The
advice on whether to wear a mask has been confusing -- in part because of early
messages begging people not to wear them. There were very public pleas
against wearing masks early on, but now the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has issued guidance that people should wear some sort of face
covering in public if they might encounter larger groups or cannot keep
appropriate distances from others.
Part of
what inspired the CDC's new guidance
on masks is a letter by a panel of prestigious
scientists that warned Covid-19 may be spread through talking or
even breathing -- not just coughing or sneezing. In some ways, we've known this
for a long time. It is the essence of asymptomatic spread -- spreading without
symptoms. Wearing a face covering could keep a person who is infected but
doesn’t have symptoms from spreading the virus to others.
As I've
said before, we should all behave as if we have the virus. But I
want people to understand exactly what masks can and cannot do, depending on
what kind you have.
The
government has made clear they do not want the average person who does not
display Covid-19 symptoms to wear surgical or respirator masks. Those should be
reserved for our front line health care workers.
So when
it comes to homemade masks or face coverings, remember the purpose of a mask is
not to protect yourself, so much as to protect others from you. Homemade masks
such as scarves or bandanas won't filter out all potentially harmful droplets,
but they'll reduce the spread of your potentially harmful droplets.
It is not
exactly clear how much this will help, but it certainly won't hurt. Keep in
mind that a mask does not mean you should feel compelled to go out in public
more or stand closer to others. And you should remain mindful of how much you
are touching your face. There has been a concern that masks may mean people
will touch their face more, which can contribute to the spreading of the virus.
“If you
do choose to wear a face mask, very important, wash your hands first because
you don't want to put on a face covering with a dirty hand,” US Surgeon General
Dr. Jerome Adams explained.
Yes, the
changes can be a bit confusing. This has been an evolution. The advice will
continue to evolve. But for now, cover your face when you go out in public.
Stay home as much as you can. Maintain a safe distance.
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