TotesNewsworthy Special Report Do Face Masks Help from the Corona Virus?
With the recent Coronavirus outbreak, there has been a lot of fearmongering. Especially from celebrities and “news” sources. People are looking for ways to keep them and their families safe. This is fine; of course, you should take every precaution possible. But what precautions are genuinely worth taking? Using hand sanitizer? Yes, that’s a great way of killing bacteria and keeping yourself safe. Wearing a face mask?
Do Face Masks Help from the Corona Virus?
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Well, it might not be quite as good at stopping the spread of the Coronavirus and here’s why:
Will my facemask work?
First, let me say that there is no harm in wearing a facemask. It may not protect you from every disease, but it can’t hurt. It can stop you from catching other people’s illnesses, just as much as it can prevent them from catching yours! The problem with these standard surgical masks or work masks is their filter. They are typically meant to stop the large contaminants, not the microfibers. This means stopping dust and dander from getting through is easy; stopping the Coronavirus is a different story.
The best way to check if your mask will help is to check its micron filter. This means how small do the particles need to be to pass through the mask. For example, dust is about 5 microns in diameter. A typical facemask can filter 3 microns in diameter. So a facemask will keep out dust. Great! Except, the Coronavirus is about 0.5 microns wide. Meaning the microscopic holes found in your mask are six times wider than the thing they are supposed to block.
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Why are celebrities posting facemask selfies?
Celebrities posting pictures of themselves in their mask are doing one of two things. Trying to raise awareness, or trying to generate some good publicity. Considering every single person with social media, a computer, a phone, or television knows what the Coronavirus is, one can only assume it is the latter, and they want to generate likes on their social media accounts. There is no real benefit in wearing these masks, just because you see the global “elite” wearing them doesn’t mean you should. The fact that they are trying to gain publicity off of other people’s hardship is quite sickening. If you live in California, the Cornovirus is not a concern. Just take the normal precautions you would, like washing your hands before you eat and when you use the restroom. You don’t need a mask.
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What can I do to protect myself and my loved ones?
There are some things you can do. Always wash your hands and make sure your kids do the same. Carry some antimicrobial wipes with you when you are in public and keep a little pocket-size hand sanitizer in your bag/car. What you don’t need to do is hide from Asian people because you think they have the Coronavirus. Unless you are in China, the chances are they don’t, nor do they even know anyone who does. It is okay to be a little cautious of people when a disease like this is on the rise. It is not okay to shun people for their ethnicity.
It is also a good idea to eat healthily. Lots of fruits and vegetables to keep your immune system healthy. Some foods are especially good at preventing you from getting ill. One example of this is probiotic yogurts. Another example is garlic. Luckily, garlic is also delicious. This doesn’t make garlic bread healthy, but it does mean it can prevent you from getting sick as quickly. Lastly, water is very good at keeping you healthy. The more fluids you have in your body, the better. Combined with a good night’s sleep, you will find that your odds have significantly improved in staying healthy.
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Do Face Masks Help from the Corona Virus Conslusion:
As you can see, a facemask is not precisely the best way of keeping your self safe. There are far better precautions you can take, like using hand sanitizer. The Coronavirus is severe, people are dying from it, and it is something to look out for. That being said, the chances are you have nothing to worry about if you live in the west. Just use your common sense, and you will be fine. If you educate yourself about the symptoms of the virus first, you will be able to see the warning signs in yourself and others.
