About Masks (Part 1), Do's & Dont's

Using face-masks in public (including low-efficacy cloth masks) is very useful in minimizing community transmission and burden of COVID-19, provided their coverage level is high. The masks coverage needed to eliminate COVID-19 decreases if the masks-based intervention is combined with strict social distancing strategy.

Points to Take Care of while Buying the Masks

• Buy Mask with Nose Pin. It helps greatly to fit and adapt to your face snugly, preventing air and droplet leakage.

• Buy Masks WITHOUT Valve. Valve is provided to reduce effort by opening while exhaling but stays shut when inhaling. It leads to air forcing and filtering through masks when inhaling but minimum filtering and reduced effort while exhaling. This means while you might inhale filtered air , you exhale possibly contaminated air making surrounding area unsafe for other people,

• Buy masks with head elastics rather than earloops for longer time comfort and better fit.

• Mask has to fit from under your chin to the bridge of the Nose.

Do's of Mask

• Adjust the mask properly to fit on the face

• Both Nose and mouth have to be Masked

• Talk with Mask ON

• Cotton masks or scarves should be hanged in sun for 2 hours before storing them in plastic bags till they are needed again.

• Cotton masks or scarves can be gently scrubbed in soap water if they are visibly soiled, stinking or has been used for more than 6 hours. 10 ml of bleach(eg Ala red bottle) diluted in one litre of water can be used instead of soap water with caution.

• Medical Masks should not be soaked or scrubbed as it will disturb filter structure making them useless even if there is no visible change. They can safely be re used after 7 days providing enough time for virus to die away naturally.

• Keep a spare mask.

• For Medical Personnel using ff2 and above, close shave is recommended as human hair tends to be around 50-150 μm in diameter. sneezing may produce as many as 40000 droplets between 0.5–12 μm in diameter

Dont's of Mask

• Handle the Mask with ear or head loops only. You might contaminate mask from your hands or vise versa.

• Do not keep touching or fiddling with mask

• Do not store in pocket. Keep a plastic bag for the same.

• Do not remove mask for talking.

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Disclaimer : Above views are based on various studies and guidelines given by WHO and IMA. However there are various contradicting studies and changing and evolving guidelines everyday. Common Sense, Civility and empathy can go long way in protecting you and your loved ones .

We will try to keep you updated with relevant information, till than remember,

Prevention is better than cure.