Wearing Mask in an Unmasked Crowd Can Still Protect You from COVID-19
Highlights:
- Nowadays, wearing a mask is not mandatory, and some people are confused about it
- Experts believe that wearing a mask can still protects against COVID-19
- An N95 face mask, which filters out 95% of particulates, is ideal for maximum protection
Wearing a face mask along with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing, and social distancing, can prevent the spread of the COVID-19 (1✔).
Recently, in many places wearing a mask is not mandatory. Still, many people are not ready to step out without their masks, and some are wondering if there is any benefit in wearing a face mask among unmasked people.
‘Wearing a mask not only protects you from COVID-19, but is also important to follow the proper steps to ensure that you are not contaminating the mask or your face.’
Experts warn that wearing a mask is still one of the best ways to protect yourself from COVID-19 infection. Irrespective of your vaccination status, wear mask to save your life and others, if:
- you're in a closed crowded area,
- you have a weak immune system or are at a higher risk of serious illness (2✔).
Which Face Mask is Effective?
Wearing a mask alone is not enough. You should also wear the most protective mask, which fits well and is comfortable for your regular use. Respirators such as an N95 face mask, which filters out 95% of particulates, is the ideal one that provides the most protection.KN95s and surgical masks provide the next highest level of protection, whereas cloth masks offer less protection. Surgical N95 masks should be reserved for health care providers (3✔).
While it's true that masks work best for everyone who wears it, the good news is that maximum benefit is achieved only by wearing an N95 mask.
"For someone looking to reduce their own risk of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, wearing a mask will do that," said Dr. Scott Weisenberg, NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director of the Infectious Disease Fellowship Program.
The higher the quality, the better it would work, and the N95 is the most effective of the masks currently available.
N95 masks are regulated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and can block at least 95% of particles present in the air (3✔).
The filtration efficiency for particles of surgical masks is 42-88%, according to Aerosol and Air Quality Research, while cloth masks filter out 16-23%, and bandanas filter out 9%. However, some counterfeit versions are being sold in the market that may not meet these standards.
How To Wear An N95 Mask Properly?
Even an N95 mask won't work very well if you don't wear it properly. The easiest way to check if you're wearing the mask properly is to check for gaps. Follow the steps given below before wearing a mask (4✔):- Wash and dry the hands.
- Hold the mask in your hand with the nosepiece at your fingertips.
- Place the mask under your chin with the nosepiece bar at the top.
- Pull the top strap overhead, and place it near the crown. Pull the bottom strap over and place it at the back of your neck. Do not criss-cross the snaps.
- Place your fingers at the top of the nosepiece to mold it to the shape of your nose.
- The mask must form a seal, which means that your breath must pass through the mask and not around the edges.
Other Things To Do
Though the use of N95 masks is shown to be highly effective, there are other steps you need to follow to protect yourself.Other factors are how much time you are exposed to people who aren't wearing masks and the ventilation of the place you are in.
People can still modify their risk by avoiding high-risk places, such as being indoors in poorly ventilated areas. Everyone has to decide what is right for them and their risk (5✔).
But some settings are impossible to avoid, like traveling on airplanes, which these days is becoming more and more common. Adding an N95 mask to your travel plan can reduce the risk of getting a COVID-19 infection.
Wearing a mask is becoming a personal choice now. So, choose your option wisely and avoid the risk. COVID-19 has not ended, keep that in mind.
Wear a mask and save lives!!!
References:
- Use and Care of Masks - (https:www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html)
- Wear a face mask - (https:covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/keep-up-healthy-habits/wear-a-face-mask/)
- How effective is a mask in preventing COVID‐19 infection? - (https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7883189/)
- How to wear a face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 - (https:medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19946.htm)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks - (https:www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks)
Source: Medindia
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APA
Dr. Jayashree Gopinath. (2022, May 06). Wearing Mask in an Unmasked Crowd Can Still Protect You from COVID-19. Medindia. Retrieved on Jan 03, 2025 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/wearing-mask-in-an-unmasked-crowd-can-still-protects-you-from-covid-19-206948-1.htm.
MLA
Dr. Jayashree Gopinath. "Wearing Mask in an Unmasked Crowd Can Still Protect You from COVID-19". Medindia. Jan 03, 2025. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/wearing-mask-in-an-unmasked-crowd-can-still-protects-you-from-covid-19-206948-1.htm>.
Chicago
Dr. Jayashree Gopinath. "Wearing Mask in an Unmasked Crowd Can Still Protect You from COVID-19". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/wearing-mask-in-an-unmasked-crowd-can-still-protects-you-from-covid-19-206948-1.htm. (accessed Jan 03, 2025).
Harvard
Dr. Jayashree Gopinath. 2022. Wearing Mask in an Unmasked Crowd Can Still Protect You from COVID-19. Medindia, viewed Jan 03, 2025, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthinfocus/wearing-mask-in-an-unmasked-crowd-can-still-protects-you-from-covid-19-206948-1.htm.