A Breakdown On The Ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic DO’S
• Two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric • Fits snug against nose and sides of one’s face • Wash or sanitize hands before and after use • Wash face covers frequently
DO NOT’S
• Purchase hard to breathe fabrics, such as vinyl • Exhalation valves or vents embedded in mask • Use N95 respirators or surgical masks • Put a mask on kids under two years old • Wear a standard scarf or bandana
The Benefits and Science Behind Wearing Masks Learning how to protect yourself during this pandemic — Kelsie Hildebrand, Editor-in-Chief
When COVID-19 was first discovered last year, the virus was unknown to man how it effects people's bodies. Scientists have worked hard to get a grasp on the Global Pandemic and are tryng to find a cure. In the meantime, health professionals recommend wearing masks to protect others. The CDC (Centers of Disease Control) recommends “you wear masks in public settings around people who do not live in your household and when you can not stay 6 feet away from others.” There are mask requirements in big companies, small businesses, restaurants, schools and offices all across the country ever since the country shut down in March and “reopened” this summer. According to the CDC, “the mask helps prevent a person who is sick from spreading the virus to others and helps keep respiratory droplets contained from reaching other people.” Scientists have discovered that it is very common for carriers to be asymptomatic as well as pre-symptomatic, which means not showing signs of COVID-19 up to 14 days after contracting the virus. Studies upon studies have been conducted that have resulted in evidence that shows masks in fact protect the spread of COVID-19. “One category of evidence comes from laboratory studies of respiratory droplets and the ability of various masks to block them in experiments using high-speed videos finding that hundreds of droplets ranging from 20 to 500 micrometers were generated when saying a simple phrase, but that nearly all these droplets were blocked when the mouth was covered by a damp washcloth,” according to a research article, “Still Confused About Masks,” conducted by UCSF (University of CaliforniaSan Francisco). According to The Conversation “Asymptomatic cases range from 18% to over 80% because estimates are still unclear.” It is impossible to determine whether certain people walking down the street are carrying COVID-19, which makes wearing a mask beneficial if everyone is abiding by the new protocols.
Feature
October 2020
15
