{"id":2372,"date":"2020-07-12T12:58:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-12T12:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isabellahealthfoundation.org\/?p=2372"},"modified":"2020-10-20T12:59:28","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T12:59:28","slug":"health-delivery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isabellahealthfoundation.org\/2020\/07\/12\/health-delivery\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid-19: Why Wearing a Mask can Save Lives and Secure your Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Josh Lowe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josh Lowe is a freelance writer and editor specializing in public policy and social affairs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As more folks take to wearing face masks to tackle the spread of Covid-19, streets, buses, and shops can sometimes seem like a scene out of a disaster movie.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uncomfortable, hard to get hold of, even downright creepy looking: masks can feel like a nuisance. But the evidence is clear \u2014 wearing one will help to prevent the spread of the virus. It will protect the lives of the people you love and preserve your community through one of the most testing periods in modern history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Q+A article is a quick, easy guide explaining everything you need to know about facemasks during Covid-19. We hope you find it helpful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do I need to wear a mask?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

One of the difficult things about Covid-19 \u2014 the disease caused by the Coronavirus currently sweeping the globe \u2014 is that people who have it often don\u2019t feel or seem ill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, as many as 40% \u2014 almost half \u2014 of people infected with the Coronavirus might have no symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, explains Stanford University<\/a> researcher Larry Chu, these people can still pass the virus on to others.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you talk, cough, or sneeze, you push little droplets out of your body and into the air. Once there, they evaporate and leave particles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re infected with Coronavirus, those tiny particles can contain the virus and may linger around, meaning others breathe them in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you\u2019re wearing a mask, then the mask can catch many of these droplets before they get out into the air. So the virus stays on your body rather than leaping on to passersby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Countries which got people to wear masks early in the pandemic did better than other countries at slowing down the spread of the disease, according to<\/a> another Stanford researcher called Amy Price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where and when should I wear a mask?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) \u2014 the federal government\u2019s agency for tackling diseases \u2014 you should wear a mask \u201cin public settings and when around people who don\u2019t live in your household\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They say it\u2019s particularly important \u201cwhen other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain\u201d. You\u2019ll probably know what they mean if you\u2019ve spent time in a small shop lately, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to mention that we don\u2019t know whether wearing a face mask stops you from getting<\/em> the virus from someone else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means, while you might want to wear a mask when caring for someone who is sick with the virus, you can\u2019t be sure if it will protect you from getting infected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo prevent getting sick,\u201d the CDC says, \u201cCaregivers should also continue to practice everyday preventive actions<\/a>: avoid close contact as much as possible, clean hands often; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; and frequently clean and disinfect surfaces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC also advises that you shouldn\u2019t wear a face mask when you\u2019re doing something that might get it wet, such as swimming. And people who are running or doing other exercise might find it hard to breathe in a mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s therefore especially important to keep as much distance as possible from others during these activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there anyone who doesn\u2019t need to wear a mask?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC says that wearing a mask could be dangerous for children under two years old, people who have trouble breathing, and for \u201canyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These people should not wear masks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of mask should I wear, and how should I wear it?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

You should just purchase or make a simple cloth face covering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals can be seen wearing proper surgical masks, or even high-tech \u201crespirators\u201d, when dealing with Covid-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the CDC says that these critical pieces of kit should be left for the professionals, who need to make sure they have enough supplies to protect themselves on shift. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can buy cloth face masks in a range of stores, or if you need assistance with purchasing a face mask you can contact<\/a> Isabella Health Foundation for assistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also make your own. The CDC website has instructions<\/a> for both sewn and not sewn coverings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their sewn masks are fairly simple to produce. But if you don\u2019t have access to the materials you need to make them, you can make a non-sewn alternative using everyday household items like old t shirts and elastic bands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mayo Clinic has published<\/a> some tips for wearing a cloth face mask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n