How to Use Face Masks Effectively during COVID-19
How to Use Face Masks Effectively during COVID-19
During this time of COVID-19, it’s important that you and your employees are kept up to date with relevant information on how to contain and minimize the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. One way to do that is by utilizing face masks when appropriate. Medical face masks can assist in helping to slow the spread of the virus, particularly if you are sick and are showing symptoms or are around someone who may be sick. Here is the information you need to know about how to use face masks effectively during COVID-19 in order to keep you and your employees healthy.
How Face Masks Can Protect against Coronavirus
There are many different types of face masks on the market today and it’s important to know which ones will help protect you and your employees against COVID-19. If you’re using a surgical or medical mask without a filter, these types of masks cannot protect you against the infection when only worn alone. You must combine wearing your medical mask with hand hygiene and other health-conscious preventative methods to keep yourself and your employees healthy.
If you have access to N-95 masks, please let your local hospital or medical facility know as they are in huge demand to protect our medical workers against COVID-19.
When Should You be Wearing a Mask
The World Health Organization only recommends that you wear a mask if you are coughing, have a fever or are having difficulty breathing. If you have no symptoms of COVID-19 but are taking care of someone or have been around someone who might have the Novel Coronavirus, then you should also wear a mask to prevent infecting other people. After its use, discard the mask properly and be sure to wash your hands again with soap and water in order to prevent the germs from inside the mask being transferred to your hands.
These are the steps suggested by the World Health Organization:
- Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
- Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
- To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask), discard immediately in a closed bin, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
For more information from the World Health Organization on this issue, see their website.
Source: World Health Organization
