Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, we’ve been instructed by authorities to keep up with a new standard of health to stay safe. For example, washing our hands nothing short of 20 times a day, draining disinfectant bottles by the week and staying two elephants apart from the next person. Although people have readily adhered to most aspects of this new lifestyle, one seemingly vital safety measure is being discounted by many: wearing a mask. One would imagine that a mask would be all of our primary weapon to combat the virus, considering the fact that it spreads by direct contact. So why is this not the case? Well, it’s mainly because the issue of masks has been so hotly debated by experts that it has come to become controversial and many conflicting views have emerged around the globe.
There was some speculation regarding whether COVID-19 is airborne, but it is a confirmed fact that the virus spreads through our own droplets. These droplets get passed along as we cough, sneeze, laugh, talk and breathe, so having a mask on can save you from inhaling the droplets of people around you when paired with a good social distance. Like this would keep you safe from asymptomatic people around you, it would also contain the virus if you have it but do not show symptoms. The HealthLine says that 50% of people with COVID-19 are not aware that they have the virus, which allows it to spread easily in communities. Therefore, wearing a mask on serves as a good precautionary measure to keep from endangering the people you interact with. Another way that masks serve as a physical barrier is that they stop you from touching your face. The average human being touches their face 23 times per hour, according to a PubMed study. This makes us prone to infecting ourselves with diseases we pick up with our hands when we touch objects and people. Face masks help break this habit and keep your hands away from your face. If the health and safety reasons can’t convince you to wear a mask, maybe the social aspects will. In many countries, masks serve as symbols of civic mindedness, that show the people are taking the virus seriously. The symbol represents unity within a population.
So if masks yield this myriad of benefits, why do some experts reject them? Infection prevention specialist Eli Perencevich said that face masks that are worn incorrectly can lead to auto-contamination. This occurs when people handle their masks without washing their hands, or place it on infected surfaces. The mask fibres catch the infectious particles and these then enter our body with ease when we wear the same mask. This is why good hygiene practices are far more important than wearing a mask. Ever since the virus broke out, nurses and doctors have been in the thick of it and are frequently exposed to sick people, making them the people who need masks the most. Civilians purchasing masks in bulk places pressure on the supply of masks for hospital use. So, in order to make sure those fighting on the front lines and making sacrifices for us are better armoured, we should leave surgical masks and respirators for our healthcare workers.
So even though COVID-19 is probably not airborne, mask wearing is a good practice but it cannot replace practices like regular hand washing and social distancing. The best thing you could do to strike a balance between protecting yourself and healthcare workers is to make your own mask from materials you have in the house. The CDC recently published an article with more information on how to make the perfect homemade mask: Happy mask making!