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WHO: Improper mask use increases risk of infection
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Posted on May 07 2020
Screen grab shows Gov. Ralph DLG Torres in one of his video updates on the COVID-19 situation in the CNMI. (Saipan Tribune)
Turns out, there is a proper way—and an improper way—of wearing a face mask and, according to World Health Organization guidelines, wearing it pulled down around your chin may actually increase your risk for COVID-19 infection.
In guidelines the WHO issued to teach the public about the proper way of wearing face masks, it said that “the use of a mask alone is insufficient to provide an adequate level of protection, and other measures should also be adopted.” Those include social distancing and frequent hand washing, plus wearing and removing the mask correctly.
According to the WHO advisory, improper mask usage may actually increase the mask wearer’s risk of contracting COVID-19. It cited as examples of what not to do the practices of wearing the mask so that it covers only the mouth but not the nose, pulling the mask down over the chin or wearing it on other parts of the face or head before replacing it over the mouth and nose. Among those who’ve been shown doing these are Gov. Ralph DLG Torres in his video updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. In these videos, the governor can be seen wearing both cloth and medical grade face masks pulled down around his chin.
The WHO has also cautioned that wearing a face mask may provide the wearer with a false sense of security, causing them to neglect other important preventative measures and opening themselves up to contracting the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a cloth mask or other face covering in public to prevent the spread of the virus. Cloth masks are used as a way to prevent the wearer from spreading the coronavirus to others via respiratory droplets that are expelled from a person’s mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. This is especially useful because some people who are infected with COVID-19 may be able to transmit the virus before they begin showing symptoms, or may never develop symptoms at all.
Travis Rauschenberger (Special to the Saipan Tribune)
