Neck gaiters work just as well as masks at stopping the spread of COVID-19 — despite a past study that suggests otherwise, according to new research.
Researchers at Virginia Tech found that the roll-up face gear blocked 100 percent of large particles from another person’s sneeze or cough, according to KYR News.
The protective wear also trapped up to 90 percent of large particles from escaping, along with 50 percent of superfine particles — roughly on par with cloth face masks, the scientists said.
During the unpublished research project, which is not peer-reviewed, scientists used anatomical models and spray bottles to test the effectiveness of both forms of face wear.
“Neck gaiters provide similar performance to other cloth masks we have tested on manikins,” the researchers said.
The findings fly in the face of a study by Duke University, published last month in the journal Science Advance, noting neck gaiters may make infectious droplets spread more easily.
In that case, researchers found that they may actually cause more infectious particles to enter the wearer’s nose and mouth and nose, rendering them “counterproductive”
The study measured the effectiveness of 14 types of facial wear using laser beam technology.
