“The mask does not transfer the original virus to other people”

The number of people wearing masks is increasing rapidly. It is the impact of the new coronavirus that is raging in China. If you cover your mouth and nose with a mask, you can feel that something is being protected. If so, how effective is the prevention?

Wearing a mask makes sense. The novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, is infected through contact with an infected person. The history of the infection or whether it is infected during the incubation period is not yet clearly known, but the virus can spread through spatter or runny nose when coughing or sneezing.

The most common way to prevent infection is a mask. When a serious infection like this occurs, healthcare workers are wearing protective masks such as N95 masks, which have higher protection functions than regular masks made of non-woven fabrics.

Although the number of deaths in China is increasing day by day, it is not yet clear whether masks are valid for the novel coronavirus, and it is said to be debatable. In 2014, a Canadian research team conducted an experiment with medical personnel in the past to see if it could prevent the SARS or RSB virus through masks. As a result, it turned out that I did not know. Although the effect was confirmed in three experiments, the effect was not seen in the other three experiments. In this unconclusive study, the available data were limited, but it was clear that the protective mask was more effective than non-woven fabrics.

That doesn’t mean that non-woven masks don’t work at all. The prevention effect is insignificant, but it is better than doing nothing. For example, in a 2008 randomized clinical trial, it was found that if a family member of a child who was examined at an emergency medical center for diseases such as influenza wears a mask appropriately, the likelihood of infection in the home is 80% lower than if it was not.

In addition, the preventive effect is recognized in university dormitory and house surveys. However, since these subjects are instructed to thoroughly wash the toilet habit, masks may not be the only preventive factor. In addition, the result of this experiment was to show the effect when a person suffering from the disease wore a mask. If a healthy person wears a mask for prevention, it is not recommended to overestimate the effectiveness.

One expert said that the mask is not designed for prevention purposes, and that it means that it does not spread the virus around it. The CDC of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States recommends wearing a mask for people infected with the novel coronavirus when sending them indoors with others. In addition, if the patient himself cannot wear a mask, a healthy family member is recommended to wear a mask, and a medical official who first examines and examines a person suspected of infection is also recommended to wear a mask.

Compared to protective masks, nonwoven masks have a weakness in that viruses are more likely to penetrate through gaps. However, it is clear that the chances of spitting or touching your face with dirty hands decrease. People touch their faces many times more than they are conscious of themselves. Even if you buy something like an N95 mask, it is not comfortable to wear and is not suitable for long wear. It is uncomfortable for people with respiratory problems, and it cannot be said that it is suitable for small children and people with facial hair.

The important thing is that there is something more important than wearing a mask to protect yourself and others from infectious diseases. Washing your hands frequently and avoiding direct contact with the infected person is a healthy safeguard. When you are in bad condition, you should refrain from going out.

In fact, the more serious threat in the United States than the coronavirus is the influenza virus. 15 million people have already been infected with the flu, of which 140,000 have become seriously ill and hospitalized. Fortunately, however, familiar and effective preventive measures for the flu already exist. Therefore, in this case, vaccination can reduce disease damage rather than wearing a mask.