New video studies COVID-19 spread with and without face coverings

Jeff Ehling Image
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
New video shows how face coverings help fight COVID-19
A research conducted multiple times, using different types of face coverings, shows how far droplets travel. Hit play to watch the test in action,

New research is showing just how important it is to wear a mask in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.



The problem with COVID-19 is you can have it and not know you do. If you have it and walk around without a mask, you could spread it and now we can see the impact masks have on keeping us all safe.



Researchers at Florida Atlantic University used a laser light sheet to visualize coughing and sneezing. The research shows that when you cough or sneeze without a face mask, droplets travel more than eight feet and can linger in the air for minutes.



The same test was done second time but with a bandana. In that test, the droplets only reached nearly four feet.



When the test was conducted with a stitched fabric mask, researchers found that droplets only reached two and a half inches.



You can watch the video above to see the test in action.



According to researchers, it's the droplets that carry the pathogen. A sick person can spread those droplets by coughing, sneezing and even talking and breathing.



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