A face mask is a face covering designed to prevent respiratory droplets from reaching other people or traveling into the air, especially when people raise their voice, talk, sneeze, or cough.

Laboratory and clinical studies show that masks help prevent the spread of covid-19 when worn over the mouth and nose. You should always wear a mask in settings where it is difficult to maintain social distancing. To get the desired results, you should combine other preventive measures like social distancing and frequent handwashing.

Main Types of Face Masks

The current market is flooded with different types of faces masks that people can choose from. These include;

Cloth Masks

A cloth mask is designed to trap the droplets released when people sneeze, cough, or talk. Most of these masks are made of woven cotton and can be reused after washing. It is advisable to sanitize one’s hands after taking off or putting on the cloth mask. A cloth mask should be toughly removed and washed when it becomes dirty or wet.

Surgical Masks

Surgical masks or media masks are mainly used by healthcare givers. These masks are useful in filtering out large particles suspended in the air.

N95 Masks

N95 masks are known for offering more protection as compared to surgical masks. They are useful in filtering out both small and large particles of virus. Most of them come with valves that make it easier for the user to breathe through.

Who Should Wear a Face Mak?

General Public

Social distancing is one of the effective measures of combating the spread of infectious diseases like coronavirus disease. Remember that this disease can also be spread by individuals who don’t exhibit any symptoms. Therefore, it is essential to practice social distance and wear the right type of mask in public settings like public transport. Anyone who has attained an age of two years should wear a face mask whenever he/she is in a public setting.

Covid-19 Patients

Individuals with covid-19 should avoid visiting public area. Where possible, these people should stay in their rooms or away from other people. Again, they should always wear the right face mask to ensure that they don’t spread the deadly virus to other people. This is the only way of containing respiratory droplets.

Caregivers of Covid-19 Patients

Health care workers or individuals taking care of covid 19 patients are advised to wear face masks and practice other preventive measures. For instance, they should avoid touching their mouth, face, or eyes with unwashed hands. They are also advised to frequently disinfect and clean surfaces. Doing so will ensure that they don’t get sick while taking care of their loved ones or patients.