Do face masks protect against Covid-19?
From all the information we got from all around the scientific and not scientific articles during this strange and unforgettable period, the evidence is that covid-19 is transmitted by the small particles of saliva coming from our mouth during every breath every word or sound we make.
Based on this simple and intuitive evidence, we could generally say that wearing face mask does work against Corona virus transmission.
Face mask are our barrier against the saliva of other people around us and so are the barrier solution against the transmission of Coronavirus?
Answer to this question is not easy and probably we are not enough prepared to do it, but for sure we can say that, as mentioned in our previous article on the way to better use face masks, Governments all over the world and W.H.O. recommended them as prevention measure against covid-19 threats and our sartorial face masks, although not medical devices, are made according to these guidelines.
A paper from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in America reports that masks are the most effective means of virus prevention among people; social distancing, quarantining and contact tracing are the best way of halting the pandemic.
Evidence and uses around the World
Watching the latest survey of YouGov, we discover what is really happening across Europe, where many people won’t wear face masks. As mentioned by the survey until February 2020, as the pandemic began to spread from China, only a tiny proportion of people across Europe were wearing masks, probably at that stage we all were not so aware about the dangers of the pandemic we were going to face.
The situation and our awareness changed by the end of June 2020, when mask-wearing had become widely accepted in Spain (86%), Italy (81%), and France (78%).
In contrast, face-covering habits hardly changed in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Only 5% of people in those countries said they wore masks in public places. In Britain the rate is higher, but has climbed to just 31%.
Many Americans are also reluctant to wear face-masks, although 71% say they wear them in public spaces, certain states are witnessing a serious backlash.
In East Asia, which has had more recent experience in dealing with outbreaks of respiratory disease, masks are nearly ubiquitous, which may be one reason why so many countries in the region appear to have been quick to fight the spread of the virus.
Different policies drive to different uses around EU
Also valuating the different policies of Governments around Europe influence the way European citizens consider to wear face mask. At least 18 European countries have made masks compulsory in certain spaces. But detailed rules vary greatly: Denmark requires them only in airports; Poles must wear them in shops, on public transport or in any public area where they cannot maintain a two-meter distance. Those countries that have been much more impacted by the pandemic as Spain, Italy and France and that imposed the use of face mask are now reporting less than one new case a day per 100,000 people. Otherwise in Sweden, which never formally locked down or required masks, the virus is spreading nearly five times faster. Public-health officials say masks do not entirely protect wearers from contracting covid-19. However, they do help stop its spread.
The Fleece method
We definitely use our Sartorial face mask to defend from the virus, but also in order to respect law around the world, using them outside, when social distancing is not easy to respect, and inside public places such as airports, train stations and bar or restaurants.
We really hope we will be able to enjoy this summer using our face mask and respecting all the rules of social distancing, avoiding the return of pandemic crisis but also enjoying the best season of the year.
So basically our suggestions are:
- Enjoy your summer
- Use our sartorial face mask
- Respect rules of social distancing and stay safe
Gerardo,
TFM