Newsbrief: Mask off, mask on

by Addison Wright

While the Centers for Diseases Control has recommended wearing masks, as the danger of the coronavirus pandemic increases, there’s still confusion about what works best.

(Photo: The Washington Post)

Medical doctors and virologists advise that a homemade mask, even a bandanna, can still provide protection from both receiving and giving the coronavirus, according to The Washington Post.

In a study published in 2013 by the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, it was found that homemade masks made of cotton T-shirts provide protection from the transmission. It also found that by using a mask and practicing good hand hygiene can reduce cases of respiratory illnesses in college dormitory settings.

The greatest case against universal mask usage is that it could embolden Americans to make risky choices and result in a failure to follow social distancing and hand-washing guidelines. Masks are an extra precaution, not a replacement for the ones we already should be taking, experts have warned. 

However, there is not one certain design over another which works better. Raina MacIntyre, an epidemiologist, and doctor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, who has done extensive research on the usefulness of masks says, “These are all just common-sense approaches people are trying.”

According to lead health organizations and administrators, the mask should reach above the bridge of the nose and below the chin. The mask should also be tight and there should be a balance between efficiency and breathability.

(Photo: The Washington Post)

When using cloth masks for personal use, masks should be washed frequently. “Wash it every day and hang it outside to dry, if possible, sunlight is very germicidal,” said MacIntyre. It is also suggested that each family member has several masks, so clean ones are always available and dirty ones are not reused.

It is important to remember that wearing a mask doesn’t make one immune to the virus. Mask wearers could contaminate themselves by touching the outside of a mask when putting it on and taking it off. After taking off a mask, hand-washing is necessary.

Hi guys, its Addison Wright coming to you from Indiana. The weather has been so nice here and I hope everyone is catching up on the rays like I am and staying at home!! I have been working on a lot of ceramic sketches and reading a lot of articles on covid-19! Stay safe out there!!