{"id":2339,"date":"2020-02-03T16:32:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T08:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/?p=2339"},"modified":"2020-06-22T14:24:48","modified_gmt":"2020-06-22T06:24:48","slug":"covid-19-coronavirus-mask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/covid-19-coronavirus-mask\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19: How to wear a mask properly for protection"},"content":{"rendered":"

The streets and public spaces are ominously sparse and silent. Pedestrians are on high alert, and cautiously shifting their footsteps to avoid coming into close proximity with other human beings. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Surgical masks – and sometimes even respirators – adorn the faces of pedestrians, restaurant-goers, drivers, shop assistants, and just about anyone else who bravely ventures outside of their home. The eerie atmosphere concocted by artists, cinematographers, and writers alike to depict a cyberpunk-esque zombie onslaught has, over the past few weeks, seemingly eventuated into reality.\u00a0 <\/span>
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\n<\/span>In the span of just one month alone, the year 2020 has already seen a number of turbulent global events that have created a seismic shift in the human population’s current and\/or potential living conditions; be it social, economic, regulatory, health-related, or otherwise. And decidedly the most prominent of all is the rapidly spreading <\/span>coronavirus<\/span><\/a>, which has reached the shores of a growing number of countries the world over.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dramatic opening aside, rapidly rising coronavirus caseloads have led to pervasive paranoia and fear of infection, both globally and in Hong Kong. And with no sign of the outbreak abating anytime soon, remaining vigilant can, quite literally, save your life by lowering your risk of infection. So, without further ado, this <\/span>Pacific Prime Hong Kong blog<\/span><\/a> article presents the most essential tips for protecting yourself against COVID-19.
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Is wearing a mask even necessary?<\/h2>\n

Frequent any pharmacy, convenience store, or supermarket – be it brick and mortar or online – and you’ll most likely be notified that surgical masks are completely sold out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Masks have become such a precious commodity in Hong Kong, in fact, that queueing lines as long as dragons are not an uncommon sight outside shops declaring they have limited stock available. Indeed, several citizens have even reported waiting 6 to 7 hours just to get their hands on less than a week’s supply of facial coverings. This prompts the question: is the scramble for masks really necessary?<\/span><\/p>\n

Advice by authorities in Thailand and Vietnam have urged people to wear masks, whereas Australian and Singaporean authorities have said healthy people don’t need masks. Conflicting messages from various governments around the world have sowed confusion over how to protect against the mysterious coronavirus that has claimed almost 400 lives to date. The hope is that wearing masks in public areas will, at the very least, slow the spread of the coronavirus, but just how effective they are, remain debatable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do masks really prevent diseases?<\/span><\/h3>\n

First debuted into hospitals in the late 18th century, surgical masks made their first transition into public use during the Spanish flu outbreak in 1919, which led to a death toll of over 50 million people. Using them to prevent infection is popular in many countries around the world, especially in China where they are also worn for protection against high pollution levels. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>While there exists widespread debate and skepticism as it pertains to the effectiveness of masks against airborne viruses, there is some <\/span>evidence<\/span><\/a> to suggest masks can help prevent hand-to-mouth transmissions and could help lower the risk of virus transmission through the “splash” from a cough or sneeze.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The CDC recommends that all health workers who interact with coronavirus patients wear N95 masks, which are a type of respirator mask designed to filter out particles as small as 0.3 microns from the air. The average size of viruses in the coronavirus family is, however, just over 0.1 microns, meaning some of the virus particles could still travel through the mask. It is a more than common sight nowadays in Hong Kong to see people wearing surgical masks, but if not worn properly, they are typically too loose to really be effective in protecting against the virus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Surgical masks vs n95 respirators<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mask products that were once available in abundance on Amazon and other online stores have now become a scarcity. Most masks are either sold out or sold at a heavily inflated price. The most sought after masks are surgical masks and N95 respirators.<\/span><\/p>\n

A surgical mask’s main purpose is to prevent the liquid from another infected person’s cough or sneeze from entering your nose or mouth. Wearing a surgical mask can also prevent hand-to-mouth viral transmissions, as you’re not directly touching your mouth while wearing one. However, <\/span>virologists<\/span><\/a> say surgical masks cannot block airborne viruses from entering the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

The aptly named n95 respirator, on the other hand, blocks at least 95% of tiny particles. N95 respirators are believed to be more protective than surgical masks, but studies have shown that they are only effective if worn correctly and in conjunction with implementing other protective measures, such as frequent hand washing.<\/p>\n

How to use a face mask correctly\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n