Are you confused by the contradictory information on face masks?
Why to use face Masks?
1- To protect you by preventing your nose and mouth from contact with droplets, splashes and sprays from others as they talk, cough or sneeze.
2- To protect people around you by reducing their exposure to your saliva and respiratory secretion droplets released when you talk , cough or sneeze.
Masks are a behavioral reminder that there’s a pandemic and life is not the same right now. And also a reminder not to put your hands in our eyes, nose or mouth until you have washed your hands.
What does Science say?
It is controversial….
Some public health groups say wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic is absolutely essential and others say that masks have limited benefit to stopping the transmission of viruses. Some medical organizations claim that wearing masks only protects others from you if you are contaminated with the virus, and urge you to wear if you are close contact with a infected person.
According to scientific consensus universal mask wearing does not support the currently recommendations. The World Health Organization in the beginning of the pandemic, noted that there is no direct evidence that the use of masks of healthy people is an effective way to protect against respiratory illness. The WHO recommended that cloth masks should only be used by infected persons and not to prevent infection with respiratory viruses.
The World Health Organization
Due to the current situation, the WHO reviewed its measures to suppress the transmission, and went back to urge people to use masks and save lives.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) advices differently from WHO, and pointed out that people could carry the virus without symptoms like coughing and sneezing, which means that these people not knowing that they are infected could spread the virus around when interacting in close proximity.
CDC recommends wearing masks in public transports, grocery stores, pharmacies and areas with agglomeration. This measure helps people who may have the virus but still do not know it.
But in the other hand the CDC posted a scientific study showing that over 70% of the participants testing positive for COVID-19 reported they had regularly worn masks. Masks have been shown through clinical evidence to have no effect against transmission of viral pathogens. Penetration of cloth masks by viral particles was almost 97% and of surgical masks was 44%.
Which type of masks are effective?
Capacity of a mask to filter out the COVID-19 :
Consider the size of the pores of the masks you are using. The size of the COVID-19 VIRUS is about 0.125 microns. To give you an idea, 1 micron equals 1 thousandth of a millimeter. A larger size can be factored in if the virus “sticks” to respiratory droplets that can be 5 to 10 microns. Be aware that the pores of cloth masks get larger with repeated washings.
The size and concentrations of SARS-COV-2 in aerosols generated during coughing are unknown. Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filtered the COVID-19.
Researches founded greater contamination on the outer and inner mask surfaces. Both surgical and cotton masks seem to be ineffective in preventing the spread of SARS-COV-2 in the environment and external mask surface. Face masks became ineffective after 2 hours of use.
Mask must fit snugly but comfortable against the side of the face to be effective.
Mask Material needs to allow air to flow in and out.
Types of Masks
`N95 Mask has a filtering ability down to, and actually below the size of SARS-Cov-2 which is about 0.12 microns in diameter and N95 mask protect down to 0.1 microns, with 95% efficiency which is where it gets its name.
Cotton Masks appear to be a good option if they have 3 layers of cotton and between it a plastic layer.
Surgical Face Masks significantly reduced detention of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets and could prevent the virus from symptomatic individuals. It should to be disposed off after one use and never reused.
Face shields are recommended to protect the mucous membranes of your eyes, but is useless to protect the rest of your face because its effectiveness is unknown at this time. Do Not use face shields alone.
How to use face masks ?
1- Before putting on a mask wash your hands with soap and water.
2- You must put the mask covering your mouth and nose. I have seen several people wearing the mask under their nose. What is the point of this if the objective is precisely to protect your airways? Wear your mask correctly!
3- Don’t touch the mask while using it. But if you do clean your hands.
4- Don’t reuse single-use masks and use it for 3 or 4 hours maximum and then replace the mask with a new one.
5- To take off your mask do not touch the front of the mask and remove it from behind. Discard it immediately!
6- Masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others.
7- A mask is not a substitute for social distance. It should still be worn in addition to staying at least 1.5 m apart.
Conclusion:
Experimental and epidemiological studies support the use of masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The prevention benefit of masking is derived from the combination of source control and personal protection for the mask wearer. What we have are slices of research with different results and different conclusions.
In my opinion Masks doesn’t give full protection, but just a way to reduce the chance of spread the virus. What I have observed is most people not using their masks properly. Many people have the mask below their nose, which is useless. People touch their mask or temporarily remove their mask, and frequently adjust their mask. This is incomprehensible!
We now have data of virus deposition on the outside of masks, so when you touch the mask is a good way to spread the virus. In addition we have the false sense of security issue. People think that if they are wearing a mask, they will be protect and can make mistake.
Botton Line : Sure, you must to wear face masks whenever you are out in public and wear the mask properly !
ref:
cdc.gov
mayoclinic.com
ahha.org
mercola.com
Naturalize Yourself !
