Masks are used to cover the whole or part of the face for various reasons. They are used to amuse or frighten others, to entertain, worn as a disguise, during rituals, protection, etc. Depending upon its use they are made from different materials.
The oldest mask discovered was used for rituals in different parts of the world and those were made of leathers or woods. These masks were considered as a means to communicate with spirits (human or animals) during rituals and ceremonies. Masks were also used during wars to scare the enemies and during sports as a protective gear. Wearing a mask in many societies is considered unusual, but what if it’s essential for our well being.
Different profession uses masks mainly to protect individuals at the workplace. A welder uses it to protect eyes from bright light and flying sparks, used by police/military person as a shield on helmet, gas masks that protect from dangerous gases. There are also medical masks for oxygen supply, surgical masks that protect doctors and patients from infecting each other as well as many more.
In view of the present scenario with the world in the grip of crisis due to COVID-19, the use of a mask by public and healthcare workers has become a matter of debate. The WHO and various public health officials have advised that people need not wear masks unless they are caring for people infected with COVID-19 or they themselves have the disease. The healthcare workers were also advised to use masks judiciously, only while treating COVID-19 suspicious or infected patients. This confusion is all around due to a shortage of masks due to strained supply chains and exponentially rising numbers of infected patients.
Many believed that wearing masks simply will not help and might harm more if the person doesn’t know how to wear it properly and most importantly how to remove or dispose of the masks properly.
There are various articles, blogs, and news mentioning countries using masks widely among their citizens from experiences in pasts combating seasonal flu, SARS, etc. Countries like the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Singapore, Japan, China had advised on a strict note to their people to wear masks while going in public places. Research done in Massachusetts Institute of Technology has reported that coughing, sneezing or exhalation creates small clouds of droplets/aerosols that travel greater distances (more than a meter) than previous studies predicted and remains in the air for some time, especially when there are no much air movements (as in a closed room).
COVID-19 being an airborne disease, the transmission of the disease is either direct while coming in contact with virus loaded droplets or indirectly through fomites in the immediate environment surrounding the infected person. Hence the only measures that help to prevent transmission of the disease are by washing hands with soap or sanitizer, wearing masks and best among all not to come in contact with susceptible individuals by social distancing.
Should I wear a mask or not?
Keeping in mind the nature of the disease there is no doubt regarding wearing a mask for individuals infected and for those taking care of them. As this disease can present in the majority without symptoms and they being an unknown carrier of the virus can act as a spreader. Hence in an ideal scenario, every individual going into public places should wear a mask.
However, in view of the lack of availability of masks due to strain in supply and high demand among health care workers for whom it is required without any choice, there is an ongoing debate and confusion about whether to use the mask in public or not.
What type of mask is ideal?
There are various types of masks but commonly used are surgical masks and N95 respirators. Surgical masks are widely used among healthcare workers but are considered inferior in terms of filtering viruses and getting seal around when compared to N95. However, if these masks are not worn properly and if the person has poor compliance, it will not serve the purpose and can cause harm.
As there are not adequate numbers of masks for health care workers, the debate is somewhat irrelevant now, and health workers should get the priority on available medical masks. Public-health officials are being reluctant to advise wearing a mask for the public for the same reasons. Meanwhile, people should have alternatives like homemade cloth masks, although less effective than medical masks but it is better than having nothing.
“It is not clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value ”
Stephen Hawking
Wearing masks can be a new movement in society and might create conscientiousness among citizens, making themselves more responsible to take the pandemic threat seriously. It will create change among people’s thoughts rather than feeling ashamed or standing out while wearing a mask. However it is not a replacement for hand hygiene care using soaps and sanitizers as well as social distancing, altogether that will help us to win this battle against the imperceptible enemy.
It's always better to err wearing a mask as a precaution whenever there are so much chaos and shifting of guidelines. The world is changing and so we should too.
