Surgical masks are medical devices that are used to protect ourselves and others. In fact, they block the propagation of droplets emitted orally when coughing and sneezing, or simply speaking. Nevertheless, they do not guarantee the blocking of the virus dispersed in aerosols as they are not leak-proof on the user’s face and do not have a filtering function during inhalation.FP1, FFP2 and FFP3 masks stand out, first and foremost, for their filtering efficiency, which increases as per their number: FFP1 masks have a filtering capacity of 80%, FFP2 more than 94%, and FFP3, higher than 99%. They also stand out for the presence or absence of the valve. Facemasks without valves are Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that protect those who use them and others, blocking the dispersion of the virus both both incoming and outgoing, since they are sealed on the face and are manufactured by means of a “welding” process so that there are no seams or perforations on the fabric through which micro-particles could pass. This is why these masks are generally used by doctors and health employees. FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 with valves, on the other hand, only protect the user, because they prevent the virus from entering, but do not block outgoing virus completely.



