Why Should You Wear A Mask? 4 Reasons and the Numbers Behind Them

I am writing this in the middle of a global COVID-19 pandemic, and we all have been getting conflicting information on whether wearing a mask can help with the spread of the virus or not. Here are four reasons why wearing a mask is a no-brainer.

1. Wearing a face mask in public can help keep others safe.

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19, many have contracted the virus and have spread it while not knowing they were infected in the first place. This phenomena is called being asymptomatic. These people may go on to visit their friends and interact with others and unintentionally transmit the disease to them. Therefore, if everyone wears a face mask at all times while out in public, the transmission of COVID-19 will decrease significantly.

However, the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to quarantine, but this cannot be maintained for long periods of time. A face mask can contribute to the slowing of the spread of COVID-19 and protect those around you.

2. Wearing a face mask can prevent you from Aerosol Transmissions

You can be infected with COVID-19 through aerosol transmission. The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety defines aerosols as "a suspension of tiny particles or droplets in the air". To reduce your risk of coronavirus, you should have some personal protective equipment (PPE) as specified in the chart. As the chart below states, without a face mask, you are at a 17.4% risk of transmitting COVID-19, but, if you wear a face mask, the risk goes down to 3.1%. Keeping less than 1 meter of social distance will result in a 12.8% risk; however, maintaining more than 1 meter of social distance will lower the risk to 2.6% of transmitting COVID-19. Without any eye protection/face shields, the risk is 16%, and, with eye protection/face shields, the risk is lowered to 5.5%.

    Overall, wearing a face mask and other PPE can help reduce the risk of getting and transmitting COVID-19. Using a combination of PPE, however, is the best way to prevent yourself.

3. Wearing a mask can protect you from physical transmissions

When using a face mask, the wearer is training themselves to be more aware of themselves, specifically their hands. A face mask acts as a barrier to keep the wearer from touching their face (mouth and nose) and decreasing his or her chances of transmission.

4. Wearing a mask will help essential workers

More than 84,000 health care workers have been infected by and 900 have died from COVID-19 in the US. Others who work in the grocery industry and delivery service industry have gotten the virus too. Without essential workers, the disruption to our lives and the economy would have been much worse. Wearing a mask reduces the risk of these essential workers getting infected and being unable to do their vital jobs.

Sources:

1.https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/09/people-shed-high-levels-of-coronavirus-study-finds-but-most-are-likely-not-infectious-after-recovery-begins/

2.https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-face-masks-how-effective-are-they-evidence-so-far-2020-3

3.https://www.today.com/health/do-face-masks-work-against-coronavirus-study-finds-masks-social-t183018

4.https://www.today.com/health/do-face-masks-work-against-coronavirus-study-finds-masks-social-t183018

5.https://vimeo.com/399733860?utm_campaign=5370367&utm_source=affiliate&utm_channel=affiliate&cjevent=ba9cdae1a51311ea826c00050a24060c

6. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/741245_3

7. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html