Why We Should All Be Wearing Masks Nicoló Follow Mar 20 · Unlisted

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, public health authorities ranging from the WHO (World Health Organisation) to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) have been telling us that masks are either not necessary or even counterproductive when used by the general public for protection against the Novel Coronavirus.

With China slowly opening up shop again, it is likely that masks will start surfacing on the market in plentiful supply over the coming weeks, as supply catches up with demand.

Whilst it is true that N95 respirators are still currently in short supply and should be prioritised for use by medical professionals who are at a much greater risk of infection. It is also true that there are a variety of compelling reasons for civilians to wear some form of a mask as well.

Masks Work

The most basic reason for wearing a mask is that by blocking two of the three points of entry for the virus (the mouth and the nose) you are putting a physical barrier between that person coughing next to you, and your mouth and nose. Granted, a normal surgical mask will not stop everything as well as an N95 respirator, but it is better than nothing.

Wearing a mask will stop you from touching your face

Touching one’s face is one of the best ways to contract the Coronavirus as you bring dirt from your hands directly to your mouth on a silver platter. Unfortunately, we touch our faces, on average, 44 times an hour according to a study done in 2015 for the American Journal of Infection Control. Covering your face with a mask will deny you access to your face and protect you from one of the biggest threats in the world right now: your own hands.

Wearing a mask sends a signal to others that they need to take the virus seriously

Whenever you wear your mask, you are sending a message to those that are currently ignoring the severity of the virus that they should wake up and start taking the virus seriously. There are many people in cities all around the world that are living life as if nothing is wrong, and this impedes the eradication of COVID-19 significantly. Hence, it is likely that when these people start seeing everyone around them wear masks, they might take the issue more seriously. A bonus is that you are also helping to end mask stigma.

Asian countries have been wearing masks for years and have been more successful at containment

Hong Kong and Singapore have had a total of fewer than 1000 cases of Novel Coronavirus, despite their deep logistical connections to the Chinese mainland. This low infection rate is largely because mask usage is already widespread in these countries and is routinely used whenever an infectious disease is prevalent.

In summary, whether it means covering your face with a balaclava or an inexpensive cloth mask from the internet, it is essential that we change the perception that masks are either for sick people. Masks may mean the difference between contracting the virus and not, so it is important to consider why we are not all wearing them and learn from the countries that do.