Lately, much chatter in the media, as well as talk heard ’round my neighborhood, leads to one simple question. Do masks prevent the spread of Coronavirus? The answer is yes. A recent study shows wearing masks could reduce the incidence of Coronavirus by 80% or more. Are masks perfect? No. Do they work really well? Yes.
Do Masks Prevent The Spread Of Coronavirus?
Recently Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus response coordinator, emphasized there is “clear scientific evidence” that masks work. On top of that, the Annals of Internal Medicine just published a landmark analysis of 64 studies finding that masks prevent the spread of Coronaviruses and other airborne illnesses.
Half Of Americans Stay Home Due To Coronavirus
The US is plowing ahead with opening businesses to restart the economy. Unfortunately, more than half of Americans don’t yet want to leave their homes to patronize these businesses. One simple way to address this problem is to commit as a country to wearing masks.
Is Coronavirus Spread Through The Air?
Furthering mask initiatives around the US, an esteemed panel of experts from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) stated that because Coronavirus is aerosolized and lingers in the air, masks are a good option for preventing its spread. In their formal letter, the NAS panel let the current administration know that Coronavirus is transmitted not only through sneezing and coughing, but also by speaking and breathing. In effect, the Coronavirus is an airborne disease. This is why masks work, they prevent the virus from being emitted, or sprayed (heavily via sneezing, or lightly by breathing) from infected persons to others. Masks prevent the virus from spreading into and pooling in the air. For this same reason, it’s safer to be outdoors than inside, because in this scenario the virus is dispersed, rather than concentrated. Still, masks are needed both inside and outside to protect our population from infected individuals, prevent its spread, and open up our economy quickly.
Think Of Coronavirus As Glitter
It may help to think of Coronavirus as glitter. A mask is going to stop those who may have COVID-19 from efficiently spreading corona-glitter to others. In a recent article in the Washington Post, Joseph Allen from the School of Public Health at Harvard emphasizes that masks prevent the spread of Coronavirus very effectively. Getting this information out so that more people comply with wearing masks will unite our country around a cheap yet effective initiative that erases the false dichotomy between health and economics because it addresses both with fairly little effort.
What Types of Masks Are Protective Against Coronavirus?
Dr. Harvey Fineberg, head of the NAS committee that sent the letter on the effectiveness of mask use to the current administration, said he would wear a mask to the grocery store, and that among other options, items ranging from a bandana to a balaclava would work well in preventing the spread of Coronavirus. Handpicked by the current administration, Dr. Fineberg leads the NAS Standing Committee Requested by White House in Response to Coronavirus.
Masks Save Lives
I interviewed Dr. Todd Dorfman, Director of EMS for Boulder County Colorado about the use of masks to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. He states, “Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as social distancing, help slow the spread of the disease,” adding, “Asking everyone to wear cloth masks can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by people who have the disease but don’t realize it. Countries that required face masks early in the pandemic seem to have had the best success slowing the disease’s spread.” He pointed out that these countries also used testing far earlier and more frequently than the US at the outset of the pandemic in January.
To Mask Or Unmask
Unfortunately, asking our citizens to do the right thing when it comes to Coronavirus may not be that simple because mask use is now a very heated topic. Here in Colorado, a man walked into a restaurant in Aurora, just outside Denver. He was told he needed to wear a mask to be served. In response, he shot a restaurant employee. Thankfully, we can all agree that this extreme overreaction is not even close to an appropriate response under any circumstances.
Japan Used Masks To Prevent Spread of Coronavirus
On the other hand, an article in Forbes called New Study Shows That This One Thing Could Cause 80% Decrease in COVID-19 Cases, points out that while the US is slowly trying to reopen, Japan didn’t ever really close.
The Land of the Rising Sun has had no lockdown, no stopped subways and most businesses have remained open.
As of this writing, the US has suffered over 100,000 Coronavirus deaths, yet Japan has endured less than 1,000. While Japan’s population is around one-third of ours, they’ve suffered 1% of the deaths incurred here in the US. Why? One reason is that the Japanese have willingly used masks while waiting for a cure.
How To Use A Mask Properly To Prevent Coronavirus Spread
Dr. Dorfman pointed out that The Mayo Clinic has a simple, reasonable set of instructions for putting on and taking off a cloth mask:
- Place your mask over your mouth and nose
- Tie it behind your head or use ear loops and make sure it’s snug
- Don’t touch your mask while wearing it
- If you accidentally touch your mask, wash or sanitize your hands
- Remove the mask by untying it or lifting off the ear loops without touching the front of the mask or your face
- Wash your hands immediately after removing your mask
- Regularly wash your mask with soap and water in the washing machine, it’s fine to launder with other clothes
President Trump’s Surgeon General Recommends Wearing A Mask
It’s true, when there was a shortage, the Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Robins, advised against the use of masks. This was when we were in the initial stages of Coronavirus, unprepared, and perilously short on personal protective equipment (PPE). However, he now not only recommends mask-wearing but has a video demonstrating how to make one.
Why Didn’t Vice President Pence Wear A Mask At The Mayo Clinic
Prior to his visit, the Mayo Clinic briefed the Vice President’s team on their mandatory mask-wearing policy. Unfortunately, he did not comply. During this tragic time with so many lives lost, and little to no way to properly grieve them, it is more important than ever to show patriotism by protecting our medical warriors in any way we can. More people have died in the last 2 months than in the Korean and Vietnam wars combined. We can easily protect our front line heroes at places like the Mayo Clinic with little to no sacrifice. Why not wear a mask in public? Especially when you cannot social distance.
Why Doesn’t President Trump Wear A Mask?
Perhaps this administration thinks it would be a show of weakness to don masks everywhere. However, it’s not too late to lead by example. It would demonstrate inspiring strength and bravery for our highest public officials to wear masks in public.
Will You Wear A Mask To Prevent The Spread Of Coronavirus?
Do masks stop the spread of Coronavirus completely? No. Are they perfect? No. But let’s not allow perfect to be the enemy of the good. Masks save lives. The important thing is that we don’t let nuances deter us from the most important public causes when it comes to health. Will you wear a mask?
Dorene says
Elana, some say to add filters in the masks. Do you and what kind of filter would this be? I’ve heard things such as coffee filters.
Thanks much!
Elana says
Dorene, I haven’t added filters to my masks.
Patricia Schroeder says
Thank you for your article! I love the glitter comparison, it gives a great visual. I find it sad that after over 350,000 deaths over the past several months society isn’t doing everything possible to slow the spread. I wonder if people argued their “freedoms” when Ignaz Semmelweis suggested the practice of hand washing to stop the spread of infection.
Elana says
Thanks Patricia.
Linda says
This sounds very political. Not at all about wearing masks.
Elana says
Linda, thanks so much for sharing your opinion, appreciate it.
Marie says
Exactly Linda.
Michelle Weatherford says
No I’m not wearing a mask.
I have always enjoyed your food blog and getting new recipes. It saddens me to see that you have now turned your website into a place that promotes a political agenda.
Now more than ever, we need to come together and find ways to celebrate life. Bringing our families together around the table using your recipes should be a source of comfort and joy. I don’t even enjoy your blog anymore because it’s so negative. I’m sorry for your losses this year. I hope you will find return to your original recipe blog and that it would be a source of comfort to you and all those who read it
Elana says
Michelle, I’ve always promoted a political agenda. Food is health and health is the most political thing there is.
Patricia Barker-Noll says
It’s no mystery how this virus is transmitted. There is no vaccine. It’s beyond me why anyone WOULDN’T wear a mask. Thank you for your eloquent plea.
Elana says
Patricia, you’re welcome.
Belen says
Many doctors and scientists believe it’s not a good idea to wear a mask. It’s not a good idea for a healthy person to be breathing in the carbon dioxide and toxins you just exhaled. When you can’t get enough oxygen due to the mask, your cortisol level will increase and then that will suppress your immune system. I have seen people drive their cars, jogging, riding a bike etc. while wearing a mask. That’s not smart. In NJ, one man died while driving with a mask on because he wasn’t getting enough oxygen. I avoid wearing a mask and I only wear it to go grocery shopping, otherwise I can’t enter the store. I see people in the grocery store fiddling with their masks when you’re not supposed to touch your face. I think wearing a mask is a very bad idea and we don’t need the government telling us what to do.
Elana says
Belen, thanks so much. I agree, why would someone wear a mask while driving a car –that’s odd.
Patty says
Hi Elana
Thank you so much for your timely post. You thoroughly researched the issue and provided the medical experts recommendations with facts. We don’t like being told what to do, and you didn’t do that. You allowed the facts to speak for themselves. I appreciate your unbiased and clear explanations. Let’s save lives by continuing to wear masks! Wish everyone That is medically able would wear one!
Our family wears masks not only for ourselves but for others and to show support to the frontline workers and the 100,000 people that have died. Thank you!
Elana says
Patty, supporting the front line workers is of the utmost importance to me too.
Donna says
There’s no way I’d wear a mask. One exception. I need a haircut & the only way to get it is to comply with their wishes. I’m convinced they do more harm than good. It’s all about choices.
Elana says
Donna, I agree, life is about choices.
carla says
This is a very biased and political article. Plenty of highly qualified Doctors would disagree with many of these points. “The body requires ample amounts of oxygen for optimal immune health. Especially during a so-called “pandemic”. Proper oxygenation of your cells and blood is ESSENTIAL for the body to function as it needs to in order to flight of any illness. Masks will hamper oxygen intake. Unless you are working in a hospital setting, it is NOT necessary. But go ahead and hold onto your security blanket if it makes you feel better. I do not listen to the government when it tries to instruct me on how to maintain health, nor do I trust their “stats” (which we know are based on unconfirmed numbers).” -Dr. Judy Mikovits, Molecular Biologist and immunologist .
I’m not sure why you think it is your responsibility to write a post on this when you are not a doctor and are obviously very one sided on this issue. Of course you share the story of the man shooting someone over wearing a mask…really? This is a very extreme outlandish case and makes those of us who choose not to wear a mask look like horrible criminals who don’t care about others. I have chosen not to frequent stores who require a mask and am ordering mostly online. I am buying most of my veggies and meat thru local CSAs. and my own garden. If others choose to wear a mask that is fine but I will not be made to feel guilt or shame or selfishness if I choose not to. No need to respond to this…I already know where you stand and we obviously don’t agree. Please do your research outside of government and main stream media.
Elana says
Carla, thanks so much for sharing your opinion, it means a lot to me. I interviewed around a dozen doctors trying to find ones that said mask wearing was unhealthy because I like to get a diversity of opinions, but found none from them. I provided the link to the article on the man who shot someone who asked him to wear a mask as an indicator of how charged this issue is in our country. Citizens of countries like Japan are wearing their masks and have a small fraction of the COVID deaths we do, this anecdotal evidence is nothing more than that but very interesting to me. I’m curious as to why you think it makes sense for medical workers to wear masks, but not those in other parts of society –I hope it’s ok to ask that, the comments from those that disagree with me are the most important, otherwise I end up in an echo chamber. Thanks so much!
carla says
The Doctors who speak out about this are vilified or censored so yes it’s much harder to find those who would disagree with the mask wearing narrative. The censorship on this is very obvious and frankly I don’t believe that Faucci just “changed” his mind on this. The quote regarding masks in hospital settings was from Dr. Judy Mikovits not me. Dr. Erickson and Massihi from LA were interviewed by local media and their youtube interview was taken down and censored because it also said masks should be used in a acute settings only. I am not a Doctor but I listen to those who don’t necessarily follow the COVID narrative that the governmental health agencies put out there. Frankly it surprised me that you are taking this stance as well as many others based on comments.
The fact that you are calling out the President and Vice President on not wearing masks shows this is more of a politically motivated article to me and was very biased. Therefore it lacks credibility in my opinion. Lastly the number of COVID deaths and cases are so inaccurate, something that was also stated by the LA doctors and others in the medical field(also censored)so those numbers do not determine or prove mask wearing as beneficial to me at all
Elana says
Carla, thanks for your comment! I agree, I’ve read quite a bit about various states actually lowering and misreporting the number of COVID-19 deaths to put a brighter spin on this tragedy. Having lost loved ones to Coronavirus this is especially challenging to fathom. Also, challenging is the recommendation to take hydroxychloroquine (a drug with toxic side effects) in a prophylactic manner rather than wearing a mask. I wish you the very best and thank you for taking the time to participate in this invigorating discussion!
Joan Longo says
Thank you for your article about wearing masks. I wear one whenever I go out and will continue to wear one until we are told it is safe not to wear one. I feel that wearing a mask is being respectful of others, especially with many people being asymptomatic. I have friends and family members that have auto-ammune issues, and I would hate for them to get sick because someone did not wear a mask.
Elana says
Thanks Joan.