24 May 2020 Your mask can protect you – stay healthy!
There are a number of factors which have deterred some individuals from wearing masks or from wearing it correctly. Many have embraced the wearing of masks by buying or making their own colourful homemade varieties around their ears, while healthcare workers and other medical responders mainly wear N95 masks. There are, however, two distinct differences between cloth masks and N95 masks. Cloth masks protect people around the wearer, whereas respirator N95 masks protect the wearer from those around him or her.
The main benefit of wearing a mask is that it provides a bit of respiratory protection which can reduce depositing of droplets of the virus on surfaces and to others. Preventing a person from spreading the disease to others is important, because some people do not show any symptoms.
“We now understand that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms and are therefore referred to as asymptomatic, said Gerhard Otto, Head of Garden Route District Municipality’s Disaster Management Centre. He further explains: “Those who eventually develop symptoms are called pre-symptomatic and can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.”
Why should you wear a mask?
The virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity — for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing — even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. This is important to note because one cough can produce up to 3 000 droplets. A recent study showed that humans spray thousands of droplets invisible to the naked eye into the air just by uttering the words “stay healthy”.
Remember wearing a mask is a precaution and courtesy to yourself and those nearby.
The GRDM Command Cenre therefore recommends that members of the public wear cloth face coverings in public settings. Businesses also have the right to prevent members of the public who are not wearing masks from entering their premises.
Keep your masks clean
When combined with proper hand washing and social distancing, masks may help the spread of COVID-19 in a community.
Remember to:
- iron your mask after use or leave it in the sun;
- avoid handling a mask without washing your hands;
- wash your mask daily or after every extended use; and
- wash your mask with a detergent containing bleach or a bleach-like ingredient, dry it, and it is good to go.
Five golden rules of good hygiene
- Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and safely throw away the tissue
- Keep 1,5 metres apart from others
- Stay home if unwell. Contact a hotline or your health worker
Remember just because you can’t see the virus doesn’t mean that it is not there. Always wear your mask when required and badly fitting masks won’t protect you – wear your mask and wear it correctly to stay healthy.
- National hotline: 0800 029 999
- Provincial hotline: 021 928 4102
- National WhatsApp: 0600 123 456
Media Queries
Herman Pieters | Senior Communicator
Garden Route District Municipality
E-mail: communications@gardenroute.gov.za