Half-maskers are everywhere you turn. The last time we went to the grocery store, I saw at least ten. Some are shoppers, and a high percentage of employees are half-maskers. It must be miserable to wear a mask all day long, but half-masking is not a working solution.
You know what I’m talking about. The typical approach is to wear
the mask over the mouth. If someone looks their way, the maskers pull them up.
“Oh, I’m sorry. My mask is too loose and I have trouble keeping it
up.”
Maybe it’s time to say, “Please be considerate of others. We have medical
conditions that leave us ill prepared to fight the virus, should we get it.”
·
A
study has shown that the virus can replicate better inside cells from the nasal
cavity than in cells from elsewhere in the lower airways. It’s critical to
cover both your nose and mouth with face masks.
·
The
nose is the dominant initial sit of infection.
·
The
mouth is closed most of the time, but the nose is never closed.
·
Wearing a mask over the mouth and not covering
the nose—half-masking—is more dangerous than no mask at all.
Summarized from BGR
The reason to wear a mask over the mouth and nose is to lower the risk of being infected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It should not be to satisfy an employer or make a political statement.
What are the guidelines from the CDC?
o
Wear
masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19.
o
Wear
the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
o
Masks
should be worn by people two years and older.
o
Masks
should NOT be worn by children younger than two, people who have trouble
breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance.
o
Do NOT wear
masks intended for healthcare workers, for example, N95 respirators.
o
CDC
does not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face
covers is on-going but effectiveness is unknown at this time.
No comments:
Post a Comment