It would seem appropriate for anybody to step up their defensive measures against the Wuhan virus, considering how China’s cases alone have already surpassed Sars’ total. Besides maintaining good hygiene, many have included wearing a mask outside as way to avoid getting infected. Ultimately, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?
Masks can help in curbing the spread of disease – but does not automatically grant you protection from it. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong took the chance at a news conference on Thursday (January 30) to mention the conditions in which a mask may not serve its functions.
“Medical experts have highlighted that sometimes wearing a mask or wearing it wrongly can give you a false sense of security. You wear it wrongly, it may not be effective,” he said.
“Worse, if you wear it and you still use your hands to touch your face constantly, it doesn’t help at all because there is more likelihood that the virus can spread through contact and through your hands.”
Read on to find out if you need a mask, and how one should wear a mask so that it works.
• Masks are meant to be worn only by people who are unwell. They are designed to prevent the passing of a virus from the wearer to other people, not the other way around.
• They are not meant for healthy people doing their day-to-day chores.
• Masks do not confer automatic protection against the virus.
• Wearing a mask wrongly can render it ineffective or give users a false sense of security.
• Viruses are often passed through contact, such as by touching a contaminated lift button or door handle, and then touching your face.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the mask.
• Remove the mask from the box and make sure there are no obvious tears or holes.
• The metal band should be at the top.
• Place the loops behind your ears, or tie one set of bands behind your head and the other pair behind your neck.
• Pull the bottom of the mask under your chin towards your neck.
• With your fingers, press the metal band so that it conforms to the bridge of your nose.
• Make sure there are no gaps between the mask and your face.
• Discard masks if wet or soiled. Do not wear one for more than 24 hours.
• Wash your hands after removing the mask.
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Text: Salma Khalik/The Straits Times