As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase globally, public officials, physicians, and scientists emphasize mask-wearing practices so that people can wear face masks to stop the spread of the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that wearing masks and frequent hand-washing and social distancing can reduce virus transmission. However, numerous people do not comply with the health guidelines or use masks that cannot block infected droplets.
Psychology plays a crucial role in adhering to the public health guidelines – whether people resist mask directions as a violation of their freedom or relax when they do not feel threatened. It is all due to misinformation and conflicting messages about masking.
How Do N95 Masks Protect the Wearer?
When people sneeze or cough while wearing the mask, the droplets from their mouths get trapped in the masks. An individual who has no symptoms can spread the virus through those droplets to other people. Thus, wearing a mask prevents the infected droplets from reaching other individuals in public. A mask can reduce the amount of virus that infects the wearer, possibly lessening symptoms.
What Mask Should You Wear?
The masks with a water-resistant outer layer, such as cotton with rayon, nylon, or polyester, effectively keep the person from infecting others. There can be two inner layers of facial tissues replaced after every use and an absorbent inner layer of cotton.
The World Health Organization suggests that surgical and N95 masks are healthcare professionals and those who want to have the highest level of protection, people having COVID-19 symptoms, people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, people with underlying health conditions, or people above 60 years of age. N95 masks are multi-layer advanced filtration masks approved by NIOSH according to US Standards.
The Verdict: The professionals recommend that wearing a mask is not unhealthy. You only need to take care of a few things. Do not touch the mask and remove it with the ear straps. Put it in a sealable bag when not using it. You can also wash it with soap and hot water after wearing it.