Masks are a vital measure to save lives and suppress the transmission of coronavirus. Masks act as a barrier to block the virus-containing particles from escaping from an infected individual and landing on a healthy person. A research by Florida Atlantic University demonstrates the effectiveness of covering the face stating that the number of droplets dispersed in the air can be decreased and the distance they travel (Kenyon 23). Coronavirus droplets can travel more than 8 feet without a mask. The study notes that a bandanna reduces the distance to 3 feet, 7 inches, and the distance is further decreased to more than 1 foot 3 inches with a folded handkerchief placed over the nose and mouth. As such it is indisputable that even a cloth face-covering substantially reduces the speed at which coronavirus is spread from person to person.
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Wearing a face mask is crucial as a person may not realize that they are contagious. Initially, masks were only recommended for people that had already contracted the virus. However, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention later stretched its guidelines advising every person to wear a cloth face-covering in public (Smyth 54). Such an advocate was after realizing that people can transmit the virus before they even begin to show the symptoms and some people could have been asymptomatic. A recent finding indicates that 40% of the population infected with coronavirus never portray the COVID-19 symptoms. As a result, making it extremely challenging to establish potential transmitters of the virus (Haleem 84). That is why regardless of whether a person is healthy or not, wearing a mask is highly recommended by several organizations such as the World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control.
Findings from Ford, et al. (49) reveal that the person wearing a mask is protected from the coronavirus; however, the protective perks are more noticeable when every person in society covers their nose and mouth. The more people block the spread of coronavirus by wearing masks, the less virus there is circulating in public. In agreement, Kenyon (25) posits that the power of widespread community use of masks is immense. For instance, a report published World Health Organisation indicates that states with face mask directives have a higher reduction in the regular COVID-19 spread rates than states that do not have such mandates issued. The report indicates that an estimated 450,000 coronavirus cases in the United States have been prevented from the mask policies (Haleem et al. 89). Similarly, the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington postulates that more than 34, 000 people can be saved from the COVID-19 infection in the near months once people adhere to wearing masks. With evidence from such findings it is clear that wearing masks reduces the transmission of coronavirus. When people wear the masks correctly, covering the mouth and nose, the coronavirus droplets are contained from spreading to another person when closer than the six-foot social distance.
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