How Do Masks Stop The Spread Of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has dominated our lives for the past two years. The pandemic has been discussed in the news, the source of various shutdowns and mandates, and debated endlessly. If infected with COVID-19, you may experience mild symptoms, severe symptoms, or even no symptoms at all. When COVID-19 is mild, you will experience symptoms that are often compared to a cold and or the flu. Severe COVID-19 can cause intense respiratory symptoms, ultimately shutting down the lungs and leading to patients being put on ventilators. Although about 80% of COVID-19 patients recover without special treatment, those that do require special treatment may take months or even years to fully recover due to the existence of “long haul COVID-19”.
Needless to say, many of us are not concerned about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Much of this has come down to the usage of masks. But how do masks truly prevent the spread of the virus? And what is the best mask to wear against COVID-19?
How Do Masks Prevent The Spread of COVID-19?
Masks prevent the spread of COVID-19 in a straightforward manner. While they’re not foolproof and should be combined with other methods (like vaccination, hand washing, and social distancing) the right masks are effective in preventing the spread of the virus. The key to mask usage in relation to COVID-19 is relatively simple. When a mask is worn over the nose and mouth, it prevents the wearer from coming into contact with droplets, however microscopic, from the mouth or nose of a sick individual. In the same sense, when a person with COVID-19 wears a mask, the mask will “catch” the droplets they exude when breathing, coughing, or sneezing.
What Is The Best Mask To Use?
Not all masks are created equal. The best mask is generally seen as the KN95 or N95 mask. These masks have tight fits and will prevent the spread of small or large droplets. These can be difficult to procure. Medical masks can be worn, but you must tighten the loops around your ears to make them fit better. Similarly, cloth masks can be worn but should have multiple fabric layers.
It can be difficult to find the best mask for COVID-19 prevention. But with the right research (or the right kit) you can protect yourself.
