Unveiling the naked truth about face masks
Not strictly necessary; social distancing key Left, above and below: Some of the easier, no-sew, home-made mask options posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US. A detailed sew option, requiring the use of a sewing machine, can b
THE public debate around wearing a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic has largely made a U-turn, with many countries now advocating for mask use – even if you don’t have the virus or show symptoms.
Initially, it was widely reported that masks are only necessary under certain circumstances with the world following World Health Organisation (WHO) advice.
On its website, the WHO has guidelines on when to use a mask:
If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected Covid2019 infection.
Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent handcleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
If you wear a mask, know how to use it and dispose of it properly.
Despite the advice remaining the same, a number of governments are now also advocating for extra precaution to be used, particularly in public spaces when people go out to get essentials.
U-turn
Reuters.com reported that the US government is now recommending Americans wear cloth face coverings on a voluntary basis to stem the spread of the virus.
But President Donald Trump said he would not use one.
In a briefing on Friday, Trump stressed that the recommendation should not be seen as replacing social-distancing measures considered key to slowing the outbreak, which has now claimed more lives in New York state than the September 11, 2001, attacks.
“With the masks, it’s going to be really a voluntary thing. You can do it, you don’t have to do it. I’m choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it and that’s okay,” Trump said.
Asked about the reasoning behind his decision, Trump cited his high-profile meetings. “As I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens… I don’t see it for myself, I just don’t.”
Trump also signed an order directing his administration to stop the export of N-95 face masks and other personal protective equipment, reported Reuters.
The New York Times reported on its website that America’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted a no-sew mask pattern – using a bandanna and a coffee filter – as well as a video on making masks using rubber bands and folded fabrics found at home (see the graphic on this page).
Make masks at home
At the weekend the Health Ministry in India suggested the use of home-made masks for people living in densely-populated areas. This came after a senior adviser to the government made the recommendation.
IANS reported that Dr Shailja Vaidya Gupta, a senior adviser in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, said: “This is primarily meant for people who want to wear masks but do not have access to it. They can make these washable and reusable masks at home.”
Gupta said the shortage of face masks and hand sanitisers was a stark reality.
Therefore, the Indian government issued a manual on home-made masks. The key criteria for the proposed designs are ease of access to materials, ease of making them at home, and ease of use and reuse.
However, the government maintained that face masks were only required for people who are suffering from Covid-19 and their close contacts, for example, a designated family member looking after the patient or healthcare workers treating them.
A healthy person need not wear a face mask, reported IANS, but as the cases of Covid-19 surge in India, the government said protective masks lowered the chances of the virus entering the respiratory system through droplets that are present in the air.
The truth about masks Addressing the claim “Face masks don’t work”, The Guardian.com reported in its feature on busting the myths around Covid-19 that: “Wearing a face mask is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that you won’t get sick – viruses can also transmit through the eyes and tiny viral particles, known as aerosols, can penetrate masks.
“However, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of the coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier alone (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness).
“If you are likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on.
“If you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, or have been diagnosed, wearing a mask can also protect others.
“So masks are crucial for health and social care workers looking after patients and are also recommended for family members who need to care for someone who is ill – ideally both the patient and carer should have a mask. However, masks will probably make little difference if you’re just walking around town or taking a bus so there is no need to bulk-buy a huge supply,” it said.
CNN.com highlighted the following points on what you should know before diving into the conversation around masks:
The public should not purchase N95 respirators. Health care workers need those when they’re treating coronavirus patients.
Face covering (for the general public, those not infected or showing symptoms) is recommended but not mandatory. Homemade masks are not a substitute for social distancing and staying in.
“Homemade mask studies have shown that they’re significantly less effective than surgical masks and they’re certainly no replacement for the essential N95 respirators health care workers must wear to treat patients… Homemade masks are partially effective. They offer a physical barrier from viral particles, but they don’t have the filters that N95 respirators do,” CNN reported.
It quoted Dr Koushik Kasanagottu, an internal medicine resident at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Maryland.
But they also spoke with Anna Davies and Raina MacIntyre, public health researchers and authors of two separate studies on the effectiveness of cloth mask.
They said home-made masks were “better than nothing, especially for people who only go out in public to make a quick trip to the grocery store or pharmacy”, reported CNN.
Their report emphasised that masks cannot replace social distancing measures.
“Maintaining at least 1.5 metres of distance from others and staying home as much as possible is still the best way to prevent the spread of the virus,” said CNN.