Surgical Mask and N95 Mask Effectively Prevent Coronavirus Infection? - BN

28 Jan 2020

Surgical Mask and N95 Mask Effectively Prevent Coronavirus Infection?

What Masks Can Prevent Corona Virus Infection?

For the prevention of diseases that can be transmitted from the air, the use of masks is considered a solution. Mask is one of the self-protection tools that can prevent the body from exposure to air and dust pollution. The use of masks has also become an effort to avoid the primary disease from various diseases that are spread through particles in the air.

The effectiveness of masks to protect against the risk of spreading the virus was also evidenced in a study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. The study found that the use of the correct mask can reduce the risk of being diagnosed with a flu-like disease by as much as 80 percent lower.

Surgical Mask and N95 Mask Effectively Prevent Coronavirus Infection?
Credits: SehatQ
So can it prevent coronavirus or coronavirus? Two types of masks have been chosen, namely surgical masks and N95 masks.

Surgical mask or face mask is a type of disposable mask that is often used by medical personnel when handling patients. Surgical masks are easy to find, and the prices are affordable, so more people are using this mask for daily use.

This type of mask will help protect you by preventing exposure to large particles in the air that may contain viruses. Also, this mask prevents you from splashing other people's body fluids released when sneezing or coughing.

Meanwhile, N95 is a type of mask that is made to block large particles and small particles in the air that contain viruses. The name N95 comes from its ability to filter 95% of particles in the air.

Not only for disease prevention, but N95 masks are also often used by workers when struggling in an area full of exposure to hazardous substances. This makes the N95 cover often considered as more extra protection.

Which type of mask is recommended for coronavirus prevention?
Although masks have been suggested as an effort to prevent coronavirus, experts have different opinions about which type of cover mask should be used.

Judging from how it works, mask type N95 might be recommended for its use for the prevention of coronavirus because it is more effective in filtering various particles in the air.

Also, a tighter N95 mask is considered better for protecting you from viral infections when compared to surgical masks that still have air inlets on all four sides.

However, the use of N95 masks as coronavirus prevention is not recommended for daily use. Leo Yee Sin, executive director of the National Center for Communicable Diseases in Singapore, told The Straits Times that when you wear an N95 mask and can still breathe, it means you are not using it properly.

N95 masks are usually only recommended for medical staff. The urgency of using N95 masks for the public only increases in certain situations, such as the appearance of haze. Its use is also not recommended for too long because it will make you have difficulty breathing.

For this reason, surgical masks or ordinary masks are still a recommendation if the aim is to prevent coronavirus infection. To be more productive, you can replace the mask with a new one for several hours or when the mask feels moist.

Whatever type of mask you use, depending on just one example of prevention will not provide maximum protection results.

Here are various efforts other than using a mask that you can do to prevent coronavirus infection as reported by Hello Sehat:

- Take supplements or multivitamins twice daily or as recommended.

Wash your hands with soap and water several times a day, also make sure to clean the area between the fingers. If not available, use a hand sanitizer with a minimum alcohol content of 60 percent.

- Avoid touching the face, especially on the eyes, nose, and mouth.

- Live a healthy diet by consuming foods that contain antioxidants to protect the body from viruses and bacteria.

-Enough rest. This habit will increase the body's immunity to be more immune to disease infections.

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