Western countries are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 infections compared to Asian countries because of the West’s aversion to wearing masks.
We need universal mask-wearing to aid in lowering COVID-19’s virality.
The official stance is anti-mask and completely wrong
The U.S. Surgeon General and W.H.O. have said masks are not effective at preventing COVID-19 spread. This hopefully is a white lie to get masks to medical professionals. Anything that prevents aerosolized viruses from being transmitted lowers the virality of COVID-19 1.
Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!
They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
https://t.co/UxZRwxxKL9— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020
If you do not have any respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, or runny nose, you do not need to wear a medical mask. When used alone, masks can give you a false feeling of protection and can even be a source of infection when not used correctly. ➡️https://t.co/0nyHux1SgN pic.twitter.com/JDQhnowx3p
— World Health Organization Western Pacific (@WHOWPRO) March 26, 2020
We need the U.S. Surgeon General and The World Health Organization to reverse course on their targeted mask policy and promote universal mask-wearing.
Japan has the strongest mask-wearing culture in the world and one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates.
Despite Japan’s large elderly population and early infection, the infection and death rate is one of the lowest in the world. A leading reason for this is Japan’s strong mask-wearing culture lowering the virality of COVID-19 to manageable levels. Japan has only had 1,387 infections, yet being one of the earliest countries to become infected 2. Tokyo Metropolitan Police paper towel mask
Starting on March 18, the Czech Republic made it mandatory to wear a mask while in public. So far there have only been 2,279 COVID-19 confirmed cases, making it one of the lowest infected countries in Europe. 6 We should keep a close on the Czech Republic’s future infection rate relative to its neighbors to show the quantifiable impact of mask-wearing. OVERVIEW: Czech campaign #masks4all.
Should we promote mask-wearing culture to lower COVID-19 infections? YES!
Anything that prevents aerosolized viruses from being transmitted person-to-person will lower COVID-19’s infection rate 5.
- Wear a mask when outside of your home to avoid lingering aerosolized virus droplets
- N95 masks are better than surgical masks, but anything that prevents breathing in moisture partials with viruses helps.
- We need hard data that show a direct effect of a strong mask-wearing culture to lower COVID-19 virality. We only have anecdotal research at this point.
- Going in public without a mask in a pandemic is like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. You don’t look cool. People see you and think you don’t value your life.
- Promote research that shows the benefits of wearing masks. Research
- Start promoting universal masks-wearing at the local level. Encourage your neighbors, apartment building, and city government to wear masks.
@ maskssavelives.org