Wearing of Face Mask
Face mask wearing is “the most powerful public health tool” that do more to protect against the spread of coronavirus than getting a vaccine, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday.
Dr. Robert Redfield stressed the importance of wearing a mask, when speaking at a United Stated House subcommittee on the country’s response efforts to COVID-19.
“I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COIVD vaccine,” he said.
And Redfield told the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies that a potential coronavirus vaccine, which will likely be available in limited quantities by the end of this year, may only have an immunogenicity of 70%
“And if I don’t get an immune response the vaccine is not going to protect me. This face mask will,” he said.
And immunogenicity is the ability of a vaccine to build an immune response to the virus. Also, other top health experts, including White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, have said the likelihood of producing a highly effective Covid-19 vaccine — one that provides 98% or more guaranteed protection — is slim.
So, “If I don’t get an immune response, the vaccine’s not going to protect me. This face mask will,” Redfield told lawmakers while holding up a blue surgical face mask.
Coronavirus: Face Masks “More Guaranteed” To Work Against COVID-19 Than A Vaccine, CDC Director Says
And he urged Americans, particularly those between 18 and 25 years old, to continue wearing face coverings, reiterating they could help bring the pandemic under control in a matter of weeks if people wore them universally.
Also, the CDC and the World Health Organization are asking people to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, that is spread through respiratory droplets when a person coughs, sneezes or talks.
And the CDC says face masks which covers the nose and mouth are “particularly important,” especially when you’re unable to maintain a 6-foot distance from one another.
Adm. Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told the lawmakers that wearing a face covering “is one of the most important things we can do to prevent spread.” That’s because people who are infected and don’t show symptoms could still be spreading the virus.
Why Is Wearing A Mask Important
The wearing of face mask in public places is now very key. And a common sentiment is, “If I am not personally at high risk for COVID-19, why am I wearing a mask?” which makes many people in public places to ignore the covering of nose and mouth.
Also, health experts are urging the public to continue maintaining the recommended safety precautions, such as wearing a face mask, to help keep you, your loved ones and the rest of the community safe – even when it doesn’t feel necessary.
And the CDC has recommended “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”
So, the wearing of face mask became necessary because the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread even before symptoms appear, through coughing, sneezing, or even speaking at close range.
And cloth face coverings can be gotten at a very low cost and ready availability, hence we have no excuse to to put on face mask.
Also, this will reduce the pressure on the demand for surgical masks and N-95 masks, so as to be available for healthcare workers that are involved in direct care of patients with COVID-19.
Interestingly, the wearing of face in public places is very important because it protect me from contacting virus, and can dramatically decrease our risk of transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Who Should Wear A Face Mask?
According to CDC everyone should wear a mask covering unless they are under 2 years of age, have breathing problems, or are unconscious or incapacitated and would need assistance removing a mask.
And masks also offer some protection against seasonal allergies because they can prevent some larger particles from being inhaled.
Can I Get COVID-19 From Touching The Front Of My Face Mask?
You’re to try and avoid touching the front of your mask while you’re wearing it, as you might infect yourself. So, after removing your mask, it’s still not safe to touch the front of it.
And ensure to wash the mask in a normal washing machine for the mask to be safe to wear again.
So, if your mask touches another part of your body that is potentially contaminated with the virus—hair, forehead, hands—and the mask is put over your mouth and nose, you are at risk for infection.
And always be sure to wash your hands before putting your mask on, and once it is in place and you are out in public, don’t keep touching or adjusting it.
More importantly, when you’re not wearing it, don’t leave it around your neck in case there was any type of contamination.
Covid 19 Prevention – How To Protect Yourself & Others
As the restaurants, breweries, churches and other organizations and businesses are starting to reopen as part of your state’s COVID-19 re-entry plan, majority of people are now easing back into recreational activities.
But we should try some precautionary measures against the virus such as wearing a face mask which is very key
And the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this COVID-19 virus. So, practice these actions to help prevent the spread of this spread of COVID-19.
1. Everyone should: Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Put distance between yourself and other people (at least 6 feet).
3. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.
4. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily.
6. CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings and when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
7. Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others, and wash your hands before wearing of face mask and face shield.
