Can putting on a medical face mask protect you from the new coronavirus? It’s a question many people are asking, including dog owners that are putting canine face masks on their dogs. If it’s a regular surgical face mask, the correct answer is no, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, told Live Science.
A more specialized mask, referred to as an N95 respirator, can protect against the new coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2. The respirator is thicker when compared to a surgical mask, but neither Schaffner nor the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommend it for public use, at the very least not at this particular point. That’s because, partly, it’s challenging to use these masks and wear them for long periods of time, he stated.
Specialists receive retraining annually regarding how to properly fit these respirators around the nose, cheeks and chin, making certain wearers don’t breathe across the edges of the respirator. “When you do that, it turns out that this work of breathing, since you’re experiencing an extremely thick material, is harder. You have to work to breathe in and out. It’s a bit claustrophobic. It can get moist and hot within,” Schaffner said.
“I know i can put them on when I need to for approximately a half-hour,” he added. “However, I need to go out from the isolation room, remove it and take some deep breaths, kind of cool off, before I can go back in.”
While it still might be possible to snag an N95 respirator online, Schaffner advised against it. If a lot of people unnecessarily stockpile respirators, a shortage could put the health of medical workers and those that need them in jeopardy, Schaffner said.
Surgical masks – The thinner surgical mask is intended for surgeons, since these products do a good job of keeping pathogens from the doctor’s nose and mouth from entering the surgical field, Schaffner said.
In a few Asian countries, such as Japan and China, it’s not uncommon to find out people wearing surgical masks in public places to protect against pathogens and pollution. But those masks don’t help much in the context of a virus, Schaffner said. “They’re not made to keep out viral particles, and they’re not as tightly fitted around your nose and cheeks” as an N95 respirator, he said.
“Could they be of some use? Yes, however the effect will probably be modest,” Schaffner said.
He noted that some people wear surgical masks since they are sick using a cold or perhaps the flu and they also don’t would like to get other people sick. But when you’re sick, it’s best just not to go to public areas. “That’s time to keep home,” Schaffner said.
People sick with COVID-19, however, should wear face masks to minimize the chance of infection to folks around them, based on the CDC. Medical care workers and those “taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (both at home and in a healthcare facility),” must also wear face masks, the CDC reported.
People wearing surgical masks should get rid of them after each use, the CDC added.
Otherwise, the easiest method to avoid having the coronavirus is always to, first and foremost, postpone any visit places with known outbreaks. You can also thoroughly wash your hands with soap; avoid touching your vision, nose and mouth xfsvee unwashed hands; avoid close contact with individuals who are sick; and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, the CDC recommends.
In terms of pet owners putting face masks on their own dogs, a Pomeranian dog in Hong Kong tested positive a “weak positive” for COVID-19. That dog is currently in quarantine, however is not showing symptoms of the condition, based on a March 5 piece in the South China Morning Post. However, it’s unclear the way the dog was tested for your illness. What’s more, it doesn’t appear that pets can transmit the virus to humans, and experts told people with pets not to panic.