The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) highly recommends wearing face masks in public settings. It’s amazing how many people, mostly millennials, still don’t wear masks in public places, and knowing they may cause the spread of COVID-19. Six million American seniors and compromised people of all ages have contracted the disease and nearly 200K have died since August. Nearly 3 million have recovered, but the non-compliant really should be penalized for their ignorance!
Bob Larson
Until a vaccine is available, the CDC evidence is clear that face masks help prevent the spread of the virus. When a healthy person inhales the virus droplets or touches their nose or mouth after touching a surface with the droplets, they get infected. If you have contracted the virus, masks reduce its spread, but you should quarantine yourself! If you are healthy, a mask largely protects you from infected droplets around you. Face masks combined with social distancing and hand hygiene can make a huge difference.
According to the CDC, your face mask should cover your face from the bridge of your nose to under your chin. It should be comfortable and not too tight to restrict proper breathing.
Professional or medical respirators and N95 rated masks are most effective to prevent exposure to infectious droplets that can remain suspended in the air. These masks filter out even the smallest particles and are mostly worn by health care workers and first responders. N95 masks are available at Home Depot or Lowes home improvement stores and hardware stores in their paint departments for less than $5 each. Face shields for the eyes are only effective with face masks. Multi-layer cloth face masks ($3 each) are most effective with social distancing.
Technology can save our planet using the correct materials in face masks.
~ Bob Larson is a technologist and Marketing Director for 50 Plus!