Your best protection against Covid infection are good quality masks. But, sometimes wearing them is not possible (as in cases where you need to eat!) or pretty unpleasant (hot, sweaty gym) or just socially awkward (gathering with friends). For these cases, there are a few other options you can try to prevent infection, instead of just counting on luck.
These options can also be handy additions for high-risk situations where you are wearing a mask, but are concerned that it might not be enough, because almost no one else is masked (crowded concerts, choir practice, crammed in at the airport…).
Nasal sprays
October 2023 update: Added Viraleze. And updated a bit on nasal filters.
August 2023 update: Previously, Enovid was thought to be the best option. Since then, the Clean Air Club has reported that Carrageenan-based nasal sprays can be even more effective. This is good, because these are cheaper, easier to acquire, and more pleasant to spray in one’s nose!
I have personally tried Protect – Salinex, but it was low in stock at the time, and seems to have remained so. Since then I’ve had no trouble getting Nasal Spray For Colds | Cold Treatment | BETADINE® Cold Defence. And note as well that these can indeed help prevent or reduce the severity of other respiratory illnesses, like colds. The instructions are to spray once in each nostril, up to three times a day.
As for Enovid, it is a nitric oxide nasal spray developed by a Canadian / Israeli company called Sanotize. It is, as far as I know, the only nasal spray developed specifically for Covid prevention and treatment. It has been approved in a number of countries already, notably Israel, and is being studied for approval in Canada.
The results seem pretty good so far, that it does reduce your risk of getting infected in the first place. And if you do get infected, that it can help you clear the virus more quickly, so you feel better, maybe even reduce the risk of long-term effects by reducing your viral load.
It seems logical to me that this could work; this is a virus that primarily infects through the nose, so if you have a substance lining your nasal passages known to kill the virus, that this can help. The idea is to use it before your risky (two sprays in each nasal), then again afterward. Or if it’s an all-day event, also in the middle of it! Recommendation is three times a day (maximum) as a preventive, six times a day if trying to help clear an infection.
The main downside to Enovid is that, with it not yet being approved for use in Canada, you can only buy it as an import from Israel, and that is quite expensive! It’s roughly $60+ a bottle. (I’ve used this site to buy it from: Enovid Nitric Kills 99.99% of viruses – Buy Online (reekooz.com); not claiming that it’s the best source, there are others. None are cheap.)
As well—and this is another update—it might not be quite as effective as the Carageenan.
Other types mentioned by the Clean Air Club are Hypromellose nasal spray (78% effective) and Xylitol (62%); cheapest option. I haven’t tried either and have no idea how easy they are to acquire.
A new contender (not yet assessed by the Clean Air Club, as far as I know) is Viraleze. I have no idea how it compares in effectiveness to Enovid and Carageenan. The website claims it’s very high, but it would claim that, wouldn’t it?
What I can say that:
- It’s cheaper than Enovid, but more expensive than Betadine.
- It’s more pleasant as a spray than Enovid, but a bit more “burn-y” than Betadine.
- Like Enovid, and unlike Betadine, it’s only available (in Canada) by mail order (from https://viraleze.co/).
Nasal filters
Another option to try when masking is awkward or impossible, maybe in addition to the nasal spray, are nasal filters—if you can handle wearing them. These are little filters you actually stick in your nostrils. Once in, they are pretty inobtrusive; if anything, it might look like you have a very subtle nose ring in.
I’ve tried two types, one rated for 90% filtration and the other for 65%. Naturally, the 65% type was easier to breathe through. Those ones actually felt reasonably comfortable to have in. The 90% one would take more getting used to. I have worn the 65% ones for somewhat extended periods, and you do adjust to it being there and lose the temptation to “mouth breathe”. (Or at least, I did.)
I’m not sure of stores that carry these? I bought them at Amazon, and at the time, they seemed to be in high demand. They might be in better stock now; dunno.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash containing Cetylpyridinium chloride (CCC) has shown promise for inhibiting the Covid virus. As the throat is more a secondary location, it’s probably not quite as useful as something in your nose, but certainly doesn’t hurt to do some gargling with it after your risky event. Mouthwashes containing CCC are easy to find—for example, in alcohol-free versions of Colgate Total and Crest Protect. These might also be of some assistance if you are infected, both in soothing your throat (to some extent) and in potentially helping get rid of the virus.
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