"If You Don't Wear a Mask in a Public Restroom Where a Confirmed Patient Coughed... COVID Infection Risk Nears 100%"

"N95 Mask Wearing Likely to Be the Best Way to Prevent COVID-19"

Researchers in Bangkok have announced a study result showing that the probability of COVID-19 infection increases when masks are not worn in public restrooms. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] A study conducted in Thailand has found that neglecting to wear masks in public restrooms increases the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.

According to the Thai daily Bangkok Post on the 16th, Dr. Kwanlawi Sirikanchana of the Chulaphon Research Institute in Bangkok conducted a study that showed a correlation between mask-wearing and COVID-19 infection.

The media reported that this study focused on the risk of COVID-19 virus transmission through the respiratory tract in public restrooms.

The research team set up a scenario where an infected person used a public restroom, followed by a non-infected person using the same restroom. They compared cases where both the infected and non-infected individuals wore N95 masks or medical masks, and cases where neither wore masks.

The experiment showed that if an infected person used the restroom without a mask and then a non-infected person also used the restroom without a mask, the probability of COVID-19 infection was about 10%.

On the other hand, when the scenario included the infected person coughing or sneezing, the infection risk for the non-infected person approached nearly 100%.

Conversely, when both the infected and non-infected individuals wore masks, the infection rate dropped to as low as 0.01%.

The research team explained that although the infection risk decreased about 10 minutes after the infected person used the restroom, the most effective protective measure was "wearing a mask."

Professor Thammanitpon Denpetkun of Mahidol University stated that the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted through droplets and aerosols smaller than fine dust particles (PM2.5).

He added that masks like the N95 are the most effective at blocking the virus, with medical masks being the second-best option.

It is reported that medical masks have gaps around the nose bridge and edges and are made of materials lacking filter functions capable of blocking fine particles, thus they cannot prevent infection caused by aerosol inhalation.