dotlah! dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
Social Links
  • zedreviews.com
  • citi.io
  • aster.cloud
  • liwaiwai.com
  • guzz.co.uk
  • atinatin.com
0 Likes
0 Followers
0 Subscribers
dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
  • Society

Do Face Masks Really Prevent You From Catching Coronavirus?

  • March 13, 2020
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

No. The quick answer is no. Even if you wear a mask on a regular basis, there is no guarantee that you will not be infected with the coronavirus. By doing so, you might be even unconsciously increasing the risk of getting infected.

How so? Let’s boil it down.

No guarantee

According to infection prevention specialist Eli Perencevich, MD,  in an interview, the average healthy person doesn’t need to wear a mask. He said that there is no evidence that healthy people wearing masks will guarantee their safety from the coronavirus.

Wearing a mask may even increase the risk of infection in two ways.

First, if the mask is worn improperly, there is an increased likelihood for people to touch their faces to adjust the mask. At the same time, there will be gaps where viruses can come in.

Second, wearing a mask provides a false sense of security. According to Dr. Perencevich, if a person is wearing a mask but isn’t washing their hands properly especially when they remove or wear a mask, the risk of getting infected increases.

How to prevent getting infected

According to Dr. Karen Fleming, the best way to prevent coronavirus is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water. She said that the coronavirus is an “enveloped virus,” meaning it is surrounded by a fat layer. This layer of fat can be dissolved by soap and water and eliminate the virus.

Other precautionary measures that can be undertaken as per the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include avoiding touching your nose, mouth, or eyes with your hands. Avoiding contact with sick people and regular disinfection of frequently touched surfaces are also recommended.

Social distancing, by trying to stay home as much as possible and postponing travel, especially to areas where there are known COVID-19 cases should also be considered, according to CDC.

When to wear masks

One scenario where you do need to wear a mask is when you are taking care of someone sick. This is to avoid the transfer of droplets which may contain the virus.

Healthcare professionals are also in need of wearing a mask. The problem is, there is a shortage in specialised masks. This is partly due to the overhoarding of masks, apart from the natural increase in demand.

It should be kept in mind though, that these masks are needed to keep the virus in, that is, to prevent a sick person from spreading the disease further. As much as our personal safety is important, we must understand that there is also a need for the people around us to be healthy and protected if we want to put the spread of this outbreak to a complete halt. At the same time, we need to make sure that the professionals who are tending to the sick are also well and protected.

“We’ve got to protect our healthcare workers because they’re the ones who are going to take care of us if we get sick,” according to Dr. Perencevich.

Total
0
Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Related Topics
  • Coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Face Mask
majulah

Previous Article
  • Technology

OCBC Bank Is First In Southeast Asia To Enable Instant Encashment Of Cash Cheques At ATMs

  • March 13, 2020
View Post
Next Article
  • Environment
  • People

Do Face Masks Really Prevent You From Catching Coronavirus?

  • March 13, 2020
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Cities
  • Lah!
  • Society

NUS Computing Establishes Sea Olympiad Scholarship To Attract And Nurture Top Talents In Computer Studies

  • dotlah.com
  • February 27, 2022
View Post
  • Cities
  • Lah!
  • Society

Joint Study: Diverse Leadership Brings Better Firm Performance

  • dotlah.com
  • February 23, 2022
View Post
  • Lah!
  • Society

Community And Mentorship Help Women Entrepreneurs Thrive

  • dotlah.com
  • November 23, 2021
View Post
  • Lah!
  • Society

ST Engineering Champions Employee Wellness, Raises Funds For Charity And Launches Women Support Group

  • dotlah.com
  • November 14, 2021
View Post
  • Lah!
  • Society

NUS Honours 40 Alumni For Outstanding Contributions To Alma Mater And Society

  • dotlah.com
  • November 7, 2021
View Post
  • Cities
  • Lah!
  • Society

The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Made Many Singaporeans Adopt Better Financial Habits

  • dotlah.com
  • November 3, 2021
View Post
  • Lah!
  • Society

A Cleaning Revolution: How JCS-Echigo Partnered A*STAR To Clean Faster And Smarter

  • dotlah.com
  • October 16, 2021
View Post
  • Lah!
  • Society

Singapore 100 Women In Tech 2021

  • dotlah.com
  • October 16, 2021


Trending
  • 1
    • Technology
    PUB Seeks To Boost Rainfall Forecasting Capabilities With Radar Technology
    • January 27, 2020
  • 2
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • People
    • Solutions
    Farmers In India Are Using AI For Agriculture – Here’s How They Could Inspire The World
    • January 24, 2024
  • 3
    • Lah!
    • Technology
    More Subsidised Solutions To Support Working From Home For Businesses
    • April 19, 2020
  • 4
    • Cities
    • Lah!
    All Travellers Arriving In Singapore From 27 March 2020, 0900 Hours, Must Submit Health Declaration Via The SG Arrival Card E-Service
    • March 25, 2020
  • united-nations-covid-19-response-avt0TnE_NS0-unsplash 5
    • People
    Watch: Simple Test Shows Masks Reduce Droplet Spray
    • March 5, 2021
  • 6
    • Lah!
    • Society
    Majority Of Singaporeans Do Not Feel Strongly Negative About Foreigners In Singapore
    • October 13, 2020
  • money-john-mcarthur-ROQzKIAdY78-unsplash 7
    • Business
    • Cities
    • People
    Countries Leading Global Digital Remittance
    • June 12, 2021
  • 8
    • Technology
    Updates to the Home experience elevate entertainment and bring more convenience 
    • June 10, 2024
  • dotlah-uk-singapore-flag 9
    • Business
    • Cities
    • Politics
    UK and Singapore Strengthen Collaboration in Sustainable Finance and FinTech
    • May 8, 2024
  • 10
    • People
    • World Events
    Fear Spreads Easily. That’s What Gives The Wuhan Coronavirus Economic Impact
    • January 31, 2020
  • 11
    • Lah!
    • Technology
    Locally Developed 60-Second Breath Test Receives Provisional Authorisation From HSA
    • May 24, 2021
  • 12
    • Technology
    SMU Launches Doctor Of Engineering Programme To Meet Demand For Industry-oriented Applied Researchers
    • February 8, 2020
Trending
  • Camping 1
    The Summer Adventures : Camping Essentials
    • June 28, 2025
  • 2
    Meralco PowerGen’s PacificLight starts up 100 MW fast-response plant in Singapore
    • June 20, 2025
  • 3
    A Father’s Day Gift for Every Pop and Papa
    • June 14, 2025
  • 4
    Apple services deliver powerful features and intelligent updates to users this autumn
    • June 12, 2025
  • 5
    Apple supercharges its tools and technologies for developers to foster creativity, innovation, and design
    • June 11, 2025
  • 6
    It’s time to stop debating whether AI is genuinely intelligent and focus on making it work for society
    • June 8, 2025
  • 7
    PBBM asks Singapore to invest more in PH renewable energy projects
    • June 6, 2025
  • 8
    Singapore PM Wong arrives in Malacañang
    • June 4, 2025
  • 9
    Renewable energy, carbon credits are priority areas of cooperation for Singapore, Philippines: Lawrence Wong
    • June 4, 2025
  • 10
    Singapore businesses eye more investments in PH, says PM Wong
    • June 4, 2025
Social Links
dotlah! dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
Connecting Dots Across Asia's Tech and Urban Landscape

Input your search keywords and press Enter.