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   Series: The Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 And Wisconsin: February 2020

The Novel Coronavirus, Face Masks And When To Use Them

   Public Health Officials Urge Caution When Using A Medical Mask As
   Demand Spikes, Worldwide And In Wisconsin
   Will Cushman
   WisContext
   Feb. 10, 2020 | 4:30 p.m.
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   <p>The novel coronavirus sweeping through China and rippling
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Whether a disposable type like those that healthcare work
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>After 2019-nCoV was <a href="https://www.wpr.org/wisconsi
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>For the vast majority of people in most situations, the a
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Face masks can be a useful tool for limiting the spread o
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Safdar said there are three things to consider when weigh
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>In terms of settings, Safdar mentioned only one in which 
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Disposable masks can help reduce the risk that a symptoma
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Meanwhile, healthcare workers who are examining someone w
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"An N95 mask is really a respirator," Safdar said. "It's 
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>On the other end of the spectrum, one type of widely avai
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"I think they are very problematic," Safdar said. That's 
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>So if masks are only recommended for use in healthcare se
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Safdar said scientific evidence does not show that health
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"The value of wearing a mask is really uncertain there," 
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>For these reasons, Safdar said UW Health's recommendation
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>The University of Wisconsin-Madison's <a href="https://ww
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"University Health Services bases its guidance to the cam
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Anderson added that "We also understand that cultural pra
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Based on reports from retailers and manufacturers of face
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Some stores, including in Wisconsin, have at times sold o
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"I can confirm that we have been seeing greater demand fo
   ____________________________________________________________
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>At a global level, suppliers of face masks have <a href="
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"We are beginning to see some impact on manufacturing ope
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>Headquartered near Chicago, Medline has manufacturing and
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>The dramatically rising demand for masks is also affectin
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"We are definitely seeing higher demand for face masks," 
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>The run on face masks is worrying officials like Safdar. 
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>A <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronaviru
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>"We want to preserve masks for times and settings that th
   ____________________________________________________________
   <p>The risk for becoming infected with 2019-nCoV remains low
   <p><a href="https://www.wiscontext.org/novel-coronavirus-fac
   <script type="text/javascript" data-id="wiscontext-pixel" da

   Context
   madichan (CC BY-NC 2.0)

   The novel coronavirus sweeping through China and rippling across the
   globe is invisible to the naked eye, but one of its effects is
   increasingly conspicuous on sidewalks, public transit and doctors'
   offices around the world: the widespread use of face masks.

   Whether a disposable type like those that healthcare workers wear in
   operating rooms or a reusable variety, masks that cover a wearer's nose
   and mouth are a go-to piece of apparel for many people hoping to avoid
   respiratory disease, whether a common cold, influenza or a novel virus
   like 2019-nCov, the coronavirus that emerged from central China.

   After 2019-nCoV was confirmed in a patient in Dane County on Feb. 5,
   2020, many Wisconsinites may be wondering: Should my family and I be
   wearing face masks?

   For the vast majority of people in most situations, the answer from
   public health and medical professionals in the state is clear: There is
   generally no need to wear face masks in response to the novel
   coronavirus's presence in Wisconsin. However, there are some important
   exceptions to this advice. Let's break it down.

   Face masks can be a useful tool for limiting the spread of some
   respiratory diseases in specific settings, but their utility is
   limited, explained Dr. Nasia Safdar, an infectious diseases physician
   and medical director for infection control at UW Health. This health
   provider includes the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in
   Madison, where the first Wisconsin case of 2019-nCoV was identified.

   Safdar said there are three things to consider when weighing whether to
   wear a face mask: the setting, who is wearing the mask and what kind of
   mask is being worn.

   In terms of settings, Safdar mentioned only one in which members of the
   public should consider wearing a face mask: a clinic or hospital. And
   even then, she said only patients with respiratory symptoms like a
   cough may be asked to wear a mask — typically a disposable
   surgical-type mask.

   Disposable masks can help reduce the risk that a symptomatic person
   will spread a respiratory infection via droplets that disperse when
   they cough or sneeze. While these masks are not totally effective in
   containing potentially infectious droplets, they provide better
   protection than no face protection, Safdar said. However, she added
   that wearing a mask should not be considered a substitute for hygiene
   that reduces the spread of respiratory pathogens, like proper and
   frequent hand washing.

   Meanwhile, healthcare workers who are examining someone with
   undiagnosed respiratory symptoms and a travel history or relationship
   that puts them at higher risk for 2019-nCoV will likely choose to wear
   a more protective N95 mask. These masks fit much more tightly around a
   wearer's face and can keep up to 95% of microscopic particles out.
   They're also very uncomfortable to wear and not recommended for most
   people.

   "An N95 mask is really a respirator," Safdar said. "It's much more
   effective than a regular mask, but it gives a tight seal around the
   face and it's difficult to tolerate for long periods."
   ehpien (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
   The N95 style medical mask provides a higher level of protection than
   the more common tissue or cloth surgical mask.

   On the other end of the spectrum, one type of widely available mask
   that Safdar said no one should wear under any circumstance is a
   reusable fabric mask. Such masks, which are often marketed toward
   adolescents and children and may feature branded designs, are more
   fashionable pieces of apparel than medically sound tools.

   "I think they are very problematic," Safdar said. That's because
   reusable masks are easily contaminated and very difficult to properly
   clean. As such, wearing a reusable mask may actually raise the risk of
   developing a respiratory disease.

   So if masks are only recommended for use in healthcare settings, and
   even then only for certain symptomatic individuals, what should
   Wisconsin residents make of a situation should they encounter others
   wearing face masks in public?

   Safdar said scientific evidence does not show that healthy individuals
   should wear masks as a prophylactic in public settings.

   "The value of wearing a mask is really uncertain there," she said. At
   the same time, there is evidence that masks can get contaminated, often
   from wearers' hands as they put them on and adjust them.
   A pedestrian wears a surgical mask while walking along a street in
   Macau, a special administrative region of China.
   Macau Photo Agency/Unsplash

   For these reasons, Safdar said UW Health's recommendations for the use
   of face masks in light of the novel coronavirus mirror those from the
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health
   Organization. She added that the only asymptomatic individuals who
   might consider wearing a face mask are those quarantined at home with a
   household member who is confirmed to have the disease. Still, the WHO
   advises that people should not be alarmed if they see others wearing
   masks in public settings because cultural practices surrounding the use
   of masks differ around the world.

   The University of Wisconsin-Madison's University Health Services has
   similarly advised the campus community that some healthy individuals
   may choose to wear face masks in public.

   "University Health Services bases its guidance to the campus community
   on the guidance coming from the CDC and World Health Organization, who
   do not advise people without symptoms to wear masks," wrote Kelsey
   Anderson, a health communications specialist at the university, in an
   email to WisContext.

   Anderson added that "We also understand that cultural practices differ
   and that on our diverse campus, some members of the community who are
   not sick feel more comfortable wearing a mask."

   Based on reports from retailers and manufacturers of face masks, that
   many healthy individuals in Wisconsin and around the world are indeed
   choosing to wear, or at least purchase, the masks.

   Some stores, including in Wisconsin, have at times sold out of masks
   amid the rising demand.

   "I can confirm that we have been seeing greater demand for certain
   products, such as face masks and hand sanitizers, in many of our
   stores," said Alex Brown, a spokesperson for the drugstore chain
   Walgreens. Brown said she could not share data about demand within
   specific markets, but multiple Walgreens stores in Madison were sold
   out of surgical-style face masks at various points in early February
   2020.
   Kristian Knutsen
   A Walgreens in Madison is sold out of medical face masks, with a sign
   noting that sales are limited to five boxes per customer.

   At a global level, suppliers of face masks have reported a surge in
   demand for all types, and the WHO has warned of the potential for a
   shortage in at least some markets. Of particular concern within the
   industry is that global demand for masks is spiking while most of
   China's factories remain offline due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
   Some manufacturers in China that typically produce other products have
   turned their production over to face masks and other medical supplies,
   while manufacturers in Europe and North America race to meet demand.

   "We are beginning to see some impact on manufacturing operations in
   [China]," wrote Stacy Rubenstein, a spokesperson for Medline, a global
   medical supply manufacturer and distributor, in an email to WisContext.

   Headquartered near Chicago, Medline has manufacturing and distribution
   facilities around the globe, including a manufacturing center in
   Hartland, a suburb of Milwaukee. Rubenstein indicated that Medline "may
   see a potential reduction in capacity or delayed shipments" for face
   masks and other personal protective equipment. She said the company is
   looking at how it can temporarily reconfigure its global supply chain
   until Chinese manufacturers are able to kick back into high gear.

   The dramatically rising demand for masks is also affecting some
   Wisconsin-based businesses. Among them is Safety-Med Products, a
   medical supplies distributor in Burlington.

   "We are definitely seeing higher demand for face masks," said Chris
   Wagner, a national sales manager at the company. "We're just swamped
   here," he said.

   The run on face masks is worrying officials like Safdar. She's
   concerned about a shortage affecting healthcare workers' ability to
   protect themselves.

   A study of novel coronavirus cases during January 2020 in the Chinese
   city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, showed that nearly half
   of the cases examined were acquired at a hospital. A separate report
   indicated that a single patient infected more than a dozen healthcare
   workers. The evidence underscores the need for proper masks and other
   personal protective equipment in clinics and hospitals.

   "We want to preserve masks for times and settings that they're really
   needed," Safdar said.

   The risk for becoming infected with 2019-nCoV remains low in Wisconsin,
   according to the state Department of Health Services. However, the risk
   is much higher for catching other respiratory diseases in the state,
   seasonal influenza in particular. Several schools around Wisconsin have
   canceled classes after students have fallen ill with flu-like symptoms.
   Meanwhile, flu-related hospitalizations in Milwaukee have spiked 300%
   from the 2018-19 season amid low vaccination rates.
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   This report was produced in a partnership between PBS Wisconsin and
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   Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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