The coronavirus pandemic has brought with it multiple and surprising personal protection items, such as the new anticovid nasal mask that the Atman company in South Korea has brought to the market and that is raising more questions than answers, even among people more accustomed to the ‘new normal’.
The invention is presented under the name of ‘kosk’ – a combination of the Korean word ‘ko’, which means ‘nose’, and ‘mask’ (mask in English) – and is intended to please restaurant lovers, since it can be folded so that it only covers the nose when eating. A box of ten units of this mask, which has a KF80 filter, is sold at a price of 9,800 won (about US$8.19).
In the online store, the mask already has more than a hundred five-star reviews from satisfied customers. Although many of them confess that they bought it out of curiosity, they now say they feel safer in restaurants and cafes .
“The first time my friend saw it, he made fun of me, but then he said he wanted to buy it,” says another.
“It only adds more confusion”
Despite the optimism of its proud owners, many Internet users have been quick to point out that the nasal mask does not really protect against covid-19. “It’s a really silly idea – you inhale while you eat . Just covering your nose doesn’t change anything – it’s just a way to make money for someone who thinks most people are wrong,” one Twitter user wrote .
“It’s true, it doesn’t help… In the end, people will breathe through their mouths ,” says one Internet user, while another comment stresses that the mask “only adds more confusion.”
On the other hand, a user points out that with this mask it is more difficult to enjoy the taste of food since the smell and taste are closely linked .
Others prefer to address the issue with humor, like this Internet user, who posted a GIF with what he called the “cheap version” of the nasal mask:
However, there are those who refute the criticism and point out , citing a study by South Korean scientists, that the nose represents the “main target” of the coronavirus, so the new mask, “to a certain extent”, could be useful in restaurants.
