Coronavirus: does your homemade mask work?

A medical expert on how and why cloth face coverings help combat the spread of the virus

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A medical expert on how and why cloth face coverings help combat the spread of the virus
(Image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Simon Kolstoe, senior lecturer in Evidence Based Healthcare at the University of Portsmouth, on the effectivness of homemade face masks.

If a surgeon arrived at the operating theatre wearing a mask they had made that morning from a tea towel, they would probably be sacked. This is because the equipment used for important tasks, such as surgery, must be tested and certified to ensure compliance with specific standards.

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