The mask is an accessory that is being imposed on a mandatory basis throughout the country. There are many scientific studies that ensure that it is the most effective technique to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The protective value of masks, of course, depends in part on how they are used. If people are really reckless or clumsy in handling or removing it, they could be putting themselves and everyone around them in danger.
The 7 most common mistakes and how we can avoid them
Give up a mask
Anyone 2 years and older should wear a cloth mask that covers people outside their home, especially when social estrangement is difficult to maintain.
It is particularly important in high risk places where it is difficult to distance oneself socially. Although there are probably not many benefits to using one if, for example, you are running alone in the forest.
The mask acts as a barrier , preventing infectious drops from falling on other people. Chances are, you don't even know you're infected. For 40% of people with SAR-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, they never show symptoms of the disease.
Science suggests that a person's exhalations can produce aerosols that hold up in the air. The potential for airborne spread of COVID-19 is of particular concern in confined, crowded, or poorly ventilated spaces , according to a July 2020 commentary on Clinical Infectious Diseases signed by more than 200 scientists.
Handwashing and social distancing are appropriate, but in our opinion insufficient to provide protection against virus-carrying respiratory droplets released into the air by infected persons.
Wearing a cloth mask in such locations will not eliminate infectious emissions. But if everyone does and you ventilate those spaces, the amount of exposure will decrease, the risk of infection will decrease, and we won't have these super-spreading events.
Putting on a poorly fitting mask
It's almost impossible to avoid news images or real-life encounters with adults and children who have uncovered noses. You may even see some with masks on their chins. Be sure to cover your nose, mouth, and chin when using it.
Proper fit is key. It should not be so tight as to impede your ability to breathe, but it must also have a certain fit on the face so that it can stay in place.
You should make sure that your nose, mouth, and chin are covered when you wear your mask.
Touch or pull it
Remember, its use is primarily intended to prevent the spread of infection to others. So if you're constantly playing it, that purpose is removed. If you take off your mask and then cough or start talking, you could be spreading COVID-19.
Keeping your face covered limits the amount of virus you emit to the local environment.
Touching the outside of the mask also poses a risk to yourself. If the outer surface has been exposed to viral particles and then you touch your face, "you could get infected."
Do not use soap and water or hand sanitizer
Before putting it on, experts recommend washing your hands, and if you touch the mask while you're away, you should wash them again. When you go out to dinner, you will have to take it off to eat, so do not forget to bring hand sanitizer.
Once you're home, remove the elastics from your ears, fold the outer corners of your face, and throw it away if it's disposable. If it is reusable, wash it immediately. And wash your hands.
If you wear gloves, and they really aren't necessary if you're running to the ATM or grocery store, remove them first, wash your hands, and then take off your mask and wash your hands again.
Don't wash your cloth mask
Would you wear the same underwear over and over again? The same goes for cloth masks. Ideally, they should be washed after each use.
To do it, you have two ways:
- In a washing machine : mix it with your normal clothes at the highest temperature that makes sense for the type of fabric you are washing.
- By hand : combine 4 teaspoons of bleach with a liter of water and wash the mask in that mixture. Or use soap or detergent, along with hot water, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Dry: Let your mask dry at high temperature or outdoors, preferably in direct sunlight.
Reuse a disposable
You can buy non-medical grade face mask packages online for daily use. They are lightweight and disposable, but are they safe to reuse?
Experts say it's probably not a great idea. Filtering layers can degrade. Earmuffs can be stretched. They get dirty.
If they are single use and disposable, they are disposable after single use. What we do not want is that the masks become a risk for someone.
Forget it at home
Until a COVID-19 vaccine or drug therapy becomes widely available, we must all take prevention seriously. That means continuous social distancing, hand hygiene and, yes, wearing masks.
Does that mean you have to use one in the car? If you are traveling alone or with your family, maybe not. But if you are sharing a trip or you stop at a gas station, put on the mask. If you plan to make multiple stops during a trip, it makes sense to keep it on all the time to avoid repeatedly touching your face.
When you are away from home, it should be part of your routine: bring your keys, the phone and the mask.
