Face masks with valves don’t stop COVID-19 from spreading
Mask valves might make you breathe a little easier, but when it comes to fighting COVID, wearing one is a bad move. (Unsplash/)Follow all of PopSci’s COVID-19 coverage here, including tips on cleaning groceries, ways to tell if your symptoms are just allergies, and a tutorial on making your own mask.When shopping for face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you don’t need to look for bells and whistles. Masks with breathing valves, in particular, are being marketed as a better option than plain cloth coverings—but they don’t work to prevent COVID-19 transmission the same way simple masks can. “The purpose of the valve is, when you exhale, it opens up to allow for carbon dioxide and expelled air to just exit the mask,” says John O’Horo, a Mayo Clinic infectious disease doctor who heads up the institution’s Personal Protective Equipment Task Force. However, the valve is one-way and the...