Facial Mask Reduce the Spread of Covid-19
Written by Jimmie Burroughs
“Accept the fact that in our current situation it is very unlikely that we can eradicate or eliminate this virus.” – Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO Health Program Director
Many disagree with the need to wear facial masks, and that is their right. I predict in the near future it won’t matter what one believes. Based on what I see happening now, mask will be required for everyone going out into a public place. 15 major outlets have already made it a mandate to wear mask if you shop in their stores; this includes Walmart and Target. Cities all across America are mandating masks and many have fines for not wearing one, which range from $25 to $5,000 and some include jail time.
A top White House health official, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ADM Brett P. Giroir, said, “Shutting down indoor bars and getting almost everyone to wear masks in public is really as good as shutting it down [the virus] and will help stop the surging coronavirus outbreaks across the country.”
A mounting body of evidence makes it clear that all of us must continue to practice safety, which includes wearing masks. It is proven that masks do prevent the spread of the virus. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has called on state and local officials to mandate that people wear masks in public. Even though his suggestions have been largely ignored. Some are adamantly opposed to wearing a mask. It was reported in France last week that a bus driver was beaten to death because he requested 4 passengers wear a mask.
People wearing masks has been cited as a key component of success against the virus in places like Japan and South Korea. People are going around spreading the disease who are asymptomatic or not yet experiencing symptoms, who could otherwise reduce the spread of the disease by simply wearing a mask. One of the primary reasons for wearing a mask is a concern for others. General Jerome Adams said Sunday, the U.S. can reverse course and control the latest outbreaks of the coronavirus in just a few weeks if people follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines to prevent the spread of the potentially fatal virus.
Another important concern about wearing face masks is, do they protect the person wearing them. The answer is yes, as proven by an actual case in a hair salon. A stylist contacted the virus but continued working. another stylist, who came in close contact, also contacted the virus but continued working. Six close contacts of the first stylist ended up coming down with COVID-19. However, of the 98% of clients who wore masks, 67in all, who were in contact with one or both of the stylists, not one tested positive.
The virus is still raging in the United States. In this country alone, there were more than 68,000 new COVID-19 cases reported on Friday for the third consecutive day, this breaks the country’s record for the daily number of new cases. According to White House estimates, as many as 240,000 Americans could die over the coming weeks. This is the worst health tragedy our country has experienced in more than a century. The pandemic continues to tightens its grip on the country, as many fail to follow the best medical advice saying, “Covid-19 is overhyped and the government is attempting to take away our rights by requiring the wearing of masks.” The loss of American lives is not something to refer to as hype; it is a very sad day in this country when many are so unconcerned for the safety of the lives of others. Hopefully, the virus will be eradicated and the 240,000 projected death tolls will be an over estimate, but that number may be only a drop in the bucket if the virus is not brought under control. This country needs everyone cooperating any way possible to defeat this enemy.
When there is no cooperation, here is what happens: Kansas State University started their football practice after taking all precautions. No one tested positive. Two late comers were told to quarantine over the weekend, but instead, they went out, one to a party and the other to a game room filled with people. They caught the virus and came to practice spreading it to 12 others. The university canceled further practice for the time being.
Someone who lost two members of their family said, “I want people to see it’s not a political thing, it’s just a virus that is attacking everyone until they take the initiative to protect themselves.” To consider the Covid-19 as hype or political is a dangerous position, considering that it is still spreading rapidly and thousands are dying from it. Here is evidence: On Thursday, Florida alone recorded a one-day record of 120 deaths. More than 4,000 people have died there since the start of the pandemic.
There is evidence that the extreme measures taken early on in the spring has saved lives: According to a new study from researchers at the University of Iowa, “two months of lockdowns this spring saved as many as 370,000 lives in the U.S. The lock down included staying home as much as possible, distancing when required to go outside the home and wearing facial masks when around others outside the family.
President Trump claims that 99% of Covid-19 in the US are totally harmless. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, responded to the President’s claim saying he didn’t know where the President got the number, and suggesting Trump’s interpretation was “obviously not the case.” Even if 99% recover from the disease, as President Trump stated, and that is yet to be proven, hospitals are being overrun with 20% of those who are contacting the virus needing hospitalization and respirators and some continue with serious side effects. Dr. Kathryn Wagner, a neurologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, said, published data suggests the share of people who experience serious complications is “significantly higher” than 1%.
Covid-19 is not totally harmless. Doctors revealed on Friday the dangers of Cocid-19 in an article on “How coronavirus affects the entire body” based on a review of Covid-19 patients: The disease damages not only the lungs, but the kidneys, liver, heart, brain, nervous system, skin and gastrointestinal tract. Those side effects are devastating and not to be taken lightly.
Here is an example from a news story on how dangerously contagious Covid-19 is: “Three Arizona teachers shared a classroom for summer school. They thought they were being “very careful.” All three contracted COVID-19, and one died. The teachers who survived say their colleague’s death is a stark reminder of the risks teachers will face if school reopens too soon.” In the meanwhile, President Donald Trump, who wants to force school districts and universities to reopen regardless of the ongoing coronavirus threat, said on Friday, “The U.S. Treasury Department would re-examine their (schools who refuse to open) tax-exempt status and funding.”
The Present stats: Covid-19 is a more dangerous threat than ever: According to John Hopkins University data, the U.S. has surpassed 3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. More than 133,000 deaths have been confirmed. Globally, there have been 12 million cases and over 555,000 deaths. That number is rising exponentially each day.
If many across America continue with the attitude that they should get on with their lives as if nothing has changed, there will be an extended time before things can get back to something that resembles normal, if that is ever the case. If we are to Err, let us do it on the side of safety, combating this disease. It is unwise to refuse to follow the best medical advice based on the claim that it is taking away our rights or that it is just a bunch of hype. That is just ignoring the dangers that this disease poses.
The World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Monday warned there would be “no return to the old normal for the foreseeable future. Tedros said, “let me be blunt: Too many countries are headed in the wrong direction.” If governments do not clearly communicate with their citizens and roll out a comprehensive strategy focused on suppressing transmission and saving lives; if populations do not follow the basic principles of physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, there is only one way this is going to go. It’s going to get worse and worse and worse.”
Dr. Howard Koh, a professor at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, told Business Insider, “People’s behavior over the next few weeks could determine how many cases and deaths we see in the fall: What we can accomplish in the long run depends so much on whether we can maximize the power of prevention based on the tools we have: face masks, social distancing, and hygiene.” Tuesday afternoon, in a press release, citing the latest evidence that masks reduce the spread of the virus, the CDC called on the entire county to wear face masks.
In an editorial published earlier in the day, Dr. Redfield predicted, “The universal adoption of face masks could bring the US outbreak under control in as little as four weeks.” The University of Washington model also suggests, “A universal mask policy could save 45,000 lives by November.” Dr. Redfield said during Tuesday’s webinar “The data is clearly there that masking works. If we can get everybody to wear a mask right now, I really do think in the next four, six, eight weeks … we can get this epidemic under control.”
Stay Healthy by abiding by the best health recommendations: Avoid crowds, don’t go indoors with large groups, wear your face mask, social distance, wash your hands frequently, monitor your health, to possibly save your life or someone else’s, and get through this pandemic at your healthiest.