Cambridge Study: Wearing Pantyhose Over Face Mask Helps Stop Spread Of Covid

A study released this week by the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One suggests people wear pantyhose over their face masks to further prevent the spread of Covid-19. 

Researchers at Cambridge University investigated several at-home hacks people could use to help their masks stop particles from being inhaled or exhaled.

The experts tested masks using rubber bands, tape, pantyhose and other measures to try tightening the face coverings.

See the following diagram for a glimpse of the techniques tested:

A total of four volunteers participated in exercises while using the different mask hacks.

The volunteers also talked, turned their heads side to side, bent over, smiled, nodded, and breathed both normally and heavily while testing each mask technique.

Researchers monitored the participants’ filtration efficiency and then calculated a “fit factor” score for each mask hack.

The chart below shows the study’s findings, which concluded pantyhose and cloth tape made the largest “improvement” in mask fit.

After coming to the conclusion that some of these ridiculous measures work in “improving” masks, the researchers touched on the obvious discomfort factor.

“Discomfort was an issue with many of the hacks,” the study states. “The most discomfort was reported with the pantyhose and the rubber band hacks. The rubber band hack was found to put painful pressure on the ears and face, going so far as to hinder circulation to the ears for some participants.”

The researchers admit that “whilst the study does indicate that hacks may be successful, much work remains to be done to create comfortable, effective fit improvements. Many of the most effective fit hacks were so uncomfortable as to be unusable in some cases.”

The idea is being mocked online.