We are approaching 400 identified cases here in our city, which may still only represent about 20% of the actual number. We may be nearing the peak of the COVID-19 crisis and, rightfully so, our stay-at-home directive remains in place. Yet, my household is out of goldfish crackers and I need to replenish supplies before my kids revolt. You may be in a similar predicament. So how do we stay safe while making that essential shopping run?
We lasted two weeks (which is pretty good in my opinion) but I had to leave the safety of home to restock on groceries over the weekend. A few days earlier, the CDC released new guidance on the public use of face coverings. The Governor of New Jersey followed suit, requiring all retail store customers to wear a face covering while shopping. So to keep myself safe – in addition to distancing from other shoppers and not touching my face – I donned a medical-grade face mask that I fortunately had at home.
Why face coverings?
Lets start with the why. Why should we wear a face covering? First, notice I am saying face covering and not mask. The CDC was intentional in saying this in its guidelines. The reason is because we are already experiencing a shortage of medical grade masks in many places around the country. And in the worst possible places – hospitals. Our front-line healthcare providers are the ones who need these masks the most. I am not just talking about the N95 mask, which is the “top-of-the-line” medical respirator used to filter 95% of all airborne particles. I am also talking about the “run-of-the-mill” surgical masks. The CDC recommends wearing face “coverings” as opposed to “masks” to keep the already limited supply from dwindling even further.
Wait, so any old scarf will do the job? These is where we need some science. Those run-of-the-mill surgical masks don’t filter airborne particles. Instead they keep fluid droplets from coming in, and more importantly, from coming out of the person wearing the mask. Because COVID-19 is transmitted by liquid droplets, wearing any fabric face covering – be it a surgical mask or a bandanna – will keep those fluid droplets from getting into – or out of – the nose and mouth. Many COVID-19 spreaders are either asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, and those individuals can prevent spreading the virus by breathing through a face covering.
This is a good thing, right?
Yes, and no. While wearing a face covering can reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus in public, it can also provide a false sense of security. In a way, wearing a mask can mask the true risk.
Masks do not replace social distancing. If you need to leave home, one of the best preventative measures is to stay away from people. It sounds rude, but its not. It’s rude to invade someone’s 6 foot force field. Just because you have a face mask does not mean you can relax the other social distancing measures.
Whats worse, I fear, is that the face covering recommendatios could actually backfire. What I saw at the grocery store was alarming. While it was great to see nearly everyone wearing a face covering, nearly everyone I saw was also constantly fidgeting with those face coverings.
The CDC is recommending that we make our own face covering. These homemade, make shift masks can be bulky, uncomfortable, and/or really hot, especially indoors, especially if you are using a scarf. Anyone not used to wearing a mask, even a medical-grade mask, might be tempted to adjust and play with the mask to get a better fit. Each time you touch your mask, you risk bringing the virus to your face from your hands, even if you are wearing gloves.
Unmasking the issues
The COVID-19 pandemic has unmasked a number of issues with regard to the use of face masks in the US. Ideally, everyone would already own a medical-grade mask, know how to use it, and be comfortable using it. Unfortunately, none of these are true for the average American.
Much of this stems from our fear of masks in public. Mask wearing is highly stigmatized in the US. Here, someone wearing a mask invokes fear. In many Asian cultures and countries, masks are worn regularly to prevent the spread of disease. A person who is ill wears a mask out of respect for others, as a precaution. If we had the same cultural understanding here, we would be more likely to own and be comfortable using masks. We might also be avoiding the current crushing demand for masks, weighing heavily on the healthcare system.
Instead, our fear of masks, our lack of understanding about masks, and our limited supply of masks have left us unprepared and scrambling. Not just individuals scrambling to create face coverings, but federal agencies scrambling to provide guidelines and hope that people will change their long-standing behaviors. Hopefully, now and after the COVID-19 crisis, masks are no longer seen as weird. They are seen as a courtesy. We should expect – and hope – that masks become a part of our new normal. They are already becoming the new must-post social media selfie. #covidmask