What are the important facts to know about coronavirus face masks?

Sam Richards
Authored by Sam Richards
Posted Saturday, March 28, 2020 - 4:50am

With the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, face masks are highly recommended for preventing the infection of Covid-19. It is high time that people became aware of the spread of the pandemic and knew the ways to slow down the spread. Some health hygiene steps are recommended by doctors to maintain stay at this hour of emergency. Though different types of face masks are available, it is important to buy the right one. It is, however, recommended that healthy people may not wear masks. 

If an individual is tested positive of coronavirus and they may come in contact with someone tested positive, it is important to wear face masks. In this relation, the health workers, doctors and medical support should be wearing the masks. But, as of now, there is a shortage of masks as has been reported by hospitals. However, individuals can still get medical face mask for sale that is available in some of the online stores. 

Details about face mask and hand hygiene

It is said by medical professionals that every person should maintain the basic hygiene measures that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections. Some of the measures of hygiene are as mentioned below. 

  1. Washing hands with soap and water or cleaning hand with sanitizer
  2. Staying at home if someone is sick 
  3. Cleaning surfaces regularly and maintain properly home cleanliness
  4. Covering up mouth when coughing or sneezing and afterwards performing hand hygiene 

How can face masks prevent the spread of viruses?

It is known that COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets. Therefore, it is vital to cover our face and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Also, the virus spreads mostly by touch, contaminated surface or when a healthy person comes in contact with an unhealthy person. When a healthy person comes in contact with the droplets coughed or sneezed into the air, it can cause serious problems to others. 

Is it required by a healthy person to wear masks?

No, it is suggested that face masks can prevent the transmission of the disease from an infected person to others. So, healthy persons need not wear it during the pandemic COVID-19. 

However, the health masks should be prioritized for the health workers who are handling patients. But due to shortage of the masks, not all health workers are able to wear the masks when offering help to patients. Also, not all face masks are suitable to protect the spread of the disease. Only the N-95 masks are known to be the ideal one. In this regard, the doctors and health workers are requesting the government to increase the productivity of the masks and proper protective equipment to deal with this pandemic situation. 

The Closure 

To maintain personal protection, people are also trying to make masks with scarves or bandanas as last resort due to shortage of masks. The N-95 respirator fits well covering the mouth and nose and prevents the spread of the disease. The number 95 denotes that it helps filter almost 95% of the airborne particles. 

 

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