4 Science-Backed Reasons Why You Need To Wear A Face Mask

The majority of health experts and citizens worldwide know that the fight against coronavirus is far from over. As such, everyone is still highly advised to wear protective gear, such as a face mask. 

The use of surgical and regular face masks is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Surprisingly, despite strong approvals from health experts, some people still doubt the significance of wearing a mask in light of the pandemic.

You may have heard this dozen of times on the news, but health professionals cannot stress enough how deadly the COVID-19 pandemic is. It targets not just your lungs, but all the other internal organs in your body as well.

Face masks work. They are essential, especially to those who are immunocompromised and constantly exposed to the virus. Remember, the coronavirus is an unseen enemy—and that makes precautionary measures crucial.

If you are still not fully convinced that wearing face masks makes a significant difference, perhaps you should go over the four scientifically proven facts about face masks below:

1. It acts as a barrier against potentially contagious droplets.

The idea is that wearing a face mask contains the spread of the virus. Whether you are coughing, sneezing, or simply talking, droplets are released from your mouth and transferred to the people in front of you or next to you. Wearing one limits your exposure because you now have an extra layer of protection that keeps the virus from coming into contact with your mouth and your nose. Some face masks have a filter attached to it that screen airborne particles better. At the same time, if you are infected, a mask helps contain the virus and prevents you from spreading it further.

2. It keeps you from touching your face directly.

The virus can stay on various surfaces for days. A quick trip to the grocery could instantly leave you exposed because you will never truly know which surfaces have been infected. The mask serves as a reminder to wash your hands thoroughly if you know that you had physical contact with people or objects found in public places.

3. It aids in keeping the virus from spreading.

Wearing a mask amid the continuous research and creation of a vaccine is instrumental in limiting the number of people infected with COVID-19. Helping contain the spread of the virus is one of the most significant contributions that you can make. There is a dramatic decrease in the number of positive cases in countries where wearing face masks is strictly implemented. Some of the countries that have made face masks obligatory include Austria, Germany, Colombia, Turkey, and Vietnam. 

4. It reduces the risk of medical workers contracting the disease.

Some earlier studies about coronavirus discovered that the nasal cavity is one of the first areas in the face where the deadly virus settles in and begins to spread. Nurses and doctors tending to both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients are putting their lives on the line by exposing themselves to the possibility of getting infected. Wearing a face mask and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is better than leaving front liners more vulnerable to the disease.

COVID-19 does not choose its victim. You could be enjoying a scrumptious lunch outside right now, only to find yourself confined in the hospital days later because you contracted the virus. No one is safe unless you choose to do your part. Don’t be part of the problem— wear a face mask and help the world overcome the wrath of this deadly pandemic. It is quite easy to purchase surgical face masks online so there’s no excuse to be not wearing one.

Author Bio: Maddison Brown is a freelance writer and a GOT fan. Apart from writing quality articles on various niches, she likes to read & write fiction. More than anything, she loves to spend her time with her family, explaining technologies to the elders