We’ve seen the news stories and internet stories about he coronavirus!  The outbreak has been a lead feature in the news.  Is there a solution to isolate the virus, which is HIGHLY contagious?

One thing we’ve all seen that people have in common…the are wearing surgical masks when outside or in a public place.  It raises the question, do surgical masks prevent the spread of viruses?

You’ll be disappointed to know…there is not a simple yes or no answer.

Here’s the main function of a surgical mask…it can’t protect you from other people, but it’s job is to protect other people from your germs. if you were to cough or sneeze while wearing the mask, all those droplets  end up on the inside of your mask. This reduces the amount of potentially virus-laden droplets and sneeze sprays that people around you are exposed to…this is the very reason surgeons wear masks during surgery.  If you go to a clinic and you have cold or flu symptoms, you might be asked to wear a mask in the waiting room.

Here’s where it may get a little fuzzy…If you want to have a first line of defense from catching a cold or flu, you’ll need to use a tight-fitting N95 mask.

“Say what,” you ask?  What’s that letter mean??  The letter means the mask’s function when exposed to petroleum….still confused??  Don’t worry, we will try to explain!

First things first….3 letters indicate something…”N” means it is NOT resistant to petroleum.  “R” means somewhat and “P” meaning strongly resistant to petroleum.

Then, the number indicates the percentage of particles it blocks, which includes particles as small as a single virus.  When you breathe in wearing a N95 mask, it filters the air and particles above a certain size cannot get through.  In fact, hospital staff treating suspected coronavirus patients are also recommended to wear an N95 mask to see those patients.

Here is the “straight to it” info from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  They don’t recommend either one for everyday protection from other people’s germs.  Now listen up to this….constant hand washing, covering your face when coughing and/or sneezing and not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean.

And while you may see many Asian cultures wearing surgical masks, they have become more of a fashion statement for the younger generations. However a general understanding of a person wearing a surgical mask in public is that the person wearing it is not feeling well and a sign to stay clear.

Just wash your hands with warm water and soap!