San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Not ailing? Leave masks for patients, health crews
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a critical shortage of face masks for health care professionals.
Now scientists and public health officials are working quickly to get the word out on the proper use of masks in the fight against the spread of COVID19: Who needs them, when and why?
“We generally do not recommend the use of masks for the general public,” says Dr. Richard Martinello, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist.
Here’s a quick look at what you need to know about face masks and coronavirus: Should I wear a mask, and when?
No. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend that people who are healthy wear face masks, unless it is specifically recommended by a health care
professional. Only people who have COVID19 and are showing symptoms should wear masks, to protect others from the risk of infection. Otherwise, masks should be reserved for health care workers.
“Masks may provide a modest degree of protection against fluids, including spray from a cough or sneeze, and they provide some filtration of the air,” Martinello says. “But, since the masks do not provide a tight seal around the wearer’s nose and mouth, much of the air inhaled and exhaled remains unfiltered.”
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warns face masks might actually increase your risk of infection if they aren’t worn properly.
What purpose do face masks serve?
In a health care setting, surgical masks are designed to protect against large droplets, splashes, or sprays of bodily or other hazardous fluids, according to the CDC. Wearing masks also protects patients from the wearer’s respiratory emissions.
More advanced N95 respirators reduce the wearer’s exposure to particles including smallparticle aerosols and large droplets, filtering out at least 95% of airborne particles.
Is COVID19 droplet or airborne transmitted?
Both. While the coronavirus is most commonly transmitted through respiratory droplets, such as when someone sneezes or coughs, a new study done by the National Institutes of Health indicates that the virus that causes COVID19 can remain suspended in the air for up to three hours.
The researchers also found that the virus could be detected up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
The findings affirmed guidance from The World Health Organization: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Shelter in place. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue; then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. Wearing a mask is not recommended.
Should children wear masks?
No. If a child is healthy, there is no need for that child to wear a face mask, according to the CDC.
Why is there a shortage of masks?
The panic that caused people to stockpile toilet paper and hand sanitizer as the pandemic spread also led to a global run on sales of face masks.
As a result, medical centers are facing severe shortages that are being attributed not just to high demand, but to disruptions in supply.
Most of the world’s surgical masks are made in China, where according to the Associated Press, the coronavirus outbreak has caused shortages of workers; and manufacturers say they are struggling to get enough raw materials to make the masks.
Can I make my own mask?
Yes. The CDC updated its guidelines and allowing health care workers to use bandanas, scarves or “homemade masks” to cover their faces “as a last resort” while treating COVID19 patients.
Medical workers in Washington state manufactured 500 homemade masks out of vinyl, tape, foam and elastic purchased at a Home Depot. Bay Area physicians and doctors have discussed the possibility of making similar masks out of clothes and pillowcases.
The FreeSewing Open Source Project is providing free face mask sewing patterns for download.
Can I donate my masks?
Yes. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospital & Clinics, O’Connor Hospital and St. Louise Regional Hospital are accepting new supplies, including face masks, for use by hospital and clinic staff. Donations can be delivered 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2400 Clove Drive, San Jose, on the campus of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.