Why covering our faces in public could make a difference.

Would everyone wearing face masks help us slow the pandemic?

It wouldn't hurt ... and it just might help! I've been arguing this point with my husband for weeks now. An article published yesterday in Science Magazine supports everyone wearing masks. Along with social distancing maybe the Canadian Government should mandate all people have their faces covered at all times when in public. This action could help slow down the spread. Every little bit that might help should be put into practice.

Here's an excerpt from that article regarding the general public being told not to wear face masks:

"... some health experts, including the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, think that’s a mistake. Health authorities in parts of Asia have encouraged all citizens to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the virus, regardless of whether they have symptoms. And the Czech Republic took the uncommon step last week of making nose and mouth coverings mandatory in public spaces, prompting a grassroots drive to hand make masks.”

I totally get why we're told that WE don't need them. Our front line medical workers NEED those medical masks. They are not for general use by people who are not in high risk situations—so don't out and buy them! That would be counterproductive.

Further supportive research from this Life Sciences blog however does make a case for homemade masks:

"In the past, infectious disease experts questioned the value of homemade cloth masks as a defense against viruses like the flu. But now those same experts are urging medical professionals who only have access to limited protective equipment to use homemade cloth masks if they have absolutely no other option."

Hopefully governments will mobilize and give our frontline medical professionals the protective tools they need and homemade masks will be a moot point for them.

Another excerpt from the Science Magazine article on why a mask can make a difference if worn by the general public is quite compelling:

"Cheng and others stress that however masks are used, people must practice social distancing and stay at home as much as possible to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. When people do venture out and interact, they’re likely to spew some saliva. “I don’t want to frighten you, but when people speak and breathe and sing—you don’t have to sneeze or cough—these droplets are coming out,” he says."A couple of weeks ago I was reading an article that reported Ottawa only had 23 cases of Covid-19, but the article said they estimated there were approximately 4,000 cases. How did they know that? I didn’t understand how they could report this type of data without some way of gathering it.

It’s proven that there are many people who carry the virus without knowing it; that a person is infectious even with mild symptoms that they initially may have thought was a cold. This is our greatest risk. This is what's scary! We need to do more.

If we all wore a face mask in public, we'd be taking that extra little step—a preventative measure—it's not about getting it, but spreading it. What if you have it, and don't know it? If medical professionals are being advised to wear something, even a homemade solution, I can't see how it wouldn't be helpful if we all did.

DON’T buy them—make them!

Anybody working in a public facing essential service should wear a mask, even if it's homemade. All of the employees in grocery stores and pharmacies are at risk! The people working there are exposed and vulnerable to this ghost virus. All of our essential service providers are at risk. Throwing on a pair of safety glasses to boot wouldn’t hurt either. Having a face mask and protective eyewear on your face will prevent you from touching in your face. I'm starting to see more and more reports of non-medical front-facing people getting COVID-19.

Everyone wearing a mask in public is just one more step towards shielding us from this silent enemy.

This makes total sense to me. In my heart of hearts, I believe this can make a difference. It won't cost us anything. It's easy, and cheap. You don’t have to sew, you don't need it factory made—all you need is an old T-shirt, a pencil and a pair of scissors.

Conclusion

Wearing a homemade mask won't hurt—and it just might help! Stay safe: wash your hands, practice social distancing—and cover your face.

Godspeed recovery to those affected!