Well-BeingPrevention & Cures

Coronavirus is causing a worldwide panic about face masks. Should you join
in?

   Health experts say most surgical masks don’t really protect you from
   getting a virus; they’re designed to protect others from getting a
   virus from you.
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   Editor's note: Since this story was written, science has progressed
   around coronavirus, and health experts now recommend wearing masks to
   reduce the risk of spreading and catching the virus.

   Face masks are suddenly the hottest commodity in the world.

   Celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Bella Hadid have
   posted surgical mask selfies on social media, and millions of travelers
   are wearing them in crowded airports.

   Demand is so high and prices are soaring so much that governments and
   some retailers are cracking down on disease profiteering. A 10-pack of
   3M N95 masks, which are more effective than paper surgical masks, was
   selling for upwards of $100 on Amazon, up from just $10 a month ago.
   Sellers set their own prices, but Amazon says it will suspend accounts
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   Ironically, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic,
   is the world’s largest producer of surgical masks. It has the capacity
   to churn out 20 million of them every day, but the demand in China
   alone is closer to 60 million a day.

   The irony is that surgical masks will do little, if anything, to
   protect you from coronavirus. They are designed to prevent the spread
   of germs and viruses by the wearer to people nearby, which is why
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   while cutting into their patients.

   N95 masks are better — they’re designed to filter air through
   respirators that block up to 95 percent of pathogens. But they must fit
   snugly and the filters have to be replaced frequently, so they are more
   suited for first responders than for everyday wear.

   Health experts say masking large segments of the world’s populations is
   neither possible nor necessary. The best defense against infection is
   to stay away from parts of the world where the virus has hit epidemic
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   Wash your hands — slowly and frequently, with lots of soap and running
   water. Then, avoid touching your mouth, eyes or nose. Experts say this
   is far more effective than wearing masks and much easier to do.