Most of us haven’t worn a mask in our entire life till the pandemic hit us. When there is a compulsion to something, many businesses exploit the public with their promotional articles to increase sales. Let’s break these myths and uncover the truth and understand WHO’s stand on cotton cloth masks made of cotton.
WHO recommends that any person who has to go out in public, where crowding cannot be avoided, should wear a mask compulsorily.
It’s advisable to keep the mask on as long as possible, and you are allowed to take a mask break when you are alone in a confined place like in a bathroom stall, changing room, or your office cabin.
It’s important to wear a face mask as soon as you step outside your home and dispose of the used mask in a sealed trash can as soon as you re-enter.
The answer is a simple no. A mask is mainly used for preventing the spread of water droplets when you speak, sneeze or cough. It’s important to follow other safety measures such as sanitizing your hands, washing clothes immediately after you come back home in hot water, taking a bath, sanitizing the belongings that had been out with you.
Scientists have intensely tested various mask fabrics and generally termed the quality factor as the Q factor.
They suggested that any mask that can be deemed “Safe” against the COVID spread should have a Q factor as three or high. They have informed that a mask should be made of three layers.
Health care workers are used to wearing a mask and sanitary habits, its the long hours and continuous work that affects them. So keeping them aside. WHO recommends individuals who are tending to affected family members, old people with respiratory ailments, and workers exposed to heavily sanitized places to wear surgical masks or N95 respirators.
For the general public, who are not in contact with an affected individual and are residing in a locality where the cases are low to none, WHO says that a reusable cotton cloth mask with the above-mentioned Q factor is sufficient they provide enough protection.
Masks have been part of a doctor’s life for a long time. Before the invention of use and throw surgical masks, cloth masks were the only reliable choice. Even today, many developing countries that have a shortage of surgical masks rely on a cotton cloth mask.
Cotton cloth masks are better than surgical masks and N95 respirators but still cause suffocation.
They should be washed with soap or light detergent in hot water(60 degree Celsius), if that’s not possible they should be soaked in hot water for atleast 1 whole minute. Kindly don’t use any strong detergent as they can be harmful in close proximity to the face and can severe allergies and other problems.
Cloth masks are a better alternative if they are used as prescribed. A recent study by scientist Christopher Zangmeister from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows that cotton cloth masks are more effective in preventing the aerosol spread of water droplets than other fabrics.
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