To wear or not to wear?

Of all the things to come out of this pandemic, the strangest one must be the fact that some people believe that being instructed/advised to wear a mask or a face covering somehow encroaches onto their rights. This, in my opinion, makes no sense. These people believe that wearing a mask has no personal benefit and that not wearing a mask is an act of protest against authority. Both of these things, I think, are false, as I will explain here. The current advice in the UK on face coverings is that they are compulsory on public transport and in shops, but it is advised to use them elsewhere when you can. But the question that needs answering is are they actually helpful, or are they just another superstition?

As you would have heard, a few months ago, when this pandemic began, there was a huge rush to buy masks for protection, but the Government advised against this since they said there was no evidence supporting their use. Fast forward to now, when they are saying that masks are actually very helpful, and we should be using them where social distancing may not be easy to maintain. So which is it? Helpful or not helpful?

There are 3 main types of face masks: surgical masks, N95 masks, and cloth masks. All three of them have advantages, but some of them are more effective than others. Each of them has its own pros and cons and after reading this blog, you can make your mind up on which one is the best for you to use since they are becoming compulsory soon in the UK.

How effective are surgical masks?

Out of all three types of mask, surgical masks might well be the least effective at protecting YOU, but they are reasonably effective at protecting OTHERS.

Surgical masks filter out bigger particles when breathing but cannot filter out smaller particles. They can protect the wearer's nose and mouth from droplets and splashes that may contain germs. They also stop oral excretions like saliva and phlegm from spreading any pathogens that may be in them. This is how they can protect others around you.

Despite this, I feel that surgical masks are really not that effective in stopping the spread of COVID since they are also loose-fitting and they are, for the most part, one-time-use masks.

What about N95 masks?

N95 masks are the most effective mask when it comes to keeping the pathogen OUT. As the name suggests it filters 95% of particles, big and small, out of what you breathe in. They are a form of respirator, which means that it is meant to filter out particles such as dust and asbestos (since this mask is meant for building uses), making breathing safe and easy.

On the other hand, N95 masks, do NOT filter the air that the wearer exhales. This means that they are totally useless when it comes to protecting others from COVID if you have it. Like surgical masks, N95 masks are also meant to be disposable masks which means that they are one-time-use as well.

Overall, I feel that N95 masks are good at keeping you safe, but when it comes to wearing a mask to protect others, for example, if you think you might have coronavirus and do not want to spread it to others, it is not effective at all, and you are better off using a cloth mask or a surgical mask.

How do cloth masks stack up against the others?

Finally, cloth masks. In my opinion, these are the perfect middle-ground for masks. Cloth masks work by trapping particles and droplets when the wearer talks, sneezes, coughs, etc. They also form a physical barrier against particles from others. This means that they both protect others but also yourself.

With the other two types of masks, the biggest issue was that there was a shortage of them. With cloth masks, this is no longer a problem, as cloth masks are reusable and easy to make. These masks can be made with common household items, like tightly woven sheets. You can find instructions online very easily.

If everyone wore cloth masks, then the spread of COVID would be severely hindered.

So which is the best?

In conclusion, I think that wearing a mask actually does have a benefit. In countries where wearing a mask was already compulsory, such as Japan, the infection rates of coronavirus and the number of deaths and new cases every day is incredibly low. You can see this pattern across Asian countries where mask-wearing was compulsory or normal before.

As to which mask is the best, I would say that that is up to you, but in my opinion, the best mask is the cloth mask. This is because it provides a good balance between safety for you and safety for other people. As well as this, they are easily obtainable and reusable, and it leaves the other types of masks for the medical professionals who are suffering from a lack of PPE right now.

Overall, the only advice I can give you is to follow the current guidelines, which are to wear a mask on public transport and in shops, follow social distancing measures, and keep safe. Lastly, in order to support the NHS and show my appreciation for the front line workers who have so selflessly risked their lives for the last 5 months, I am doing 5 weeks of voluntary work at Waitrose. I am not being paid for this work, instead, I would appreciate it if you could check out my GoFundMe page and sponsor my work with however much money you are comfortable donating. I hope you agree that this is a great cause and that you would also like to show your appreciation for the workers who have saved so many lives.

Thanks for reading, leave a like and a comment if you enjoyed and share this with your friends. See you next week.