Return to normal life, but don’t forget your masks

Iwear a mask to protect my best friend who is undergoing chemo #MaskingForAFriend. Who do you wear a mask for? Masks decrease the ability for the Covid-19 virus to be projected into the air and therefore reduces the spread of the virus. A study published in Nature has suggested that just one minute of loud speaking could generate at least a thousand virus-containing particles that may hang in the air for over eight minutes. This is a scary thought. However, another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that covering the mouth with a wet washcloth could dramatically reduce the number of infectious droplets that get out into the air. Could the solution to slowing this pandemic be as simple as a piece of cloth?

Unfortunately, changing our behaviour is hard. Preventing the spread of Covid-19 requires people to disrupt their lives. Social distancing becomes more taxing as days turn to weeks and months. Wearing a mask can be hot and uncomfortable, make it more difficult to breathe or speak, and can feel socially awkward. These sacrifices may seem trivial if we believe that the virus is a real threat and can have significant impact. However, because of the insidious nature Covid-19, it’s hard to know when we ourselves may be at risk or when we may be endangering others. It’s easy to tell ourselves that we do not need to wear a mask because we are feeling fine. However, a large percentage of transmissions are due to contact with individuals who have the virus but are not showing symptoms. In fact, a recent editorial in The New England Journal of Medicine called asymptomatic transmission the “Achilles Heel of current strategies to control Covid-19”. It is like unknowingly slipping a bomb into someone’s pocket — and never knowing if it goes off or not.

Next time you go out, picture the face of the person you do not want to lose and you may find it easier to wear a mask.

A mask is now a part of my everyday life so much so I don’t even notice it anymore. At first, I wore it for a very personal reason, as I am living with my best friend who is undergoing chemo. However, now it is not just about protecting her life, it is about protecting anyone I come in contact with.

In these chaotic and challenging times when we may feel like we have no control, there are still small things you can do to save someone’s life.

One minute of loud speaking could generate at least a thousand virus-containing particles that may hang in the air for over eight minutes