Wear masks in public spaces
However, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier alone (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness). – The Guardian
We are Kingdom Houses strongly believe that masks will help significantly in reducing the spread of Covid19. Our reasoning is below, and is of course only our opinion. It does not constitute legal or medial advice, but we do link to some external verifiable sources.
- A mask or scarf that covers the nose and mouth (Dispose after usage or wash depending)
- Avoid touching your face / Use hand sanitiser / Wash your hands regularly
- A basic mask can block a lot, especially large droplets and that can make a difference.
- You wear a mask for others! Each time you sneeze you shoot droplets far and wide, by wearing a mask it means even if you accidentally forget to block your sneeze you are not spraying droplets everywhere. You could be one of the lucky 10-50% that don’t show symptoms but are infected, so by wearing a mask you help reduce the spread.
- The vector for the virus to get into your body is the mouth, the nose, and the eyes. If some of it gets on the outer layer of your skin it won’t infect you. By wearing gloves you remind yourself not to touch your face (if you can manage to be disciplined then that is fine), having a mask on your face reminds you even more, and having the goggles just makes it impossible to touch your eyes (although they could be a bit too much).
- Taiwan has had insane success with controlling this thing and it’s partly because their entire culture is familiar with wearing masks.
Sources (Update 15 June)
- Mayor of London recommending everyone wears gloves
- WHO – They say you don’t need a mask – the keyword is ‘need’. Their definition of need is based on likelihood of infection, of course you don’t need to wear one if you accept a low probability of infection.
- “The use of face masks in public may serve as a means of source control to reduce the spread of the infection in the community by minimising the excretion of respiratory droplets from infected individuals who have not yet developed symptoms or who remain asymptomatic.”
- WHO – “The WHO reviewed its position on masks in light of data from Hong Kong indicating that their widespread use in the community may have reduced the spread of coronavirus in some regions.” Contradicts their advice.
- The Guardian – “If you are likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on.”
- The Lancet – “This increase in use of face masks by the general public exacerbates the global supply shortage of face masks, with prices soaring,9 and risks supply constraints to frontline health-care professionals”
- Eyes as an attack vector –> https://www.allaboutvision.com/en-gb/conditions/coronavirus-and-your-eyes/
- Study finds transmission through eyes –> https://www.ajmc.com/newsroom/covid19-may-be-transmitted-through-the-eye-report-finds
- Eye problems as a symptom –> https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/04/06/these-eye-problems-could-be-symptoms-of-covid-19-coronavirus/
- Pink eye as as symptom –> https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200401/pink-eye-often-a-symptom-of-covid-19#1
- NHS says people don’t need gloves “Public Health England says: “The best way to protect yourself and others is: wash your hands with soap and water, or use a sanitiser gel, regularly throughout the day. [And] catch your cough or sneeze in a tissue, bin it, and wash your hands”
- Global News – Gloves can be dangerous ““If not used and disposed of properly, wearing gloves may provide another surface for the virus to live on – potentially encouraging virus transmission.””
- Good Housekeeping – “You shouldn’t wear gloves unless they remind you to avoid touching your face, doctors say.”
- COvid may not go away
- Taiwan’s aggressive efforts paying off