Buzz
During an outbreak, it's crucial for healthy individuals to know what steps to take, like washing hands. However, there are also things you should avoid doing, such as using items that offer little benefit and might even prevent those who really need them from accessing the resources. Face masks are one such example for most of us.
As mentioned earlier, surgical masks may help prevent you from passing germs to others, but they offer limited protection for you from coronavirus in public spaces. Respirators work better, but unless you're in a hospital or a high-risk area (like Wuhan), they're excessive.
What’s the issue then? If resources were unlimited, there wouldn’t be any problem. However, face masks are produced in limited quantities each year, with many manufactured in China. As Maryn McKenna writes here, China is prioritizing the need for these masks and other protective equipment domestically, reducing exports.
In today’s press conference, the World Health Organization’s director-general highlighted that the demand for masks and related items has surged by 100 times, with prices now reaching up to 20 times their normal rate. While such price hikes are expected during an epidemic, he notes: “This situation has been worsened by the excessive use of [personal protective equipment like masks] outside of patient care.”
The WHO is focused on getting supplies to the areas in greatest need, but reserves are running dangerously low. This is a pressing issue that could hinder healthcare professionals from effectively treating patients and controlling the virus’s spread within hospitals.
What You Can Do
Avoid purchasing masks out of panic—whether from fear of the virus or the concern that stocks will run out. Buying masks that you don’t need only complicates things for healthcare workers and people with legitimate medical conditions, like your neighbor who has asthma and uses a respirator for house cleaning.
If you have a medical need for masks, prioritize your safety. If you struggle to find or afford them, reach out to your doctor for guidance.
If you're worried about catching the coronavirus, it might be helpful to review the facts. Currently, there are only 12 reported cases in the US, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker; you're far more likely to catch a cold or the flu than coronavirus. While things can change, let’s allow the healthcare professionals responding to the outbreak to manage it properly.
If wearing a mask simply helps you feel more at ease, cloth masks might be a good option. You can even find simple sewing patterns online if you'd like to make your own. They aren’t as effective as respirators or disposable surgical masks, but they do offer some protection. You'll need to wash them daily, so having two or three will suffice, and you won’t need to keep buying disposable masks.
