Surgical face masks have come to be the global symbol of COVID-19.

You will have seen the tired faces of front line doctors and nurses around the world, bruised from continual face mask wearing.

You’re probably also aware we have limited supplies for these front-line workers because so many other people are stocking up and there have been disruptions to the global supply chain.

More people have started wearing face masks here in Australia too. Staff at the local GP, shop keepers and the general public are all hoping they will fend off the virus.

But when is wearing a face mask actually beneficial? And with surging demand and broken global supply chains, how can we be sure we’ll have enough?

It’s important to understand when surgical face masks provide protection. And when they don’t. The Australian Department of Health says face masks are of most benefit to health care workers in frequent close contact with sick people. And to those who already have COVID-19. This is so they don’t cough on others and spread the disease. 

How do surgical face masks work?

A surgical face mask protects those working closely with infected people from others’ coughs and sneezes. Coughs and sneezes send out droplets of bodily fluids that may contain germs or respiratory viruses. You can also wear a mask if you are sick to protect others from your bodily fluids.

Surgical masks are made from felt that is fine enough to filter out most small particles, including pathogens. To be effective you must wear them according to the manufacturers’ instructions. It’s important not to touch the mask until you remove it. They’re also single-use so you need to dispose of them after wear.

Addressing a global shortage

COVID-19 began impacting Australia in February 2020. Early on surgical face masks were identified as an important resource in the fight against the virus. By mid-March confirmed cases were rising and this caused a surge in global demand.

With a disrupted global supply chain, local manufacturers have been addressing shortages of medical equipment and the materials to make them. Manufacturing businesses responded quickly.

Local manufacturer Textor Technologies was one of these companies. It has been adapting its facilities to make the special filtration fabric suitable for supply to local companies that manufacture surgical face masks.

Using our Pilot-Scale Production Facility at Waurn Ponds, near Geelong in Victoria, Textor has been working to speed up development and manufacture of certain filtration fabric. We’ll test the performance of the fabric before it goes on to testing against Australian Standards. If successful, Textor may produce the material at commercial scale.

Local businesses to the rescue

Surgical mask manufacturer Med-Con will use suitable material to make the finished surgical masks. Until recently, this small company in country Victoria had been Australia’s only manufacturer of surgical masks.

Med-Con typically produces around two million masks per year out of its Shepparton facility. But as a result of COVID-19, the small business is now increasing its production by at least tenfold. This will mean introducing more machines to its factory and increasing its workforce to cope with the demand.

Our agile manufacturers are rising to the COVID-19 challenge. Businesses like Textor and Med-Con are trying to ensure Australia’s medical professionals are better equipped to treat patients with the virus.

Designing 3D printed masks

In another Team Australia approach, we have been working with Flinders University, University of South Australia and Detmold to provide advice and equipment for a new mask testing facility in South Australia, which will test locally made respirators and surgical masks.

Our data and technology science specialists at Data61 are also using 3D printing to produce two designs of protective face shields for Queensland healthcare workers. While usually reserved for research purposes, we’re using nearly all our polymer 3D printers to print short runs of shield frames as part of a state-wide collaborative effort. We expect to be supplying 300 to 500 units this month. This contribution will ensure that Queensland healthcare workers have sufficient protective equipment available to meet current demands while Australian industry adapts to mass manufacture these kinds of items.

Further tips on face-mask wearing during COVID-19 can be found via the Australian Government’s Department of Health.