The number of cases of coronavirus is growing daily. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) forecasts are disappointing: this number is expected to continue to rise.
We are gradually getting an idea of how the virus that appeared in Wuhan is spreading. It has already been proven that it is transmitted from person to person, but some still do not understand whether it is necessary to come into close contact with the patient, whether it is enough just to be in his presence, or you can get infected from touching a contaminated surface. The disease remains a mystery, but many people, especially in China, have started wearing medical face masks to protect themselves. They say that in Asia there are already cities where masks are completely sold out.
People can buy packs of medical masks, but experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of this method of protection against dangerous viruses and bacteria. Below we give opinions on whether to wear a medical mask, as well as talk about how else you can protect yourself.
In a way, masks really help.
When a sick person coughs or sneezes, microscopic droplets of mucus are released from the body. Together with them, several thousand bacteria and viruses come out. You just need to scratch your nose or eyes and then touch another person or surface. If someone comes into any contact with these drops, they are automatically at risk of illness.
Many argue that with proper use of a medical mask, the spread of viruses by airborne droplets slows down. For example, a 2008 study found that mask users were 80% less likely to get the flu. A 2009 report found that when combined with frequent hand washing, masks reduced the risk of getting the flu by about 70%.
At the same time, masks are still not the most reliable method of protection, and the fact that you are wearing them does not mean that you are absolutely safe.
“Masks are useful because they protect our nose and mouth, but they still leave our eyes open, and the virus can be transmitted through them,” says Michael Ison, an infectious disease specialist.
Looking back and remembering the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic, experts conclude that masks have played a role in slowing the spread of the disease. They did not allow sick people to carry SARS. In fact, most Asians wear masks not to avoid getting sick themselves, but to protect other people from viruses and germs.
In 2012, when Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) emerged, health professionals only recommended wearing a medical mask if you were in the same room as a sick person. There was little evidence back then that masks played any role in stopping the spread of MERS. The main takeaway here is that masks alone do not reduce the risk of infection to zero. But they can still help.