--- title: "Chinese Outbreak Fear Spurs Worldwide Face Mask Shortage" description: "Panic over the coronavirus has lead to surgical face mask shortages in major cities across the world like NYC, Chicago, and Toronto." date: "2020-01-27" modified: "2020-02-13" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/chinese-outbreak-fears-worldwide-face-mask-shortage" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "Pathogens" - "Viruses" tags: - "coronavirus" - "public health" - "virus" --- # Chinese Outbreak Fear Spurs Worldwide Face Mask Shortage ![As the deadly coronavirus is spreading across the entire globe, people are clamoring to protect themselves triggering shortages of face masks worldwide.]() *\Image: Victor Tangermann\* As the deadly coronavirus spreads [across the globe](), it's triggering shortages of face masks [across Asia](), [Australia](), and even major North American cities including [NYC](), [Chicago](), and [Toronto](). At press time, the virus has claimed the lives of [80 people, with 2,800 cases]() confirmed across China. China has put tens of millions of residents under quarantine. In the face of all that, face mask [shortages]() are cropping up across China and other populated areas worldwide. But do simple face masks actually work against a deadly virus that we still don't [fully understand]()? Generally speaking, there are two types of face masks: surgical masks and particulate filtering respirators, often referred to as N95 masks. Surgical masks aren't able to create a full seal and allow some particles to still get in, [according to *New Scientist*](), because they're most often used in a sanitary hospital environment. N95 masks, on the other hand, create a better seal and are designed to catch 95 percent of small particles before they reach the nose and mouth — but only work well if they fit on the wearer's face, and tend to restrict airflow. Despite the distinction, we really don't know if either do an effective job at preventing infection. "There really are no good, solid, reliable data," professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University William Schaffner [told *NPR*](). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [advises]() that patients who might have the virus "should be asked to wear a surgical mask as soon as they are identified and be evaluated in a private room with the door closed." Healthcare workers around them, according to the CDC, should [resort to N95 respirators](). That doesn't mean the still largely unaffected general public, particularly in the US, needs to don a mask during everyday activities. The chances of catching the virus in the US are still [extremely low](). People in most areas have a[ much, much greater chance]() of catching the common flu. "Wearing a mask walking around isn’t going to do any good, but if you’re in a situation where you’re highly exposed, a mask is helpful," associate chief medical officer for Emory University Colleen Kraft [told the *Washington Post*](). The best piece of advice [offered by experts]() is to treat the coronavirus much like the common flu: wash hands regularly and be wary of touching possibly contaminated surfaces. The World Health Organization [advises]() to also cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow when sneezing, avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or coughs, and to avoid unprotected contact with live animals. ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()