by Ilona Amos Wearing a face mask significantly cuts the risk of spreading Covid-19 through speaking and coughing, research suggests. A new study by scientists at the University of Edinburgh has found face coverings can block out 99.9 per cent of potentially lethal droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or talks. The findings show that a person is exposed to 10,000 times more particles from a person who coughs with their face uncovered while standing two metres away than from someone half a metre away who is wearing a mask. 'Wearing a face mask can really make a difference' Lead researcher Dr Ignazio Maria Viola, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering, said, “We knew face masks of various materials are effective to a different extent in filtering small droplets. “However, when we looked specifically at those larger droplets that are thought to be the most dangerous we discovered that even the simplest handmade single-layer cotton mask is tremendously effective. "Therefore wearing a face mask can really make a difference.” Number of droplets more than 1,000 times lower with a mask Scientists at the university compared the number of droplets that landed on a surface in front of a person coughing and speaking with and without a surgical mask or a basic cotton face covering. Tests were carried out on people and a life-sized anatomical human model connected to a machine that simulates coughs and speech. Analysis found that the number of droplets was more than 1,000 times lower when wearing even a single layer cotton mask, the researchers say. “The simple message from our research is that face masks work,” said Professor Paul Digard, of the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute. “Wearing a face covering will reduce the probability that someone unknowingly infected with the virus will pass it on.” According to the scientists, their results contrast with previous research that has suggested face coverings offer less protection against the virus. For bigger droplets carrying the largest amount of virus, they say masks are extremely effective in reducing spread to the immediate surroundings. However, the experiments also measured small droplets – known as aerosols – which can remain airborne for hours. How much virus transmission takes place by aerosol is still not known, but the team has warned that if it is found to be significant then the new findings overestimate the protective effects of face coverings. 'Covid-19 has taught us the value of collaborative research' Dame Ottoline Leyser, chief executive at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), said, “The Covid-19 pandemic is a crisis that has impacted virtually everybody. “In these extraordinary circumstances we have seen the value of rapid and collaborative research in supporting our response to the crisis. “The findings published today from a study led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and co-funded by UKRI support the growing body of evidence that face coverings reduce Covid-19 transmission via respiratory droplets. “Research into Covid-19 is obviously a relatively new field, with the science still evolving. New information about the virus plays a crucial role in informing policy-makers and the public.” The study was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the European Commission and Japan Student Services Organisation. This article originally appeared on The Scotsman