Figure 5.

Role of different types of facemasks in reducing the inhaled viral charge. The calculations were based on the viral copies inhaled by a receiver located 0.25 m from the emitter, on the trajectory of the emitted airflow. The masks were considered to be perfectly fitted (no leakage). The data show the relative inhaled viral charge from breathing alone, and together with speaking, one cough, and one sneeze. The viral charge for each emission scenario without a mask was taken as the reference. Three different versions of FFP2 masks are presented: one based only on mechanical filtration (“FFP2 mech.”), a second one including electrostatic filtration (“FFP2”), and a third one models the loss of electrostatic charges (“FFP2 loss charges”).