Essay on Importance of Wearing a Mask for COVID-19 Virus

Currently, the world is experiencing the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Coronavirus is a deadly respiratory illness that causes fever, general weakness, and shortness of breath. This new virus spreads quickly through droplet particles released into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. When a healthy person gets into contact with such particles, they are bound to get infected. However, the widespread of the virus can be reduced with the use of masks. Using face masks prevents the coronavirus particles from spreading even when an infected person coughs (Haleem et al. 78). Wearing masks is a crucial preventative strategy as it reduces the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Masks are a vital measure to save lives and suppress the transmission of coronavirus. Masks act as a barrier to block the virus-containing particles from escaping from an infected individual and landing on a healthy person. A research by Florida Atlantic University demonstrates the effectiveness of covering the face stating that the number of droplets dispersed in the air can be decreased and the distance they travel (Kenyon 23). Coronavirus droplets can travel more than 8 feet without a mask. The study notes that a bandanna reduces the distance to 3 feet, 7 inches, and the distance is further decreased to more than 1 foot 3 inches with a folded handkerchief placed over the nose and mouth. As such it is indisputable that even a cloth face-covering substantially reduces the speed at which coronavirus is spread from person to person.

Wearing a face mask is crucial as a person may not realize that they are contagious. Initially, masks were only recommended for people that had already contracted the virus. However, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention later stretched its guidelines advising every person to wear a cloth face-covering in public (Smyth 54). Such an advocate was after realizing that people can transmit the virus before they even begin to show the symptoms and some people could have been asymptomatic. A recent finding indicates that 40% of the population infected with coronavirus never portray the COVID-19 symptoms. As a result, making it extremely challenging to establish potential transmitters of the virus (Haleem 84). That is why regardless of whether a person is healthy or not, wearing a mask is highly recommended by several organizations such as the World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control.

Findings from Ford, et al. (49) reveal that the person wearing a mask is protected from the coronavirus; however, the protective perks are more noticeable when every person in society covers their nose and mouth. The more people block the spread of coronavirus by wearing masks, the less virus there is circulating in public. In agreement, Kenyon (25) posits that the power of widespread community use of masks is immense. For instance, a report published World Health Organisation indicates that states with face mask directives have a higher reduction in the regular COVID-19 spread rates than states that do not have such mandates issued. The report indicates that an estimated 450,000 coronavirus cases in the United States have been prevented from the mask policies (Haleem et al. 89). Similarly, the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington postulates that more than 34, 000 people can be saved from the COVID-19 infection in the near months once people adhere to wearing masks. With evidence from such findings it is clear that wearing masks reduces the transmission of coronavirus. When people wear the masks correctly, covering the mouth and nose, the coronavirus droplets are contained from spreading to another person when closer than the six-foot social distance.

Most importantly, wearing masks can lead to the recovery of the economy. Recent findings from Ford et al. (66) reveal that directives of a national face mask can act as an alternative for lockdowns. The increase in coronavirus cases has caused some countries to re-consider the re-opening of businesses with the fear of the virus spreading fast to cause more lockdowns, yet this is damaging for the economy. Lockdown slows business growth as physical operations are reduced and leads to the unemployment of several people, thus reducing the circulation of money in the economy (Smyth 63). However, the widespread incorporation of masks can significantly reduce the rate at which the virus spreads, thus preventing the need for lockdowns. Besides, without lockdowns, businesses can operate normally, thus avoiding the possible decline of the economy.

In summary, coronavirus is a deadly disease that has cost many people’s lives across the globe. The virus spreads quickly through the droplet particles released into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. Several measures have been incorporated to reduce the spread of the virus, and face masks are no exception. Once people adapt to the use of masks, the virus is contained and prevented from spreading. Aside from that, some people do not show symptoms of the coronavirus. In such cases, every person is obligated to wear masks since they may not be aware that they are sick and in a position to spread the virus to other people in society. The face mask protects not only the person wearing it but also the people in the surrounding.

Works Cited

Ford, N., et al. “Mask Use in Community Settings in the Context of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Ecological Data.” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/content/117/26/14857/tab-article-info

Haleem, Abid, Mohd Javaid, and Raju Vaishya. “Effects of COVID-19 pandemic in daily life.” Current medicine research and practice 10.2 (2020): 78.

Kenyon, Chris. “Widespread use of face masks in public may slow the spread of SARS CoV-2: an ecological study.” 2020. Retrieved from https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/pt/ppmedrxiv-20048652

Smyth, Beatrice. “Review of “The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.”.” 2021. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/content/117/26/14857/tab-article-info