COVID-19: Mask or No-Mask?

Today, the world is suffering from a disaster caused by a small, invisible member of a large family of viruses known as Coronaviruses. The name coronavirus is derived from its crown-like shape where the newest member has been named as SARS-CoV-2 while the disease it causes is known as COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease, 2019). 

Most of the members of this family are commonly known to cause common cold in humans, yet they can also cause central nervous system, respiratory tract and gastric diseases in not only humans but in various animals as well (Weiss & Martin, 2005).

In mid-1960s, two human coronaviruses were identified to cause common cold. Later in 21st century, two new coronaviruses; SARS-CoV in 2002 and MERS-CoV in 2012, emerged as global epidemics. Recently in December 2019, a new global outbreak of coronavirus named COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China causing atypical pneumonia in humans (Wu, Leung, & Leung, 2020). COVID-19 came out with disastrous results where more than 7 million cases are reported so far while SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV caused more than 8000 and 2494 human infections, respectively (Situation update worldwide, as of 23 March 2020, 2020).

COVID-19 Spread

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 can spread through various ways, including:

Touching the infected surface

A healthy individual can get infected by touching the infected surfaces which might have a virus on it (such as doorknobs, ATM buttons, car handles etc.), followed by touching their face, nose, mouth or eyes.

Human-human close contact

Person within a 6 feet range with infected individual can get the virus through respiratory droplets (produced as a result of coughing, speaking or sneezing). Even a person with no visible symptoms can spread the infection to others.

That’s where the need of mask dives in!

Why wearing a mask is necessary?

Mask acts as a physical barrier to prevent you, others and the environment from virus. CDC recommends wearing masks anytime you are in a gathering or a place where social distance is hard to maintain. Mask is known to reduce 95% of the breathing, that tends to spread virus up to 6 feet (Curley B. , 2020).

Mainly the reason for wearing a mask is to protect others, if someone is infected but doesn’t show symptoms, he/she can save others from getting the diseases. Yet it definitely reduces your chance to get the infection as well.

It is alarming to know that; an asymptomatic individual can transmit the virus to 2-3 more people even before getting the symptoms. To tell how contagious a virus is, scientists use a term R0 (R naught). According to some studies, R0 for COVID-19 is between 2 to 2.5. That means, an infected individual tends to infect 2 to 2.5 more individuals. Thus, in order to ensure safety, it is necessary to take every preventive measure possible (Curley, 2020).

Different Types of Mask

Mainly three types of mask are available:

• N-95 mask
•  Surgical mask
• Cloth mask

Among these, only N95 masks are respirators which means it stop the air coming in and out and prevent an individual from microparticles as well.  While surgical and cloth mask are similar in a way that they aren’t airtight. According to an internal medicine physician, N95 protects the individual while cloth masks protect the environment.

One way or another, we want protection!

Thus, it has been suggested to keep the N95 and surgical masks for medical professionals as they are at a higher risk to get the infection. While others can stay home in order to stay safe. If not, cloth masks can be used as a preventive measure as well.

Although masks do not ensure you complete safety, but practicing other safety measures including social distancing, hand washing etc., in addition to wearing mask reduces your chance of getting infection.

Stay Safe, Save Lives! 

References

Curley, B. (2020). Why Face Masks Are Crucial Now in the Battle Against COVID-19. Retrieved from Healthline.

Curley, C. (2020). How Even One Social Gathering Can Quickly Spread COVID-19. Retrieved from Healthline.

(2020). Situation update worldwide, as of 23 March 2020. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Weiss, S. R., & Martin, S. N. (2005). Coronavirus Pathogenesis and the Emerging Pathogen Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: American Society for Microbiology.

Wu, J. T., Leung, K., & Leung, G. M. (2020). Nowcasting and forecasting the potential domestic and international spread of the 2019-nCoV outbreak originating in Wuhan, China: a modelling study. The Lancet, 395; 689-697.