Can a face mask protect me from coronavirus? Covid-19 myths busted

The truth about how you can catch coronavirus, who is most vulnerable and what you can do to avoid infection

• Find all our coronavirus coverage here
• Coronavirus - latest news and updates
• What are the symptoms and should I see a doctor?

Wearing a face mask is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that you won't get sick - viruses can also transmit through the eyes and tiny viral particles, known as aerosols, can penetrate masks. However, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier alone (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness).