Now that there is scarcity in surgical and N95 masks, your only option is to use cloth face mask covering. Face covering does not guarantee COVID-19 protection. Yet, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it can slow down the spread of the virus.
Why Face Covering Cannot Protect You From the Virus
Viruses are tiny. They are a lot smaller than bacteria, which is the reason why they are highly infectious, depending on their nature. They can gain entry into your body through direct contact with the infected individual.
Because they are small, they can pass through small holes, including those tiny holes on your mask.
Therefore, it is still possible to get the virus after direct contact with the infected ones.
Why Wear a Face Covering
First of all, wearing protection is better than nothing. Indeed, a face mask cannot protect you from the virus.
As mentioned, face masks can only help slow down the spread. It is because face masks are highly effective for catching the droplets you spill as you sneeze, cough, or talk. These droplets are one of the most effective vehicles of the virus to spread on surfaces or to you.
Therefore, the WHO recommends that alongside wearing a mask, you should also wash your hands frequently, use a disinfectant, and observe proper social distancing.
How to Wear a Face Mask
What to remember on how to wear a face mask properly is to cover the nose and the mouth. Wear it in a way that there is no gap around it and mold it based on the shape of your nose and face. Also, avoid touching your face. If you do, wash your hands immediately and disinfect them.
If the face covering is a surgical or colored mask, wear it by placing the colored or the printed part away from your face.
How to Make a Cloth Face Mask
If you have a face mask, you do not have to spend your entire time communicating with the other person holding your face covering. That is why you should consider wearing a face mask. Because surgical and N95 masks are scarce, you need to create your own that adheres to the CDC guidelines.
The easiest way to make one is by taking a part of your old clean T-shirt. Here is how to make one out of it:
- From the bottom of the T-shirt, measure upward by 7 to 8 inches.
- From there, cut the shirt horizontally.
- Flatten the piece of fabric to form a rectangle.
- From the right edge at about ½ inches from the top cut towards the middle at about 6 to 7 inches. Repeat this process at the bottom.
- Remove the excess fabric.
- Cut on the right edge from the inside on both the top and the bottom. These strings will form a tie.
During the pandemic period, it is essential to use any protection that can slow down the spread of the virus. One of these protections is a cloth face covering.
