There aren’t any masks that have been proven to protect against Covid-19.
For masks that are not well fitted (airtight), air “with theoretical viruses” freely penetrates through the gaps.
In the case of well-fitted masks, the pores that you breathe through are still too big to stop hypothetical viruses. This is similar to the situation in which someone puts on the window bars thinking that they will protect them from flies.
The mask fulfills its role, but only until it gets wet. Then it should be thrown away and replaced with a new one (because moisture causes sticking and multiplication of microorganisms from the air). Prolonged use of the same mask may cause infection.
Prolonged use of any mask, especially a sealed mask, threatens the health and even life. Chronic hypoxia can lead to problems such as:
exacerbation of existing diseases,
headaches and dizziness,
cognitive disorders or problems with the brain,
respiratory problems,
circulation problems,
increased risk of heart attack,
immune disorders.
As for the general public, probably no one follows the complicated instructions for using the mask. Wearing the mask in any other way than in accordance with the instructions does not prevent infection and harms your health.
Did you know that according to the procedure, the doctor should examine you before using the mask (To verify whether it will harm your health? You should also pass the mask fit test (more on that below).
If the person wearing the mask does not follow the instructions, the mask increases the risk of infection. The instructions are as follows:
Before putting on the mask, clean your hands with a preparation containing alcohol or wash with water and soap.
In the case of a surgical mask, locate the plaque located in its upper part, which after proper bending should adhere to the upper part of the nose.
The mask should cover the mouth, nose, and chin, but there should be no gap between the face and the mask.
Avoid touching the mask when using it. However, if this happens, you need to clean your hands with alcohol preparation or water and soap.
As soon as the mask becomes wet, it must be replaced with a new one.
Disposable masks should not be reused.
The mask should be removed by gripping the back, without touching the potentially infected front, and immediately discarded in a closed container.
After doing this, clean your hands with an alcoholic preparation or wash with water and soap.
Question: are there any people who abide by the above recommendations?
REASONS FOR FACE MASKS HARMFULNESS
How is it possible that face masks are key to protecting healthcare professionals but are ineffective or harmful to the general public?
The answer is relatively simple. For healthcare professionals, the face mask alone is only part of the much more comprehensive “Respiratory Protection Program” required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (29 CFR 1910.134). Only complete compliance with this standard guarantees that someone is actually protected.
THE MOST IMPORTANT EFFECT OF WEARING FACE MASK IS HYPOXIA
This is because a mask will protect against pollutants only if they fit snugly on a wearer’s face and there are as many facial structures as there are people. Often, well-fitting masks are hard to find and uncomfortable to wear. Even beards and facial hair may be obstructions to a good fit and could let in contaminated air, as some brands specify on their packaging.
While ill-fitting masks let in pollutants, mask that fit too tightly can also be problematic. A person wearing any kind of mask faces breathing resistance as air filters through the device, making the wearer work harder to inhale than he would without the mask. This can have several adverse physiological effects when the mask is worn for long periods of time. Moreover, carbon dioxide that is exhaled can get trapped in the chamber of the mask the re-enter the body each time the mask user inhales. This delivers less oxygen into the body than when the person is not wearing a mask.
“It can lead to oxygen shortage, suffocation, respiration trouble, and heart attacks,” said Dr. D Saha, scientist and additional director at the Central Pollution Control Board.
He pointed out that masks are a potential source of bacteria and viruses. “The moisture from exhalation inside the mask, when in constant contact with the 37 degrees Celsius warm human body, becomes ideal place for virus and bacteria to thrive,” he said. This could result in the growth of microbes on masks and aid the spread of airborne diseases like influenza.
Face masks – expert opinions
WHO: “Maybe masks can give a sense of security, but nothing else,” says Dr. Paloma Cuchí.
“Inappropriate masks can cause infections.” (Practical medicine for WHO)
https://www.mp.pl/pacjent/choroby-zakazne/koronawirus/koronawirus-aktualnosci/228841,who-maseczki-sa-dla-chorych-i-personelu-medycznego
https://pulsmedycyny.pl/who-same-maseczki-nie-wystarcza-do-ochrony-przed-koronawirusem-984624
Masks are not bulletproof vests that stop COVID-19 bullets and can be dangerous in the hands of amateurs. An Epidemiologist at the University of Boston, Professor Ellie Murray wrote on Twitter to describe in detail what is going on.
“Why masks may not work for everyone?” “Because masks are not so easy to use. The virus lands on your mask, and if you touch the mask with your hand or face, you can be infected. “
Nobel laureate and expert in the field of infectious diseases, Professor Peter Doherty, claims that the value of widespread use of masks has long been questioned. “It’s enough if the mask gets wet, from moisture in the breath, or because of nasal discharge, it is already a danger. You are really safer in the clean, fresh air than covered by a mask. “
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-why-wearing-masks-to-prevent-virus-is-dangerous/news-story/260f51737db29f0cc29b8c41c76eb14c
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7823790_Effects_of_wearing_N95_and_surgical_facemasks_on_heart_rate_thermal_stress_and_subjective_sensations
“The average healthy person does not need to have a mask, and they shouldn’t be wearing masks,” says Dr. Eli Perencevich, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa’s College of Medicine, according to Forbes.
“There’s no evidence that wearing masks on healthy people will protect them,” Perencevich said, the publication reported. “They wear them incorrectly, and they can increase the risk of infection because they’re touching their face more often.”
https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article240780786.html
Coronavirus UK: ‘Wearing a mask could do more harm than good’ warns, Dr. Hilary.
Viruses are so small and the spaces between the fibers so large that virus can easily pass through them. When you breathe in, the viruses easily enter with the air. It can hurt if you wear a mask, adjust it, it gets itchy and moist – which means you put your hand to your face more often. Wearing a mask can do more harm than good. If the mask gets wet, it even catches viruses. “
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer in England, recently said that “there are no masks that have been proven to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
Just a few days ago, the US General Surgeon announced that the masks “are NOT effective in preventing the coronavirus from being caught by the general public.”
Scientists compare the damaging effects of various face masks on the cardiovascular system, thermoregulation, and well-being.
https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/14/coronavirus-uk-wearing-mask-harm-good-warns-dr-hilary-12552448/
And a handful of recommendations based on the article “Why N95 masks (only recommended) are not helpful.
“Scarves, headbands, handkerchiefs, and anything that is not N95 or better (N100, P99, P100, etc.) are not helpful.
In one of the statements of CA Dept. of Public Health writes: “Wearing a mask can actually be harmful to some people with heart or lung disease because it can make the lungs work harder.”
The California Department of Public Health notes: “Children should not wear these masks – they do not fit properly and may cause difficulty in breathing.
People in rooms should not wear masks. (masks can reduce breathing and increase carbon dioxide breathing, worsening well-being).
People with beards should not wear masks (the air will come out from the edges, it will not be filtered anyway, and the mask will just make breathing difficult without real filtering).
Dr. Fred Herkowitz, who specializes in treating lung diseases in Oakland, says: “The N95 mask may make it difficult for the user to breathe because of carbon dioxide buildup, which reduces oxygen uptake, leading to increased respiratory rate and heart rate.”
Recommendations in different countries
In Japan, the effectiveness of wearing a face mask to protect against a virus has been found to be limited, especially in the open air.
Similar recommendations apply in Great Britain and Germany. At the same time, they indicate that (…) there is insufficient evidence that masks can provide effective protection against respiratory infections in society.
WHO emphasizes that wearing the mask in situations where this is not recommended may create a false sense of security and lead to disregard for other basic preventive measures. It should also be borne in mind that improper use of a disposable mask, e.g. too long, weakens the protective effect and may even promote infection.
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