Picture credits: https://www.cns.umass.edu/news-events/news/copper-masks-hopeful-weapon-against-covid-19
It's almost been a year since lovely Rona stepped into our lives, and we've had to learn a new, very hygienic way of living. The memory of a time where packing a hand sanitiser into my bag wasn't muscle memory seems so distant. There are so many new things we've learnt and adapted to be more cautious about - I still find it hard to believe how I used to touch a door handle in public and not automatically reach for my hand sanitiser. Cringe, I know.
This pandemic has forced a new level of sanitation on us that most of us hadn't experienced before, and understandably it would've taken some time to get used to. However, in the midst of a pandemic that has taken so many millions of precious lives, that has robbed families and friends of their loved ones, it is frustrating and puzzling how we still hear of some who proudly advocate against wearing masks, especially given the amount of time we've been experiencing this pandemic for.
Readjusting your glasses as your vision fogs up again, the little straps on your mask starting to cause a small ache in your ear... these are minor inconveniences that I have and I'm sure lots have experienced. But when you compare the little annoyance of feeling a piece of fabric on your nose to the community benefits that wearing a mask brings, the latter certainly renders the "inconveniences" insignificant.
COVID-19 spreads through droplets which can be propelled through the air when the infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, etc. When they land on the noses or mouths, or when they are inhaled into the lungs of another person, the person on the receiving end consequently contracts the virus. Masks work by a method called "source control" (pretty much in the name), where they act as a physical barrier to prevent the spread of droplets.
Initially, the CDC advised people who showed symptoms to wear masks, but soon it was discovered that a person who was infected could present none of the associated symptoms (asymptomatic), which led to the CDC further advising everyone to wear masks (with exceptions of medically exempted people and children under 2 for example). The key importance of wearing a mask is that it protects the people around you, especially as anyone could potentially be asymptomatic and there would be no way to tell, apart from doing a test.
Picture credits: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6498/1422
There is well-supported evidence for the importance of masks. A good example that shows this is an incident where two infected hairstylists interacted with 139 clients, both clients and hairstylists wearing masks. Out of the 67 clients who consented to a COVID-19 test, none of them tested positive.
Masks do provide a certain extent of protection for the wearer too, though there is not as much evidence as there is for the protection it provides to the surrounding people, and studies are being carried out to study this further. This really demonstrates how crucial it is for everyone to be wearing masks for the protection of the community, and to effectively curb the spread of the virus. We cannot afford to lose more to this pandemic. We need to remember the importance of protecting everyone around us - especially those more susceptible to the virus, such as people of older ages and immunocompromised people - and also the significance of collective effort. We all want this pandemic to end soon.
The changing guidelines that people were advised to follow regarding masks had reasonably caused public confusion in the early stages of the pandemic, but with scientific evidence we now have and evidence before our eyes, doubting the usefulness of masks is very dangerous and could have even more devastating implications.
Along with wearing masks, wearing it the correct way is so important, i.e. covering nose and mouth, because the purpose of wearing one would be defeated otherwise. It's also really important not to forget that along with wearing a mask appropriately, measures such as hand-washing and social distancing still need to be followed and should definitely not be slackened. These preventative measures that may seem more of an annoyance to us now will go a long way in protecting ourselves, our loved ones, and our community.
Please visit the website to learn more about how to prevent the spread of the virus.
Especially on the topic of wearing masks, respect is crucial - respecting rules to wear masks, respecting the preventative measures a shop has implemented and complying with them, respecting others when they ask you to put a mask on, etc. The ridiculing and snarky comments about somebody being too stringent and "uptight" about sanitation need to be stopped immediately. It is really sad and infuriating how, in some cases, a person can follow all governmental guidelines and do their part in upholding sanitation, but get nasty comments and judgmental looks in return. Refusing to comply and wear a mask is not "cool", it's not "trendy". Wearing a mask is a "sense of social responsibility", as said by Neysa Ernst, R.N., who is a nurse manager of the Biocontainment Unit at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. The pandemic has proven to us the urgency of protecting one another, and the last thing we should be doing is criticizing and bringing down people who are doing exactly that.
Wearing a mask is an act of kindness, it acknowledges the importance of protecting each other. It's a symbol of teamwork. We all want this pandemic to end, so we must all do our parts accordingly and act sensibly.
I don't mean to sound all lecture-y or point fingers. I truly believe that while we wait for the amazing vaccines to develop and be distributed, we need to protect and be there for everyone instead of bringing people down, which could be counter-effective. Despite all that doom and gloom, I do think we're coming together to fight this virus as more and more people understand the immense importance of wearing masks and following guidelines. The pandemic has been a real challenge for a lot of people and I am beyond grateful for the health of my friends and families, and I wish everyone good health from the bottom of my heart.
If you're not sure about the guidelines for the area you're in, please do check trusted websites or ask families and friends. Please stay safe everyone and wishing you all the very very best as always xxx
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