Settling the Debate: Are Masks Effective? By: Sarah Levine

                                                               

                          The Answers Are In: And The Results Are Not So Shocking

    Among a few other topics, the mask mandate put in March has been one of the most debated topics in pop culture today. Since then, the public has received plenty of information to make an educated, selfless decision, yet some have done better than others. According to the CDC, Johns Hopkins, The Mayo Clinic, and Dr.Jerome Levine masks are effective and are necessary to combat Covid-19. Despite what politicians, religious groups, and political parties state, science doesn't lie.

    First, the science behind the masks. A cloth mask is intended to trap droplets that are released when the wearer talks, coughs, or sneezes. This is called source control. Asking everyone to wear cloth masks can help reduce the spread of the virus by people who have COVID-19 but don't realize it. Cloth face coverings are most likely to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus when they are widely used by people in public settings. And countries that required face masks, testing, isolation, and social distancing early in the pandemic have successfully slowed the spread of the virus. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449. 

    People who should wear a mask are all people 2 years of age and older wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. That’s why it’s important for everyone to wear masks in public settings and practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people). As well as caregivers of people with Covid-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html. 

    Millions of anti maskers have brought up the point of herd immunity, but Johns Hopkins has made it very clear about the probability of achieving herd immunity. To reach herd immunity for COVID-19, likely 70% or more of the population would need to be immune. Without a vaccine, over 200 million Americans would have to get infected before we reach this threshold. Put another way, even if the current pace of the COVID-19 pandemic continues in the United States, we won’t reach herd immunity in 2021. If current daily death rates continue, over half a million Americans would be dead from COVID-19 by that time. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/from-our-experts/early-herd-immunity-against-covid-19-a-dangerous-misconception

                                                    

    The way to properly wear your mask is to wash your hands before putting on your mask, put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin, try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face, make sure you can breathe easily, and CDC does not recommend use of masks or cloth masks for source control if they have an exhalation valve or vent.https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html

    To summarize, masks should be worn in the appropriate setting at all times because they not only protect yourself, but they protect others. As the words of newly retired infectious disease doctor, Dr.Jerome Levine, "You don't know its there and you don't know its coming, which is why you should take every precautionary measure possible to prevent it." Masks save lives, get on board, or get out.

                                            https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/reasons-for-masks.html