Coronavirus: How to take proper care of your mask in the rain

As the days go on, the weather is getting colder and wetter, sorry to everyone who loves the sun. And although we are now familiar with how to wear our masks in the summer, we’re not really used to wearing them in the rain yet.

How do you wear a mask properly in the rain?

So, how do you wear a mask properly in the rain? There are a few things you need to think about and most importantly, you need to make sure that your mask never gets wet or damp. As explained by the French Standardisation Association:

The degree of protection when wearing a mask is measured by the static electricity of the fibres in the fabric which stop droplets of saliva from escaping. However, when the mask gets wet, this static electricity disappears and the droplets can escape easier.

Guidance from the WHO also explains that: 'All masks should be changed if wet or visibly soiled; a wet mask should not be worn for an extended period of time. Replace masks as soon as they become damp with a new clean, dry mask.' This is because moisture can make masks porous, making them vulnerable in the cold weather

Here are some tips on how to correctly wear a mask in the winter:

1. Take an umbrella with you when you go out so that your mask doesn't get wet. You'll be able to keep your whole body dry too!

2. Pack a few spare masks into your handbag when you leave the house so you can replace them when they get wet.

3. Never try to dry your reusable mask with a hairdryer. As one doctor explained, a mask is ‘a sterile structure which is made to stop the virus, but when you use hot air on it, you completely destroy the sterility and as a result, the mask becomes useless.’