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Shortages of surgical face masks are a visible sign that the novel coronavirus from China has reached the United States. But health experts warn that stocking up on the disposable masks could do more harm than good by limiting their availability to doctors and nurses. If the coronavirus outbreak should cause a run on anything, they say, it should be soap and water instead. “Fear spreads a lot faster than the virus,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an infectious disease expert at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. “A mask makes you feel better, but you’re missing the more important protective measures.” Hong Kong subway passengers wear surgical masks during the coronavirus outbreak. Hong Kong subway passengers wear surgical masks during the coronavirus outbreak. (Associated Press) Advertisement There are good reasons to wear masks — namely, to protect others. Surgeons use them so they don’t cough or sneeze into open wounds. Emergency room staff hand them out to visitors with respiratory symptoms to protect others in the waiting area. Doctors diligently swap their masks between visits with immune-suppressed patients, to avoid exposing them to clinging pathogens. If you’re already sick, mask-wearing is good practice. Donning a paper mask on a crowded train or bus, for instance, can minimize the degree to which a cough or sneeze disseminates infectious fluid onto neighbors and handrails that will be grabbed throughout the day. But for everyone else, the masks are simply “unnecessary,” said Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. In fact, if the mask-hoarding continues, officials worry there could be a shortage, affecting clinics and hospitals where they’re needed most. N-95 respirator masks, for example, use a more sophisticated filter to protect health workers doing riskier procedures like intubations, Klausner said, but they’re currently a hot item among the public. (Such masks are likely stored up in the Strategic National Stockpile in case commercial supplies are depleted, though officials won’t divulge details for security reasons). Advertisement Experts agree that, for viral infections including the common cold and the flu, the most effective way to protect yourself is regular hand-washing with warm water and soap, plus the vigilance to resist touching your nose and mouth. To wash your hands properly, the World Health Organization suggests scrubbing your palms with a large dollop of soap before interlacing and clasping the fingers, then scrubbing around the thumbs and the backs of your hands. The whole process should take 40 to 60 seconds. These hygiene practices apply no more to the coronavirus than to other common winter illnesses, such as colds and the flu. Advertisement Indeed, for nearly all Americans, the flu presents a far greater health risk than the new coronavirus. Unless you’ve traveled to China in the last 14 days, or spent time in close proximity to a patient with coronavirus symptoms, the risk of contracting 2019-nCoV remains low. Meanwhile, 19 million to 26 million Americans have been infected with influenza since Oct. 1, 2019, and 10,000 to 25,000 of them have died from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. __________________________________________________________________ Science Emily Baumgaertner Follow Us * twitter * instagram * email * facebook Emily Baumgaertner is a national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times focused on medical investigations and features. She joined the paper in 2019 from the New York Times and has a graduate degree in public health. Please send documents, pictures and messages privately using the Signal smartphone app to (424) 405-1151. More From the Los Angeles Times * California UC San Diego reports big surge in coronavirus infections among students back from holidays UCSD California UC San Diego reports big surge in coronavirus infections among students back from holidays Nearly half of the 245 infections involve students living on campus. * Science How the new COVID-19 vaccine rules could help the pandemic end sooner Los Angeles, CA - January 07: A nurse Cherry Costales prepares Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at St. John's Well Child & Family Center on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Science How the new COVID-19 vaccine rules could help the pandemic end sooner Health officials set aside carefully considered plans for rolling out COVID-19 vaccines and made the shots widely available. That may hasten the pandemic’s end. * Science Some workers don’t want a COVID-19 vaccine. Can their bosses make them get it anyway? Medical worker Melissa Fitzgerald begins to weep in an emotional response after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination from registered nurse Alyssa Lane Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, on the Lummi Reservation, near Bellingham, Wash. Fitzgerald, a radiologic technician, has been treating coronavirus patients since the outbreak began on the reservation on her birthday in March and said it's been a long journey. The Native American tribe began rationing its first 300 doses of vaccine as it fights surging cases with a shelter-in-place order. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Science Some workers don’t want a COVID-19 vaccine. Can their bosses make them get it anyway? Many teachers, grocers and even some hospital employees are wary of the COVID-19 vaccine and don’t want it. The question of mandatory vaccine requirements by employers is complicated. * Science Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine grants promising response in early study FILE - This September 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company. A late-stage study of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been paused while the company investigates whether a study participant’s “unexplained illness” is related to the shot, the company announced Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Cheryl Gerber/Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson via AP, File) Science Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine grants promising response in early study In an early safety study, Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine produced immune proteins in more than 90% of participants. Subscribers Are Reading * Politics Make America California Again? That’s Biden’s plan Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a rally on the Cal State Fullerton campus Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, in Fullerton, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Politics Make America California Again? That’s Biden’s plan President Trump tried to marginalize California. He failed. Now, with Joe Biden and Democrats taking power, no state is more influential in setting a policy agenda. More Coverage Noticias en español Kamala Harris says nation will ‘find a moment’ to celebrate inauguration amid pandemic grief * California Why some older people are getting the vaccine in Southern California but others are striking out Los Angeles, CA - January 15: Dr. Richard Dang, right, Assistant professor USC School of Pharmacy administers COVID-19 vaccine to Ashley Van Dyke as mass-vaccination of healthcare workers takes place at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) California Why some older people are getting the vaccine in Southern California but others are striking out Many Californians 65 and older faced frustration and confusion as they tried to get the coronavirus vaccine after the state announced it was opening up vaccinations to older people. More Coverage Tracking the coronavirus in California * Politics Trump retreats from his job, and Pence fills the void as ‘acting’ president President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Washington. The President is traveling to Texas. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert ) Politics Trump retreats from his job, and Pence fills the void as ‘acting’ president With President Trump isolated in the White House since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Vice President Mike Pence increasingly fills the void in their waning days in office. More Coverage Will Trump’s mishandling of records leave a hole in history? * California Another new coronavirus variant found across California, including L.A. County Los Angeles County, Sylmar, California-Jan. 12, 2020-At Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, a COVID-19 patient is placed on her stomach to assist with breathing after her oxygen level dropped below 90. RN Susha Abraham takes care of the patient in one of the COVID-19 wings of the hospital. Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is one of the primary healthcare delivery systems in the north San Fernando Valley. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) California Another new coronavirus variant found across California, including L.A. County As the number of coronavirus infections in California approaches 3 million, health officials said Sunday that a new strain — different from a highly contagious variant first identified in the U.K. — is popping up across the state. More Coverage Tracking the coronavirus in California * Business Federal rent relief is coming. Here’s what to expect in California A for rent sign on display on the side of a down town apartment building. User Upload Caption: ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** Business Federal rent relief is coming. Here’s what to expect in California The new stimulus bill passed by Congress includes $25 billion in rental relief for struggling tenants, $2.6 billion of which is coming to California. Can I apply? Advertisement Latest Science * Science In pandemic era, older adults are isolated but resilient, study says FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2021, file photo residents Ken Fishman, 81, left, and Esther Wallach, 82, right, hold hands as they wait in line for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the The Palace assisted living facility in Coral Gables, Fla. An ongoing study suggests that older American adults are showing resilience and perseverance despite struggles with loneliness and isolation during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) Science In pandemic era, older adults are isolated but resilient, study says An ongoing study suggests older Americans are showing resilience and perseverance despite struggles with loneliness and isolation amid the pandemic. * Science COVID-19 vaccine push gains steam, but many still face wait A senior is vaccinated against COVID-19 at a New York State vaccination site in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in New York. New York state expanded COVID-19 vaccine distribution Tuesday to people 65 and over, increasing access to an already short supply of doses being distributed. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Science COVID-19 vaccine push gains steam, but many still face wait More Americans are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, but they may still have to wait for their first shot even as supplies increase. Here’s a closer look. * California Children apologize to their dying elders for spreading COVID-19 as L.A. County reels LOMA LINDA, CA - DECEMBER 15, 2020: Pulmonologist Dr. Laren Tan, center, with his medical team of nurses and respiratory therapists intubate a COVID-19 patient who's oxygen levels were dropping in the ICU at Loma Linda University Medical Center on December 15, 2020 in Loma Linda, California. The hospital is experiencing a huge surge in COVID-19 patients. Dr. Michael Matus, chief of hospitalist said they are currently admitting more than 15 patients a day. The hospital has added 5 additional Covid units in addition to ICU. Many of the ICU patients have underlying health issues. Once those patients get Covid, "It's a marathon that they can't run, said Dr. Tan.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) California Children apologize to their dying elders for spreading COVID-19 as L.A. County reels Children who spread coronavirus to their parents and grandparents are apologizing to them on their deathbeds as L.A. County reels. More Coverage Tracking the coronavirus in California * Science At least 9 U.S. states have new coronavirus strain from U.K. The city of Costa Mesa along with the Orange County Health Care Agency and 360 Clinic provided free COVID-19 testing at the Costa Mesa Senior Center on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. Those attending performed self-swabbing and the ones with symptoms like coughing or sore throats were given additional assistance by a licensed medical assistant. Above, two people administer the self-test. Science At least 9 U.S. states have new coronavirus strain from U.K. The coronavirus strain from the U.K. is now in at least nine U.S. states. Given its ability to spread, scientists expect that number to rise soon. * California Why COVID-19 has left so many hospitals running low on oxygen MISSION HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 29: CJuan Legaspi-Lozano, 90, is a patient inside the covid unit at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 in Mission Hills, CA. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) California Why COVID-19 has left so many hospitals running low on oxygen The demand for oxygen has skyrocketed, as critically ill COVID-19 patients often need high rates of oxygen flowing into their lungs to keep them alive. Advertisement Advertisement Coronavirus and Pandemic * California Column: It took me just minutes to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. In Alaska LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 17: The first SARS-CoV-2 Pfizer vaccine is being given to front line staff at Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital took place on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA. 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(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) California Vaccines should be available ‘immediately’ to people 65 and older, two L.A. supervisors urge Two Los Angeles County supervisors are urging that people 65 and older immediately be included in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. * California Beutner presses for L.A. schools to become COVID-19 vaccine centers Los Angeles, CA - January 15: COVID-19 mass-vaccination of healthcare workers takes place at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) California Beutner presses for L.A. schools to become COVID-19 vaccine centers L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner pushes for schools to become vaccine centers, which also would become part of his plan to open campuses safely. * California Fight against COVID-19 hits wall of defiance, suspicion in rural California: ‘The excuses just go on’ CORNING, CA - JANUARY 06: Jeremiah Fears, 42, chief of police Corning Police Department, registers to get a Moderna COVID-19 vaccination by Hailey Nelson, 23, Tehama County public health emergency preparedness coordinator, at a point of dispensing clinic held at the Corning Volunteer Fire Department on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Corning, CA. How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected small towns in rural Tehama County, with a population of 65,000 people. As of Jan. 6th the Tehama County has 3,586 positive, 19,490 negative test results and 40 deaths. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) California Fight against COVID-19 hits wall of defiance, suspicion in rural California: ‘The excuses just go on’ In rural Northern California, small public health departments battle COVID-19 in a region where skepticism of the virus runs deep. More Coverage Tracking the coronavirus in California * California ICU capacity in California California ICU capacity in California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (BUTTON) Advertisement Los Angeles Times Subscribe for unlimited access Follow Us * twitter * instagram * youtube * facebook * + eNewspaper + Coupons + Find/Post Jobs + Place an Ad + Media Kit: Why the L. A. Times? + Bestcovery * + Crossword + Sudoku + Obituaries + Podcasts + Recipes + Wine Club * + About/Contact + For the Record + L.A. 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