By Sylvester Caulker
Some countries and businesses across the globe have taken different approaches to fight COVID – 19. For example, Czech Republic, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Yugoslavia, etc. they have suggested not necessarily imposed face-mask wearing as a population health measure in public or in some unavoidable situations. Although it’s a very low risk but it has paid off for some of these countries who have implemented it. Studies have shown that the virus spreads in droplets. However, several countries e. g England, Northern Ireland, etc. think that the evidence and science are weak therefore it’s not required.
But what are the needs assessment meaning the risk and benefit of wearing face-mask in public? Does the benefit of wearing it outweigh the risk? On one hand, there is also a feeling or no harm in wearing face-mask if you find it reassuring, confident or neither.
Benefit
Wearing Face-mask in public has a very modest benefit from health perspective (Public Health England,2020), but however limited or modest, it can save lives. The evidence suggests that it helps prevent more asymptomatic spread. This is particularly so if you are in a crowded area i.e. unavoidably shops, transport and where physical distancing is limited.
There is some evidence you may gain some benefit. In other words, it about preventing what we breath out, cough out or sneeze out heading towards somebody else. More or less face-mask catches those droplets from people who are infected, and can help stop them from infecting so many others.
The other benefit of face-mask wearing is about assurance and confidence about going to work, because many people are very anxious going about their daily business in a very safe way.
On the one hand either “my mask or face covering protects you and yours protects me”.
Risk
So all we need is a simple face-mask or covering, but it does not make you safe or super safe nor does it make you special or not to do the other things.
Some studies are sceptical about the value of face covering in public and in some enclosed spaces. They proffer that the risk side of face covering doesn’t give an adequate protection to the wearer nor does it stops the virus getting to you. In other words, it’s not a “risk free option” there is any material impacts outside the body apart from covering the mouth and nose. It is also limited in outdoor settings therefore, it’s not a substitute for social distancing or self-isolation or hand washing it’s an addition to all that.
Wearing it also has got some health and safety issues (hand washing and so on...) Basically face-mask can potentially increase the risk of one getting the virus if used wrongly. Somebody who hasn’t put it on may contaminate the outside of your mask. For example, wear it out and about touching your face, ears and eyes, not washing hands, etc. How you put on and take off the mask is key.
So, those droplets on the contaminated mask stays on it and can be infectious the long time. Unless it’s being washed or put straight into a cure water. After washing, it can again be put into a surface which contaminate the surface which can be touched by other people and therefore the transmission increases. This will be especially for people who are wearing in to work where there is not going to be probably facilities of cleaning the mask properly.
The other risk issue is some people feel they are less infectious because they are wearing face mask or covering which has usually quite a lot of ways which the virus can be spread. They may pay less attention to the absolutely crucial measures of physical distancing of at least 2-meters, keep your hands regularly washed with soap, not touching your eyes, face and nose, and uses tissue for coughs and sneezes.
The strong evidence….
Face-mask wearing in public is very equivocal according to some studies. Many have proven that the virus spreads through droplets i.e. when an infected person coughs or sneezes. What is hidden is how far the corona virus can travel? Possibly it can travel more than the 2 metres we need to stay apart from each other. Are we putting ourselves at risk in the public despite wearing face-mask?
Use of local cloth face-mask: It is a good idea. However, they may reduce or they may not reduce the risk particularly in passing the virus on. The evidence is a little bit patchy. For example, cloth masks are likely to get wet which the virus can go straight through it and out.
In terms of getting the virus, the cloth mask doesn’t fit very well, lots of air gets around the edges especially the least resistance edge. Highly unlikely somebody coughs straight on; you are going to reduce those virus particles getting to you.
Therefore, face-mask is not a substitute for social distancing. It’s just a precautionary measure. The strong evidence includes: hand washing regularly, stay at home, physical distancing, don’t touch your eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc.
If the value is limited then everyone must not be asked to put it on, otherwise the demand will increase and those who needs it (Dr, Nurses, HCA, etc.) will find it hard to get the protection they need.
Putting face mask or face covering into perspective, people think they are safe. Well use whatever you can and do the basics (strong evidence).
After all it’s about fighting against humanity challenges meaning: more pain; more suffering; more fear and more death. Therefore, our worries and our strides are shared in this new way of life which is about feeling through torrid time. But as COVID - 19 inflict it worse on us all we can only reflect our very best and staying safe.
Sylvester Caulker is a Sierra Leonean resident in the UK. He is the CEO of Sustainability Living Initiative, a UK organisation that promotes healthy living. He has an MSc in Sustainability from the University of Leeds - UK.
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