Top Coast doctor busts myths about face masks

A leading Sunshine Coast doctor has busted myths about commonly found face masks, saying some are basically useless after 15 minutes.

AMA Sunshine Coast president Dr Roger Faint with some of the P2 face masks that should be used.

A LEADING Sunshine Coast doctor has busted myths about commonly found face masks, saying some are basically useless after 15 minutes.

AMA Sunshine Coast president Roger Faint said most face masks helped keep a virus inside a person’s mouth, not protect them from others.

Dr Faint said surgical P2 and N95 masks could last up to eight hours but were on short supply.

The masks sold out of the Star Pharmacy at Maleny.

He said PM2.5 masks filter about the same size particles.

AMA guidelines around transmission and personal protective equipment say surgical masks offer no advantage for well people living in the community.

“This practice has the potential to create a false sense of safety, especially when the mask is used improperly. It also diverts surgical masks from doctors’ practices and hospitals where they have an evidence-based role in protecting staff,” the guidelines say.

Dr Faint said face masks around the world had been a precious commodity since the coronavirus pandemic unfolded in January.

“People usually wear a mask to protect someone else, not vice versa,” he said.

“If someone is coughing and spluttering, the mask traps the virus in the mouth.

“But they aren’t reusable and only work for 15 minutes.

“So if you’re on a plane (for longer than 15 minutes) and someone is sitting next to you, it’s basically a waste of time.”

P2 face masks in white and M95 face masks in orange.

The call comes after a hinterland pharmacist was forced to defend its decision to place boxes of “reusable” masks near its front counters, despite one shopper saying it was misleading to customers.

A concerned business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said masks sold at the front counter of Maleny’s Star Discount Chemist were not strong enough to protect from coronavirus.

But Star Discount Chemist chief executive David Clark said the so-called PM2.5 masks were sold in many pharmacy groups and used by professionals on the frontline.

He also said masks did not guarantee protection against COVID-19.

“The highest priority is in fact social distancing and hygiene,” he said.

Mr Clark said demand for face mask stock had been intense for more than three weeks.

“As always, we work very hard to provide products and services that our loyal customers need and want,” he said.

He said the company would act if it received any formal complaints.

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