FFP2 MASK. Jean Castex announced this Thursday that a new opinion from the High Council of Public Health is expected this Friday about the FFP2 mask. Can the latter be generalized like other European countries? What is the difference with a surgical mask? We tell you everything.
[Mis à jour le 6 janvier 2022 à 10h39] A new opinion from the High Council of Health on the subject of FFP2 masks will be issued on Friday January 7, announced Jean Castex. Invited on the set of BFM TV this Thursday, the Prime Minister mentioned the subject of these masks considered to be more protective. “We have, in view of the pandemic, recaptured the High Council of Public Health which will have to give us its opinion on Friday. If he tells us to change this doctrine, we will do it”, explained Jean Castex, recalling the current policy born from the previous opinion of this same High Council: “And what do they say? That the FFP2 masks – which represent a very strong constraint – are reserved for the nursing staff and among the patients, for people who have serious forms, it is current doctrine “
Today reserved for caregivers, the FFP2 mask could therefore soon be generalized to the general public in order to fight against the wave of contamination and the emergence of the Omicron variant if the High Council of Health reviews its judgment. While the FFP2 mask has appeared in public spaces in Italy, Austria, Greece and some German Länder, political and health figures are already calling for it to be used more.
Faced with the proliferation of the new Omicron variant, the question of the effectiveness of masks thus arises again. As a reminder, wearing a category 2 surgical type mask is required in many public places, businesses, schools for those over 6 years old, but also in the streets of many cities. Many experts are also calling for the generalization of the FFP2 mask. “FFP2 has the best filtering power, it protects better in environments where the virus circulates a lot. This is for example the case indoors, in public transport. It is the best means of protection in dense areas of population, in a period when the virus circulates in an extremely intense way.“, explained Karine Lacombe, head of the infectious diseases hospital service at the Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris on the LCI branch on January 2, 2022. What are the differences with the surgical mask that has become the object of everyday life? Can we buy it freely? Here are all the answers.
What is an FFP2 mask?
Do you know where the name FFP2 comes from? The abbreviation FFP comes from English and stands for “Filtering Facepiece particles”. There are actually three types of FFP masks, each with different rates of filtration and air infiltration inside the mask:
- The FFP1 filters 80% of particles with an average size of 0.6 µm, but 22% of the air can leak into the mask. It is the equivalent of surgical masks.
- FFP2 filters 94% of particles for 8% leakage
- FFP3 filters 99% of particles for 2% leakage
However, different models of FFP2 exist. The 2 or 3 ply mask or the duckbill mask retain all the effectiveness of FFP2 and offer an acceptable level of comfort. On the other hand, the valve mask is not recommended despite its filtration capacities. The air exhaled by the wearer of a valve mask risks contaminating the surrounding air and therefore spreading the virus around them.
How effective is the FFP2 mask?
The FFP2 mask protects more against possible infection than a surgical-type mask. A study published by the American scientific journal PNAS (which disseminates the studies of the American Academy of Sciences) estimates that the risk of infection is 30% when two people wearing a surgical mask discuss and one of them is contaminated by the Covid-19. This percentage drops to 0.4% when fitted with FFP2 masks. The study concludes that wearing an appropriate mask in the community provides “excellent protection for oneself and others”, making social distancing “less important”.
While the surgical mask mainly prevents contaminating others, the FFP2 mask effectively offers more guarantees in the reverse direction. “The FFP2 mask has a higher filtering power than the surgical mask. It protects us, ourselves, from being affected by the people in front of us. The surgical mask protects enough from infection that we might. transmit “, confirmed Karine Lacombe of the infectious diseases department of Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris at LCI on January 2, 2022. The FFP2 mask protects both droplets that are projected and particles that remain in suspension in the ‘air.
Who is the FFP2 mask designed for?
Initially, the FFP2 masks were reserved for health professionals since they came from the State stock. Now, in theory, they are accessible to everyone but only caregivers are forced to wear it. If the High Council of Health has long been unfavorable to the generalization of its use, the Scientific Council now recommends it for “fragile people”. This recommendation was included in theopinion delivered on December 8, 2021 by the Scientific Council in the context of the recommendations for the end-of-year celebrations 2021. It included the sentence: “The most fragile or unvaccinated people can wear an FFP2 type mask as soon as possible, with all the associated complexity. for this purpose “.
The Minister of Health Olivier Véran confided to have seized the “High Council of Public Health” on this subject but the answer was not communicated, thus leaving the FFP2 mask available to the general public but not required, contrary to other European countries. In Italy, the wearing of the FFP2 mask is thus compulsory in public transport but also in museums, theaters, cinemas or stadiums since December 25, 2021. Its price has suddenly been capped by the authorities at 75 euro cents each. In Greece, the FFP2 mask is required since January 3, 2022 in all public places as well as in Austria in indoor public places and restaurants and cafes as soon as a customer has to circulate in the establishment. Some German Länder have also taken steps in this direction.
Is wearing the FFP2 mask more uncomfortable?
Yes, according to many observers. FFP2 masks involve more discomfort and discomfort than category 1 masks. The National Research and Safety Institute (INRS) mentioned in 2021 in particular “thermal discomfort and respiratory resistance”. “Calling for the generalization of the wearing of the FFP2 mask would be an erroneous shortcut,” said Sandrine Chazelet, head of studies at INRS. in an article published on the institute’s website. “Indeed, wearing it in a working situation for long periods of time would require the ability to wear a mask, which is not insignificant. In addition, an FFP2 mask, like any respiratory protection device, to be effective must be well adjusted. If you do not tighten the nose clip, for example, you might as well put on a surgical mask which will be much more comfortable. “
The mask wraps around the nose, mouth, and chin, and should be tightly packed to provide protection. Wearing it can exert pressure and leave marks on the face in addition to complicating breathing. The Minister of National Education thus explained his decision not to impose it on teachers. “It is very difficult to teach with an FFP2 mask”, he explained to the Parisian January 2, 2022 to justify this decision, drawing the wrath of several teachers explaining that they have been teaching for several months wearing FFP2 masks purchased with their personal funds.
At what price to buy an FFP2 mask?
The price of an FFP2 mask is higher than that of a conventional surgical mask. While the price may have reached six times that of the surgical mask, the gap has tended to narrow in recent months as production increases. However, count around 20 euros for a box of 20 FFP2 masks.
Towards a shortage of FFP2 masks?
The stocks of FFP2 masks would today be 600 million, sufficient to equip nursing staff for more than two months according to the experts. The generalization of the FFP2 mask would have other consequences since the French “consume” 900 million surgical masks per week … French production has melted since 2020 in the face of competition from Asia offering them at low cost. Some manufacturers claim to be able to supply 20 million FFP2 masks per week if needed.
The French authorities have “only” 600 million FFP2 masks, which they reserve as a priority for nursing staff. This stock could quickly dry up in the event of an explosion in demand, even if French manufacturers say they can produce 20 to 25 million units per week.
Where to buy an FFP2 mask?
Despite the reservations expressed on their use, FFP2 masks can be found in pharmacies. No prescription is needed to buy it. Large DIY stores also offer it for sale, but you have to be careful not to choose a valve mask, which is ineffective against the virus. Finally, you can find everything on online shopping sites, including FFP2 masks. It is then sufficient to ensure that the products bear the CE marking, and the FFP2, NF EN 149, N95 or KN95 symbols, which testify to their quality and the standards they meet. FFP2 masks are priced up to six times more expensive than surgical masks, but the gap is narrowing.
Is the FFP2 mask reusable?
Most FFP2 masks are disposable and should therefore be thrown away after use. However, some of them are reusable. More expensive, they include certain mentions making part of this specificity. They must therefore be marked with the CE logo and the mention NF EN 149 can be washed up to 60 times in a short cycle and between 30 and 60 ° C.