CDC confirms use of masks keep both public and wearer safe from virus

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The CDC announced that face masks could also protect the wearer from the virus, in addition to the first statement that it only keeps the public safe.
• Health experts observed that the non-wearing of a mask is the main factor with the higher infection rate in the U.S.
• Masks, such as N95, could filter down 0.1 microns of droplets, while coronavirus has a diameter of 0.12 microns.

In its recent statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said face masks protect both the wearer and the general public from coronavirus.

The CDC commendation, it’s most resounding since the pandemic started, emphasizes how effective mask-wearing is, and along with other worldwide protocols, it can help prevent lockdowns in the future. These procedures include other non-medicinal intercessions such as personal hygiene, social distancing, and sufficient ventilation.

CDC also noted that while the data discussing the actual efficiency of community mask-wearing are only about epidemiological and experimental studies, seven other research has confirmed the advantage of face masking.

The department also cited a study by Goldman Sachs conducted in June, which concluded that increased use of face mask by 15 percent would help prevent lockdown protocols and lessen pandemic related estimated losses of  $1 trillion.  

Scientists also echo the statement, saying that not wearing masks is a primary reason the U.S. infection rate is higher than in any other country. Coronavirus infected over 10 million people across the nation, yet some governors still hesitated to implement statewide mask-wearing.

COVID-19 spreads primarily by droplets in the air going into the respiratory system, especially when a person talks, sneeze,  cough, sneeze, or breathe.

Masks are designed to lessen the extent of droplets spread into the air, especially those from asymptomatic people who could be unaware they have the virus cause they feel well. These people with these conditions make about 50 percent of all spreads.

While CDC’s first recommendation for the nationwide use of the mask in April was for the public’s safety, the office said on Tuesday that it could also help decrease the risk of inhalation of the user by droplets of fewer than 10 microns.

CDC added that more studies are needed to distinguish the materials to be combined to take full advantage of its filtering and blocking features.

However, various research concluded that several layers of cloth with greater threads considerably better than one layer of fabric. In some instances, masks with such a feature could filter almost 50 percent of fewer than 1-micron particles.

Experts also confirmed that the COVID-19 virus is around 0.12 microns in size, and an N95 mask can filter 0.1 microns in diameter.

Source: The Hill