Face coverings offer shield against Covid-19

Medical experts believe people in Pakistan must learn to live with masks

LAHORE: As the Covid-19 pandemic drags on, people are starting to accept that shielding faces could prevent the spread of the virus and save lives.

The trend emerged after increasing cries from health experts, who have said the practice of wearing masks in public is effective in limiting the spread of the respiratory disease.

But wearing a face-covering is only helpful while it is on and for a specific duration. Initially, there were concerns that face-coverings may give a false sense of security,  as they fail to block all particles.  In the absence of a vaccine, prevention became the only option to limit the spread.

“Wearing masks has certain protocols,” said Dr. Salman Kazmi, who serves as a senior medical practitioner at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital.

While wearing a mask, Dr. Kazmi said, it should not be touched. “When you touch the mask, it is contaminated,” he cautioned. After wearing a face mask for four to five hours, he said, it should be disposed of.

A wide variety of face masks are available in the market. However, each one of them offers a different level of protection against the Covid-19 virus. Washable face masks offer limited protection against the respiratory disease, but medical experts recommend their use in public settings.

Face coverings, according to experts, can prevent carriers of the virus from passing the disease, whether through coughs, sneezing, and during conversations.

Opinion about the use of masks varies greatly. Some medical experts believe face masks can prevent the spread of the disease if 99% of the population wears them.  According to details provided by healthcare experts, different types of face masks offer different levels of protection.

The N95 respirators provide the highest level of protection against respiratory infection, followed by surgical grade masks.  However, they are costly and limited in supply.  In the absence of proper face masks, covering such as scarves or bandanas also offer some protection.

Citizens appear to be irked by the lack of regulation when it comes to the production of masks. “I prefer wearing a scarf than buying one of the face masks on sale at roadside stands,” said Fayyaz Hussain, a resident of Lahore.  “They are unhygienic and can spread infection,” Hussain cautioned.

Commenting on the use of cloth face masks and single-use paper masks, Dr. Saima Malik, a medical practitioner in Lahore, said: “Cloth face masks offer some protection for the public.” Trends suggest the Covid-19 virus health crisis will continue to haunt countries, including Pakistan, for some time. Medical experts believe people in Pakistan must learn to live with face coverings.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2020.