As the cases for coronavirus surges, there has been a lot of public distortion. Facing social distancing was not enough and so the lockdown time begins, but for how long no one knows it yet. People are made aware of the precautions like avoiding touching your face, disinfecting household surfaces, wearing face masks and such.
As the number of infected people increased, people came to know a little bit with every ascend. Information on the display may not be enough as every case is different. Some had a severe symptom of cough, sneeze, sore throats, fever or rise in body temperatures, difficulty in breathing and flu but some patients didn't show any symptoms at all.
This was when things got a little more than out of hand.
How can you avoid the inevitable diseases if you do not show any of the observed symptoms? Chinese and American government has recently taken the initiative to prepare kits that can diagnose if a person tests positive.
Relatively a new medical discovery took place; plasma extracted from a recovered patient’s blood is seen to be an effective remedial tool for those who tested positive for COVID-19. Now this pandemic is deadly, but it is curable. Not every infected patient died, but many recovered.
What keeps the coronavirus at bay?
First of all, social distancing is not a joke. Without it, you will always have a higher chance of getting yourself infected. However, if it is unavoidable to step outside of your home, you need to wear face masks (to protect yourself from catching any germs via nose or mouth), wear gloves and so on. But most of all, covering your face with a face mask is deemed as the most effective of all.
There has been a lot of information about whether to use a face mask or not. At the initial stage of the pandemic, it caused riots in marketplaces, people acting out on pure instinct and robbing toilet papers and face masks as if their lives depended on it.
A shortage of supplies for face masks became a concern for the public. But those who have it keep questioning;
Should I wear a mask in public?
Yes, it provides some modicum of protection but it may not always be as effective as one might believe it to be. When the coronavirus reached the United States, pharmacy workers reported the stats that every glove, face mask, and sanitizer has been cleaned off the shelves.
Countries with low risk of facing the outbreak, do not encourage to wear face masks in public – as prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because it can become the ultimate reason for infection as people are not taking the required care when it comes to disposing of the face mask.
This leads us to our next question;
Is There Still a Shortage of Face Mask Supplies for Medical Professionals?
Unfortunately yes. Doctors are forced to reuse N95 respirator masks, but it is of no protection to them as every face mask has an expiry date. As compared to surgical masks they offer more protection due to tight fit around the mouth but due to lack of supplies, it’s a critical condition.
As we mentioned earlier, the alarming behavior of the public has put medical professionals at risk, they are continuously treating patients without any new face masks putting themselves at higher risk.
What if you want to make your masks?
That's great! You can follow up online tutorials on how to make new face masks with complete diagrams, instructions and a step by step guide. Designers are now even providing protective suits for volunteers and medical professionals where hospitals are not driven by the facility. Local business is still active within their households who are stitching batches of face masks and distributing it to the public at fair price rates.
Which type of face masks to use?
It is recommended to cover your face with a cloth if there is a lack of face mask, but it is advised to use a surgical mask – a standard choice for the public. It is lose fitting and usually referred to as face mask, the ones you see doctors wearing in hospitals regularly, and they cover mouth and nose and are rather comfortable to wear than any other type of mask.
The public is advised against using N95 respirators because of short supplies and they fit more tightly which makes them uncomfortable to wear.
You can also use dust masks to protect from solid or liquid aerosols, dust, and mist and smoke, they are long-lasting as compared to a plain surgical mask.
People with breathing problems are highly recommended against using N95; it can accelerate the breathing issues. If you are using N95 respirator (as a medical professional) get rid of if you feel breathing becomes difficult, the exterior is damaged or soiled, etc. and once you dispose of the respirator, wash your hands properly. This mask is not suitable for kids or people who have facial hair, as the respirator may not be able to provide full protection.
In case of shortage of supplies, you can improvise from household materials like T-shirts or even a pillowcase, anything from cloth to linen works the same for the period.
Is mask as effective against COVID-19 as they say?
If you follow the guidance, the main purpose of wearing a face mask is to prevent getting infected and therefore wearing a mask can reduce the risk at some point. It does, however, put a more prominent barrier for nose and mouth. If you have been using a mask for more than 6 hours now, consider switching as microbes are already attached to it. Not all microbes may consist of viruses, but those are bacteria anyway that can even cause an allergic reaction.
If you properly prepare the tactics, wearing a face mask is of greater durability, according to the studies.
Mask, alone as a precautionary tool cannot be enough, keep practicing the norms and you are good to go.
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