Many states, including Connecticut, are now requiring people to wear a face covering in most public places. Because guidelines have shifted from earlier in the pandemic, many people are confused or skeptical of the new requirements. Health experts have since learned that the evidence is clear; wearing masks helps prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the more people that wear masks, the better.
Originally, the U.S. thought the prevalence of the disease was low in this country, meaning that telling everyone to wear masks would only worsen the shortage of masks for our health care professionals. It is imperative to keep health care workers protected because those individuals are routinely exposed to the virus and if they are sickened, it becomes even more challenging to provide care to those impacted by the virus. Unfortunately, the low prevalence theory was a reflection of a lag in testing, Since testing has become more available, 3.89 million U.S. residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Early on, it was not yet understood the frequency of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission. The medical field has since learned that transmission is highest in the days before symptoms appear, meaning that an infected person does not even know they are contagious when they are most contagious, making it moot to advise only sick people to wear masks.
But do masks really work? Four months into this pandemic, we've learned a lot, including that masks do indeed work to prevent spread. Here's some important points:
>Simply speaking a simple phrase a person emits hundreds of droplets, but nearly all droplets are blocked when wearing a mask.
>It is a recognized practice within the medical community to reduce viral spread of any respiratory contagion, including influenza and the common cold, in hospitals and health care facilities to wear masks.
>The first 15 states to mandate mask wearing in public spaces saw their COVID-19 daily growth rate spread slow within 5 days, at the three week mark, the daily growth had slowed by 2 percentage points per day.
>The countries that favor mask wearing have lower death rates.
> On January 22, 2020 a man flying from China to Canada wore a mask because he had a dry cough. Days following, he tested positive for COVID-19. All 25 passengers closest to him on the flight tested negative for COVID-19.
>In late May, two hairstylists in Missouri had close contact with 140 clients between them before their COVID-19 symptoms appeared. Both hairstylists and all clients wore a mask. None of the clients tested positive.
Masks are most effective at preventing spread, but may also offer some protection to the wearer. It is important to remember, that there are other routes of infection, such as the membranes in your eyes that a mask cannot protect. Ideally, if 100 percent of the population wore masks, we could quickly control the spread, but consider if 80 percent of the population wears masks, it would be more effective at containing spread than a strict lockdown. If only 95 percent of the population wore masks, we could avoid 33,000 more deaths by October 1st.
Choose a mask that you will wear comfortably and consistently. N95 masks are only indicated for medical procedures and are unnecessary for everyday use. N95 masks with valves, as typically used in construction, are not effective, unless a face covering is worn over the valve. These types of masks are illegal in some locations, unless used for specific working conditions to prevent dust/chemical inhalation, don't wear them for COVID-19 protection. Surgical masks, paper/disposable type, are lighter and may be more comfortable to wear for those who struggle with fabric masks.
Remember, SuperHeroes wear masks!
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