6 Good Reasons to Wear a Mask in Public
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, face coverings have been in high demand. There’s a growing body of evidence that wearing face coverings in public situations helps curb the virus’s spread. However, mask-wearing is still a hotly contested issue among some people, and many are trying to sort out the fact versus the fiction about the practice of mask-wearing.
Public health experts advocate the use of dependable cloth face coverings by the general public in everyday situations. These include scenarios like taking public transportation, buying essentials, and going out for a brisk walk. Here are just some of the reasons why wearing face masks in public is a good idea.
Table of Contents
Health Experts recommend it.
The pandemic remains unpredictable, but infectious disease experts, medical professionals, and regulatory bodies are now more united in their views about mask-wearing. Several health authorities advocate mask-wearing in public because there’s a growing amount of scientific evidence that it helps curb the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that cloth masks can be worn in ordinary public settings in place of respirators, which are in short supply and have to be reserved for medical workers. Wearing a face covering should be the case, especially when social distancing is challenging to maintain.
A recent study published in Health Affairs surveyed mask-wearing mandates in 15 US states and the district of Columbia to determine just how helpful mask-wearing is in stopping the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The researchers discovered that these mask mandates resulted in a slowdown of daily reported COVID-19 cases. The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicted that wearing masks in public can save more than 30,000 lives over the next few months.
This may be a good time to debunk the myth that wearing a mask will cause you to breathe in excessive amounts of carbon dioxide. A well-constructed mask will also be well-ventilated, and it won’t keep people from breathing correctly. Remember: when you’re contemplating the benefits of mask-wearing and other preventive measures, listen to scientific experts’ advice—not of individuals who spread gossip or rumors.
It Prevents the Spread of Diseases to Others
In the absence of a vaccine for COVID-19, the best possible recourse is to avoid exposure to the virus and prevent others from being exposed to it. People who may have COVID-19 will have less chance of spreading it to others if they wear a mask. The mask keeps respiratory droplets from being ejected into the air when a potentially infected person coughs, sneezes, spits, raises their voice or even talks merely or breathes.
It must be remembered that a cloth mask is not a substitute for an N95 mask or other types of a respirator. Cloth face coverings cannot be depended on like medical PPEs to shield the wearer from the virus completely. However, a cloth mask can help even someone who is not aware that they have the virus from passing it on to others. That additional foresight makes a big difference in curbing the spread of the disease.
When Everyone Wears Masks, There’s Better Collective Protection
Mask-wearing in public is something that benefits both the individual and the community. When more people move to block transmission of the virus by wearing masks, each person in the crowd is better protected.
