Lately, wearing masks have become a common part of our everyday routine. They are definitely not fun to wear and can often be extremely frustrating. Many people have questioned whether they are actually helping prevent the spread of COVID and if so, how. Today we will be focusing on the importance of wearing a mask and why it is crucial to follow through.
Firstly, let’s look at the scientific facts. An article by UCSF states, “An experiment using high-speed video found that hundreds of droplets ranging from 20 to 500 micrometers were generated when saying a simple phrase, but that nearly all these droplets were blocked when the mouth was covered by a damp washcloth.” It is proven that many individuals with COVID may not experience symptoms but can still spread the virus through droplets that escape from the mouth when speaking, sneezing and coughing. When properly wearing a mask, the spread of these infectious droplets can be decreased substantially.
Secondly, yes, masks are required almost everywhere we go as a state mandate. However, even while many of us are wearing masks, we are not all wearing them properly. There is almost no point in masks if some people are not following through. So, let’s talk about what mistakes concerning masks are being made and how to fix them. As you have probably seen, there are people wearing their masks underneath their nose, hanging from one ear, having extremely loose or thin material, and so on. These mistakes destroy the overall point of the movement. The proper way to wear a mask is to always wash your hands before putting it on. Change your mask every day and do not rewear it. To put it on correctly, make sure your mask fits snugly but comfortably across your face and wear it so that it is fully covering your nose and mouth so that droplets cannot escape.
Finally, what type of masks should you wear and where can you attain them? One type of mask called the N95 has been around long before COVID and is typically common in the medical field when surgery is taking place. These are the most protective masks as they are incredibly tight and will seal almost all the air in. An article by Insider states, ¨Face masks like the N95 help keep health workers safe from contracting the virus through particles released by mucus and cough sputum when they are around infected individuals.¨ There has been a small rumor that wearing your mask will only protect others from you, but if you wear your mask properly, you can protect yourself from others as well.
Most people we see are wearing homemade cloth face masks which have been recommended by the CDC as masks such as the N95 need to be saved for medical workers due to the limited supply. Although the N95 is more protective, it can be uncomfortable to wear for a long period of time and with kids being required to wear masks at school and work for 8 hours a day, the cloth masks are simply more attainable.
At the end of the day, there is only so much we can do with a virus that is completely out of our control. Wearing our masks and taking proper precautions is so important. If we can all come together with the right mindset, progress will happen.
Written by: Brooklyn Edmisten
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