As the number of coronavirus cases increases every passing day, it is important to understand the modes of its spread. Most commonly the risk of transmission is very high in public transportation (trains, buses, etc.), as it is difficult to distance oneself from the crowd.
The virus spreads when an infected person exhales, coughs or sneezes, and small droplets packed with coronavirus are diffused into the air. These droplets can enter the body of a healthy person through nose, mouth, or eyes. The risk of transmission also depends on how far people are from each other and how crowded the place is. Frequent ventilation can help dissipate the virus-containing droplets faster.
While ventilation and the crowd play an important role in the transmission of the virus, necessary precautionary measures must be taken at the individual level to combat the problem. Some very crucial measures that must be followed while travelling is:
- Washing/sanitizing hands frequently
- Avoid travelling at peak-hours
- Keeping a distance of at least two meters and,
- Avoiding physical contact
Besides all these measures, the use of a face mask plays a critical role in controlling the spread of the virus. Face masks cover a large portion of the face including the nose and the mouth. These masks reduce exposure and filter particles and droplets in the air. Studies have shown that a large portion of the people carrying coronavirus is asymptomatic (showing no symptoms). Even those who don’t show symptoms can transmit the virus to others before they have started showing symptoms. These possibilities make the situation a lot scarier. The main role of these masks to stop the spread of the virus from one person to another without knowing that one is carrying the virus while moving around in the public. An experiment showed that hundreds of particles ranging from 20-500 micrometres are produced while talking, but these particles are blocked from spreading when the mouth is covered with a washcloth. Hence the use of a face mask is necessary for controlling the spread of coronavirus.
To keep yourself and your loved ones protected and safe during such crisis, you may order your face masks online from https://eumedicalsupplies.com/
Studies in different parts of the world showed that the use of face masks reduced the number of corona cases to 78,000 in Italy and 66,000 in New York in just one month. This inexpensive practice of wearing a mask, when combined with social distancing and other measures, becomes a great force in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization, have recommended using face masks while going to crowded places. Masks not only protect the people wearing them but also the people around them. Infectious disease specialist Peter Chin-Hong at University of California, San Francisco believes that there are three W’s in warding off the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Washing your hands
- Wearing a mask
- Watching your distance
He also believes that of the three W’s, the most important one is wearing a mask. A study at the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation reveals that by October 33,000 deaths could be avoided if 95 per cent of the public wore masks. One could reduce his chances of getting the virus by wearing a mask in a community where only a few people wear masks.
So, if you aren’t a frequent user of face mask, get used to it, and hurry to purchase it online and shield yourself against the contagious virus.
