered to, then I believe we’re likely to see people being more receptive to wearing them for longer periods of time. This will be especially important when people begin working back in offices, commuting and travelling again."
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Another major issue identified by Mr Murray is that there are currently no minimum safety standards for face coverings in the 海角视频 - in part due to the fact that the market has grown so rapidly, and legislation has not yet caught up.
He said: "Even more problematic, however, is the abundance of misleading claims made about certain face covering’s performance.
"For example, one we often see is 'protection on contact'. Though this sounds impressive, it could be a completely inappropriate metric to be measuring a face covering on, given that the filtration efficiency of the face covering will determine its efficiency.
"Lack of clarity, and confusion around safety standards is problematic, and could compromise people’s health if face coverings are worn that do not protect."
He said in the absence of "consistent guidelines", when looking for face masks, a good starting point is to look out for the 'Bacterial Filtration Efficiency' (BFE) rating. This is an industry-accepted test performed on materials designed to provide protection against aerosols used on surgical gowns and air filters.
To be effective, the face covering's BFE should be at least 70% - or if possible, "much higher". The greater the BFE, Mr Murray said, the better protection it provides from airborne bacteria and viruses.
The masks made by Vita Shield, Mr Murray said, are approved and certified by various bodies, providing over 90% BFE.
He added: "Ultimately, by addressing these issues, especially around comfort and safety standards, we can help ensure face coverings are not only worn consistently when appropriate, but that the face coverings themselves provide adequate protection."