When and How to Use Face Masks to Protect from Coronavirus?

At first, the Coronavirus spread from one infected person to another; it spread either through coughing or sneezing (check with a Multi-specialty hospital in Hyderabad if you are suffering from any symptoms) But more and more information from the (CDC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that most people who seem normal, that is without the symptoms or are asymptomatic may spread the virus, as they develop the symptoms later. Let’s discuss here how the infection spreads and how you can protect yourself with masks.

How Does Coronavirus Spread? When and How to Use Face Masks to Protect from Coronavirus?

It is believed that the disease is transmitted from person-to-person when they are set apart 6 feet from each other, and it is mainly via respiratory droplets when a person sneezes, coughs, or talks. So, if you move around your yard and strike up a conversation with your neighbor (within about 6 feet of each other), you may fall sick even if the other person is not coughing or sneezing, or showing any signs of sickness. So, how can you protect yourself? Are facemasks the answer? Most people are scampering away to get face masks as most people regard it as the first line of defense.

But when common people are trying to get their hands on masks, the one section of the population is facing the heat, the ones who need it the most such as people who are working as the frontline in the hospitals and healthcare professionals, they struggle the most as they look for proper medical masks. Many people are stocking up on those, without needing it. A few people are hoarding on surgical or even home-made masks without knowing when to use it. Even if you wear the most effective mask and not dispose of it correctly, there is no use of wearing those masks.

The Top Three Kinds of Face Masks

• The N95 respirator:

Though more and more people are wearing these masks to combat the COVID-19 virus, these masks are meant for doctors, paramedics, or health or police officials. These snug masks keep out all kinds of splashes, sprays, and large droplets, and also keep out particles such as viruses and bacteria. But what people do not know is this the only way to reap off benefits from this, and need to be worn the right way to ensure a proper seal. They can prove to be extremely uncomfortable if the weather is hot and has to be worn for long periods. Although there are some special some types have an exhalation valve, which is easier to wear as it dissipates the heat and humidity buildup. So, the common man should steer clear of it.

• The surgical mask:

This is slightly different from the N95 masks as they are flat, loose in fitting, and can be easily disposed of and they can cover most of your face that is your nose, chin, and mouth. They are pretty effective in providing protection such as sprays, splashes, and large droplets, and stop the spread of the virus via the respiratory secretions. There are easy to tie elastic bands that you can tie just behind the ears or you can even tie it around your head. However, they are not the most potent protection gear for SARS-CoV-2 because mostly because they are unable to filter out the smaller aerosol particles, and air leakage can occur through the mask sides as you try to inhale. Do not use them more than once.

• Home-made or off the shelf masks:

The third kind is the one you can make at home with easily-available materials such as cloth or paper even plastic. There is a great dearth of good masks so people are doing with what they have, such as scarves, dupattas, handkerchiefs, and whatever material you can find. The fruitfulness of the same is not known but they may stop you from feeling overly anxious, so if you do not get your hands on some quality masks you can make do with what you have at hand.

The Rules of Wearing the Mask According to WHO (World Health Organization)

1. If you are healthy, you do not have to wear a mask unless you are suspected to be affected by COVID-19 infection.
2. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
3. Masks are only useful when you use it in combination with hand-washing with an alcohol-based sanitizer or plain soap and water.
4. Wear a mask but also know about the right technique to dispose of it off, especially when you are using a disposable mask.
5. If you do not have the right medical masks with you then make do with something to cover your nose and mouth, sometimes a folded kerchief is a great one to wrap around your face to protect you, also if you are out and about in a place largely affected by the COVID-19 virus, you need ample protection to stave off infections. Just remember to wash hands before and after handling masks.

Step Up Your Protection Plan with these Tips,

1. Wash your hands diligently and frequently for 20 seconds at least, use soap and water, or a 60% or more alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Ensure you do not touch your face, nose, eyes, or touch them only after you clean your hands.
3. Social distancing is the new norm, practice it to stay safe.
4. Stay apart from the people who are sick, if your neighborhood is affected, ensure you follow the Government-directed safety guidelines to stay safe.
5. Sanitize surfaces as everyone is asking, can Covid-19 spread through currency notes? Or through other surfaces? It is important to take care to sanitize common surfaces to stay safe.

There’s a huge shortage of masks especially when it comes to healthcare workers and first responders. If you have hoarded a huge number of masks and have them unused at home, please step forward and donate them to those who need it such as health care providers and others. Act as a responsible citizen; this is the only way to protect yourself and others from the COVID-19 virus.