Wearing a Mask Matters Now More Than Ever

Although the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage in the United States, many have been easing up on the restrictions and precautions that are meant to keep everyone safe. However, it is crucial to continue practicing good hygiene and safety measures to manage the crisis effectively.

Arguably the most important safety measure the public can take, face masks continue to be somewhat of a controversial topic. Their importance and effectiveness continue to be questioned, which is why it is essential to understand the research and logic behind them.

In general, covering the mouth and nose with a mask of any kind significantly reduces the chances of respiratory droplets entering orally or nasally. A simple experiment demonstrating this phenomenon was conducted by doctors from the National Health Institute of Bethesda. A high-speed video was taken of the 50-200 micrometer droplets generated while talking, and upon examination, it was found that almost all of these droplets were blocked from the mouth using even a simple washcloth.

However, all masks are not made equal. Although even a simple home-made mask offers significant protection, a 3-layer surgical mask is a widely available alternative that ranks second (after N-95 masks) in terms of effectiveness. Again, any mask is better than no mask at all, which is why everyone needs to do their best with what they have.

Of course, masks are imperative in protecting the people around you as well. Just as a mask blocks droplets from entering your mouth your nose, it also acts as a barrier between your droplets and your surroundings. Thus, if worry for your own health doesn’t motivate you to wear your mask, perhaps protecting those around you will be good enough reason.