Was your Covid era mask a continuous companion or is it a dust? The relationship of the Americans to concealment was fraught with risks (and politicized) since the beginning of the epidemic, while many have been extending the mandate to wear it while others did not leave their home below the level of protection.
Five years later, are we close to a happy compromise? The mask requirements have stopped significantly, and determine whether one should be worn on the individual. Some people make this choice, especially during the cold and influenza season, although the polling indicates that masks are less common and less attractive these days. Here is how we got here – and what do we know about the current situation of concealment in the United States
The mask culture was already present for a period of time – not only in the United States
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, you rarely see any American outside the operating room wearing surgical masks-and you may raise a lot of eyebrows if you are wearing one in public places. but Dr. David WallYahoo Life, a professor of infectious diseases at North Carolina University, tells that in parts of Asia it was somewhat common, especially when he suffers from a respiratory disease who did not want to spread.
As Voice of America (voa) reports, people were in countries like China and Japan Wearing masks for decades For many reasons – from preventing air pollution to placing a “social protection wall” to avoid embarrassing reactions on public transport. But the mask has become particularly prevalent during The outbreak of SARS in 2002; After that, it was normal for people, especially in crowded cities, wearing a mask in public places as courtesy for others if they feel under the weather.
Wohl says that regular outbreaks of respiratory viruses in that part of the world have most likely pushed many people to integrate the mask into daily life, as well as “a sense of responsibility for not passing infection to others.” In this way, the mask has become a common courtesy, such as covering your mouth at sneezing or coughing-which makes the surgical mask more than the act of altruism than it is self-preservation.
“I assume that wearing a mask, especially when I sometimes counted because of giving a lesson after some successive hours, makes others feel safe,” said one of the Covid intermediate school teacher. “This is not only for myself, but a way to reduce the fear of people around me.”
But here in the United States, we do not have “the same kind of social awareness.” “We are likely to wear masks to avoid infection rather than preventing the transmission of germs to others.”
Photo clarification: Yahoo News, Pictures: Getty Images
Five years later, are the Americans still hiding?
Even at the height of the epidemic, how many people are masked greatly on the place where they lived, and this is likely the case today. Dr. Jessica GutmanColumbia University of Medicine and Epidemiology says that it may be different anywhere, but in New York City, where she works, it has become common to see some people who hide in public places.
Dr. Rachel AmdourYahoo Life, a professor of assistant medicine at the University of North Western, tells that the United States is not at the same level of comfort while wearing masks in public places like countries in Asia, it is now common to see people wearing masks in public places here of what it was before Covid reached the scene.
and Dr. Dean WinsloStanford’s medical professor, Yahoo Life, tells that he is still wearing a mask when he is in a crowded place and at home. He adds that hiding more healthcare settings – not only in the operating room – is also less than anomaly.
“As health care providers, we still have to wear a mask with face-to-face confrontations with our patients to avoid, probably, causing infection in our patients-many of them suffer from immunodeficiency,” says Winslo.
Wall says he is a “fan” when he sees people of all ages wearing masks in public places, such as on aircraft and supermarkets, and it is speculated that some of these persuasion may have weaker immune systems, “while others are not in mood of the disease.”
And in California and the regions I was affected by the smoke of the wildfireHe also saw the mask a recent boost Health experts encouraged N95 masks To protect against dangerous particles in the air.
Still, talk Pi -Pio Research Center It reveals that although the mask tools are still there, they are few and far-far-and their numbers have decreased since the beginning of the epidemic. According to PEW, 80 % of Americans say they rarely wear a mask or never wear in stores or companies. Four years ago, these numbers were reversed, as 88 % of Americans said they were wearing a mask or face covering stores all the time last month.
Although most Americans (74 %) say they believe it is very important or very important for sick people to avoid contact with vulnerable people, they are less enthusiastic to take measures to protect others; 43 % of Americans feel it is extremely important to wear a mask in crowded places when you have cold -like symptoms.
In fact, Piu found that masks are now so unbelievable that even The gap between Republicans and Democrats I narrowed. Once it was politicized, the mask was almost ignored almost by the two parties, with only 6 % of Democrats and 2 % of Republicans saying they were wearing one last month. (Party differences were less difficult, when they were asked if they were wearing a mask Ever Recently – with 76 % of Republicans and 47 % of Democrats they say they have never been long last month.)
Photo clarification: Yahoo News, Pictures: Getty Images
When the masks do (and when you don’t do it)
Our knowledge of masks has evolved – and what success and what does not succeed – over the past five years. Wohl says that some mockery about masks and whether it had already sided with the spread of infection, most likely, was rooted in resisting mitigation measures imposed during the peak of the epidemic – but this does not detract from Its effectiveness.
“The truth is that we may not like to wear masks, but they protect us from getting and giving Covid-19 and other respiratory infections,” says Wall.
Of course, not all masks are created equally. While most of us do not work in the field of health care he never thought about the advantages of N95 versus a surgical mask, ordinary people are more aware. Wohl notes that any of the middle schools can tell you that although the Pandana fabric does not match a person who is in nearby quarters, and that N95 respirators are the golden standard for protection, surgical masks are a good mid -floor – as they achieved a decent balance between cost, easy and effective.
Winloow says that when installing them properly, N95 masks provide excellent protection for all of its wearers and around them. “However, N95 masks are uncomfortable to wear long periods of time, you need to install it and very expensive,” explains Winslo. “In contrast, the surgery masks are inexpensive and comfortable to wear.”
But while surgical masks provide some protection for the wee, Winslo says, they are the most effective in preventing their wearer from spreading viruses to others.
However, Amdur says we “have a long way” with an understanding of how masks work to prevent respiratory disease. Meanwhile, it says it is good to wear a mask in public places if you have symptoms of the upper respiratory virus – such as nasal congestion, sore throat or fever – or if you are immune and in a crowded public space. Justman also suggests hiding Matthew RSV cases, influenza and flood In your area high.
