The arrival in Ecuador of the British variant of Covid-19 This involved both medical personnel in the country and the general public.
Although the advent of the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine represents a relief for health workers on the front line, the epidemic continues in one of the most difficult times in some parts of the country.
Therefore – now more than ever – it is necessary to maintain the practices that will occur in the thousands by 2020 contamination: the use of mask, wash hands constantly and observe the respective protocols of biosafety and social distance.
The ideal face masks to prevent contamination
Now there are many types of masks and nowadays they are even sold on the street. But what are the mask most useful to prevent infection from coronavirus?
In August 2020, researchers from the Duke University developed a simple and inexpensive optical device that can measure a mask’s ability to block breathing drops that infect covid-19, by making them visible Laser light and count them to one computer algorithm.
During the essays of these new ones device, it was confirmed that when people talk, they expel droplets so that the coronavirus disease can be transmitted by talking, without coughing or sneezing, the doctor said Eric Westman and the physical and chemical Martin Fischer, co-authors of this study.
The experts have verified with this method that the best face covers are the ones N95 maskshospital grade, valveless, used by health professionals, and that polypropylene or surgical masks also work well for blocking droplet emissions.
In the trials of this measuring equipment, Using laser technology, several commonly available masks were compared and some models were found to be one performance which is close to that of standard surgical masks, while some versions of alternative or homemade masks offer very little protection.
How about homemade masks?
In their essays, Fischer and Westman confirmed this Technic simple and inexpensive provides visual evidence of the effectiveness of masks to reduce the emission of small droplets during normal use.
The handmade cotton face covers “provided good coverage and removed a significant amount of the aerosol, that’s the particles small pieces hanging in the air produced during normal speech, ”said Duke.
What does the WHO say?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new recommendations about the use of protective masks during the Covid-19 pandemic, which, among other things, discouraged the use of those who did valves, both among health professionals and the general population.
In the new guide recommendations It is emphasized that the user of this type of mask cannot exhale sufficiently filtered air. The WHO continues to use medical masks (for example, the usual in operating theaters) in areas with a lower risk of airborne contamination (by aerosols) and those with better protection (N95, FFP2, FFP3) in areas of higher risk, for example areas of care for patients with covid-19.
For the general public, in areas of local distribution of coronavirus, the WHO recommends the use of non-medical masks (for example, those of screen) in indoor areas such as shops, offices or schools, if a physical distance of at least one meter between those present. Medical masks are especially recommended for at-risk groups such as the elderly and those with chronic lung disease, cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular problems, in contexts where a physical distance of at least one meter cannot be guaranteed.
The use of medical masks is also always recommended for caregivers and others sharing the space with psuspected or confirmed covid-19 patients.
WHO finally does not recommend the use of masks in children under the age of five, At the age of six to eleven, a decision must be made that takes into account several factors (transmission of the virus in the community, children’s ability to wear the mask, social and cultural environment, etc.).
It doesn’t matter which mask you use, if you use it incorrectly, you are not protecting yourself
But none of this is helpful if the citizen uses the mask incorrectly: without covering the nose or on the jaw. You should also make sure that the mask goes straight from the package to your face; do not touch the surface of the mask with your hands.
You may not do anything that the sterilization mask, such as smoking or placing on surfaces not designed for this. On the other hand, if you’re using a washable mask, make sure to wash it constantly. Do not forget that a dirty mask is a useless mask.
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