Months are passing by, but the COVID-19 terror still persists. There is talk of a second and third wave ready to engulf people with all the more health complications. Several countries have announced yet another lockdown, looking at the surging cases, however, the public is out protesting against the lockdown without following any preventive measures, as a result of which, the novel coronavirus spread is on the rise. People have also stopped wearing masks, which is another reason for concern, as it can actually save many people from contracting the virus to a great extent.
“We are not defenseless against COVID-19,” said the Director of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Robert R. Redfield. “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting”.
While many countries have lifted the restrictions, government and medical authorities are still stressing over wearing a mask and following proper hand and cough hygiene. You must have often heard people say “everyone will at least once get infected with the virus”, “mask is useless”, “this is just another virus” and a lot more. But it is important to keep in mind that this virus can be fatal too.
Why Wear A Mask?
There have been several discussions regarding if the mask just helps protect people around you or it protects you as well. According to the CDC, masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick. This is because several studies have found that people with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who are not yet showing symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can still spread the virus to other people. The main function of wearing a mask is to protect those around you, in case you are infected but not showing symptoms.
CDC further informs that A cloth mask also offers some protection to you too. How well it protects you from breathing in the virus likely depends on the fabrics used and how your mask is made.
Studies have also shown that in case even if the virus enters through the mask in your body, the viral load will be less, i.e. you will not be severely affected by the virus. Therefore, masks should be mandatorily worn by everyone, 2 years of age, and above.
What Type of Mask Should I wear?
Now that there are a variety of masks available in the market, from a normal surgical mask to the one that goes with every outfit, here are some important tips related to masks that you need to keep in mind, as suggested by CDC:
Recommended
- Non-medical disposable masks
- Masks that fit properly (snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face)
- Masks made with breathable fabric (such as cotton)
- Masks made with tightly woven fabric (i.e., fabrics that do not let light pass through when held up to a light source)
- Masks with two or three layers
- Masks with inner filter pockets
Not Recommended
- Masks that do not fit properly (large gaps, too loose or too tight)
- Masks made from materials that are hard to breathe through (such as plastic or leather)
- Masks made from loosely woven fabric or that are knitted, i.e., fabrics that let light pass-through
- Masks with one layer
- Masks with exhalation valves or vents
- Do not use surgical masks and respirators that are meant for healthcare workers.
“Some masks work better to help stop the spread of COVID-19 outside of healthcare settings. Medical masks and N-95 respirators should not be used because they should be conserved for healthcare workers”, states CDC.
If you are under the impression that everyone will at least once get infected with the virus no matter what and are ignoring the basic preventive measures, remember that what may come post COVID recovery might be even more severe for your health. Projections have shown that the number of deaths and COVID-19 cases can almost double if masks are not worn and if other preventive measures are not followed properly. Therefore, masks are extremely important in the current world scenario.
