ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ

The discussion on the reasoning behind wearing a mask during the pandemic has caused some conflict. Many people are against the rule and even claim it had the opposite effect; however, the Dutch government disagrees. Currently, masks are mandatory in shops, public transport, and other public places; however, does it help against COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the world for almost two years now. Worldwide, experts in the field of virology and infectious diseases have been working overtime to investigate the most effective and user-friendly methods to control the virus. Since the beginning of the outbreak, one measure has been the topic of discussion; does a mask help against COVID-19.

Therefore the discussion on the actual effectiveness of the mask became one of the main conversation topics. Interestingly, the mask is criticized dramatically by not only a big part of the public, also scientists don’t seem to agree on the effectiveness.

The amount of research performed on the effectiveness of the mask against COVID-19 specifically, is quite scant. However, various experimental studies on other infectious diseases have indicated the protective properties of the mask for acquiring infections or transmitting the infection. These experimental studies are supported by data collected from hospital staff working with patients suffering from various infectious diseases

Wear masks, but don’t stop thinking!

Based on data collected during the pandemic, people can asymptomatically transfer the virus, which makes tracing the transmission more difficult. According to a research group from Arizona State ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ, asymptomatic transmission can be decreased by advising the whole population to wear a mask. Asymptomatic transmission can be reduced, as COVID-19 is a virus that infects the airways. The main transmission route is through droplets released in the air by infected people. Masks function as a first barrier, decreasing the levels of infected droplets in the air.

In theory, we can conclude that the mask has an actual protective value against COVID-19. However, in reality, more factors are important to consider in the ‘’mask discussion’’. When masks are worn incorrectly, by not covering the nose, the barrier function does not apply. In addition, many types of masks are approved, as seen in the photo above. Notably, not all types of masks are properly tested. Lastly, the mask give a unrealistic feeling of safety. Only the mask does not stop COVID-19 transmission, other crucial preventive measures including; social distancing, hand hygiene and vaccinations, need to be executed in order to finally overcome this pandemic. Therefore, the main message during the pandemic; Wear masks, but don’t stop thinking!