The real reason you should not reuse your disposable face mask
Some facial masks are for one reason for a reason. Here's why use them again could be dangerous.
See peoplemasks to protect themselves and the other coronaviruses have been alarming to a surprisingly normal part of everyday life since thePandemic of Covid-19 hit. However, when it comes to reducing your risk of contracting the virus or infecting them unintentionally, you can make a crucial mistake daily: reuse your disposable mask.
While disease control and prevention control centers (CDC) recommended to peopleWear fabric face coatings-whocan be cleaned effectively with detergent and water - to help reduceCoronavirus transmission person-to-person, experts say that the reuse of adisposable The mask can actually do more harm than good.
"The risk of reusing your disposable facial mask is simply a contamination and cross-contamination," says the doctorEnchant Jenkins, MD. "If this mask has been contaminated with viruses or bacteria ... then your face / hands will be contaminated; you may also inhale some infection particles."
Disposable masks can not be efficiently cleaned with soap and water like their fabric counterparts - and because the spraying of disinfectants on them can cause dermatological and respiratory problems - once theThe virus is on themIt will probably continue to spread to other surfaces, which will cause an infection potentially until it is exchanged for a new one.
In fact, research suggests that prolonged use of disposable masks, even in otherwise sterile surgical settings, can cause cross-contamination. In a 2018 study published in theOrthopedic translation log, theBacterial account on disposable masks of surgeons Increasing the direct proportion of the time they have been worn, the study researchers recommend that disposable surgical masks are changing frequently throughout the day.
For the best means of protection, Jenkins recommends leaving the surgical masks of front-line health workers, who should change them after the meeting of each patient, while the fabric and frequent maskshand washing and physical distancing "are the best methods for the laity who want to stibrate the spread of the virus. And for more ways to protect yourself, be sure to avoid these7 things you should never do with your face mask.