Dania Hussain - Why Wearing Masks & Social Distancing Really Matters in Covid Times Mask-wearing during the coronavirus pandemic has become a divisive topic in our community and throughout the nation, resulting from myths that have drawn some community members away from scientifically directed practices. Some believe that wearing a mask is meaningless or even unsafe, but this simple action, as well as social distancing, does save lives. I am Dania Hussain and today I am sharing my views on the current pandemic and why wearing masks & social distancing really matters in Covid times.
What does wearing a mask do? The goal is to prevent the droplets produced from talking, coughing, sneezing, etc., from leaving one person and infecting another, something mask wearing disrupts significantly. Even a scarf or folded bandana is better than nothing – but they should fit snuggly and include multiple layers of fabric. Wearing a mask is about protecting your neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers, and other members of your community, especially those at high-risk. If we are in public and cannot maintain six feet of social distance between ourselves and others, then it is important that we wear a mask to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Dania Hussain - Why Wearing Masks & Social Distancing Really Matters in Covid Times Is wearing a mask unsafe? Some individuals have concerns that masks adversely affect our breathing or restricts air intake, but it has been studied and proven by credible sources that masks will not decrease your oxygen levels -- that is science we can absolutely trust. Our operating room teams have long been wearing masks for eight to 10 hours a day as part of their uniform, with no adverse effects.
Why weren’t masks recommended earlier on in the pandemic? Others point out that masks were not recommended early in the COVID-19 crisis, but at that time it was a new coronavirus and there was still much to learn. Mask usage was discounted initially because the spread of COVID-19 was not well defined and there was concern about a PPE shortage. It wasn’t necessarily clear at that time that mask usage in the community would interrupt disease transmission
Dania Hussain - Why Wearing Masks & Social Distancing Really Matters in Covid Times as much as it does. Because understanding how the disease is spread has evolved, it’s now very clear that mask-wearing works.