11 Full Facts About Face Masks

First published 10th July 2020 Robin James

Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Since the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic spread across the globe, it’s safe to say that we have all been looking for ways to cope and adjust to the disease. After all, millions of people are grasping for a sense of normality after months in lockdown situations! One of the most popular ways to combat spread of illness, it appears, may be through the wearing of face masks. These aren’t like the mud packs you’d put on your face while at the spa, but those masks that surgeons would normally wear while operating in theatre conditions.

The usefulness and necessity for masks has been up for debate for some time – to the extent that there are still governments and authorities who are unclear on what is likely to work for the best. Lets take a look some interesting facts about face masks, and whether or not they are likely to do much to protect you against the spread of COVID-19.

To wear a face mask effectively, you must cover your nose. This is because germs and viruses likely to escape and spread to others is just as likely to escape from your nose as it is from your mouth! It never hurts to be careful.
You must also ensure that you securely wear a face mask. It is simply not enough to wear one loosely over your face. This means that you can make sure there’s no chance of any viruses escaping.
It’s thought that while cloth face masks could cut your chance of spreading and breathing in viruses from droplets while out and about, there are not yet enough studies or research results to suggest that they will outright prevent you from contracting COVID-19 at all. At the time of publication, it is still much too early to be dealing in any kind of uncertainties.

More and more countries are starting to adopt masks as necessary in public situations. However, the UK has been one of the last to adopt these measures – with it being one of several territories choosing to focus on social distancing instead. However, at the time of writing, British people are advised to wear masks if social distancing cannot be adhered to at all.
There are several different types of face mask available, all of which continue to retail in the fight against spreading COVID-19. Cloth masks are popular, though it is still unclear whether or not these can actively prevent you from contracting the disease. Surgical masks, meanwhile, are more likely to help you protect spreading viruses to others.

Many people wear face shields instead of masks in certain settings. For example, some servers in pubs and restaurants are likely to strap plastic shields to cover their faces when helping members of the public.
There is more data available to suggest that masks are beneficial in helping medical staff control viral spreads than everyday citizens. This is largely why masks and respirators are reserved for medical personnel. That, and the fact that they are relied upon to help thousands of people in sensitive situations.
Wearing a mask alone is advised to not be enough to combat the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. That’s why there have been a variety of lockdown and quarantine measures lodged worldwide, and why social distancing, too, has been such a major focus on many country relief efforts.

It is inadvisable for anyone with breathing difficulties or those who cannot handle masks themselves to wear face masks. This also covers children under the age of two, as it may cause a suffocation risk.
If you are using a non-disposable face mask, you must make sure to wash it after each time you use it. However, there are disposable masks out there which you should safely throw away in a closed bin wherever possible.
It’s a fact that you should try and wear a mask in many social situations, however, it’s never a good idea to try and wear one while swimming. As with breathing risks above, this is likely to cause a variety of problems should the worst-case scenario occur.

Do you have any interesting facts about face masks? Share them in the comments below!