What masks are they wearing in Europe?
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Going to Europe soon and need to know what masks to wear? Looking for a better mask while you’re in the US?
So many different masks!
The world of masks can be difficult to navigate. We’re here to help!
What masks are they wearing in Europe?
This isn’t a simple answer.
Firstly, since masks aren’t mandatory across the board, not everyone wears a mask in Europe.
FFP2 masks are considered to be the standard across Europe. You can buy them in drug stores, vending machines and larger grocery stores. They have a high level of effectiveness and are shaped to fit the face well and comfortably. They come in several different sizes including multiple kids’ sizes.
Early in the pandemic, many people were wearing reusable cloth masks. Since these are not the most effective masks available and their efficacy drops over time, these have fallen out of fashion. However, some drug stores still sell them.
Surgical masks are cheap and easy to find. Kids often wear these masks since they are easy to find in kid’s sizes. However, they’re not as effective as FFP2 masks.
What are FFP2 Masks?
What does FFP2 Mean?
FFP is an acronym for Filtering Face Piece
2 refers to the level of filtration.
The levels of filtration are essentially the more difficult thing to understand.
There are three levels of FFP masks:
FFP1, (the lowest level, lower than the standard)
FFP2 (the standard on public transport throughout Europe) and
FFP3 (providing a filtration level greater than the standard accepted throughout Europe)
So why are FFP2 masks the standard?
This has to do with the measurement of filtration. Essentially virus-sized particles are measured in microns. The percent efficacy has to do with how many micron sized particles are captured by the mask.
FFP1 masks capture about 80% of micron sized particles
FFP2 masks capture about 94% of micron sized particles
FFP3 masks capture about 99% of micron sized particles
FFP2 masks are in that Goldielocks sweet spot of capturing a very high percentage of virus-sized particles and is cheap to make and buy.
What’s the difference between N95 and FFP2?
The reason that N95 and FFP2 masks are often compared is because they have a comparable efficacy rating. N95 masks have 95 in the name because they capture 95% of virus sized particles.
So, basically, the difference in efficacy is 1%.
Are masks mandatory in Europe?
The answer is not straightforward because it depends on a lot of different things.
The country, state and even city can have their own rules around what’s mandatory. Check the local government’s website to find out the requirements.
Public transport sometimes has their own rules. For example, public transport in London may not require masks where they are required in Berlin.
Air travel has its own rules. Due to being in a confined space with recycled air, air travel can have a higher risk. Generally, mask requirements on planes fall into two categories: whether the airline has requirements and whether the local government has requirements. Where the requirements fall on the local government, it’s generally where the plan is travelling to which dictates the rules.
Where to buy FFP2 masks in the US
You can buy FFP2 and N95 masks in the US. Frankly, I’ve been shocked that these aren’t the norm to buy in Costco or Target but you can easily find them online. They’re a fantastic choice given their efficacy ratings.
