Ms Orla Hegarty:

Yes. The blue paper-like masks are surgical masks. The two issues with masks are filtration, that is, the material used, and fit. Surgical masks are often not a very good fit in that there are gaps around the edges which make them ineffective against aerosol particles. As I was saying, the Taiwanese Government mass-procured all their masks, people there are provided with a certain number of masks at very low cost every two weeks and everybody wears a very good mask. Some parts of Europe have required such masks on public transport or in retail or other establishments.