Mask or No Mask?
2020-04-03
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1Experts seem to agree: If you are not a health care worker, do not buy N95 masks, long considered the best of protective masks.
2They will not help you much, and they are in extremely short supply for the people who need them most: health care workers trying to protect themselves from COVID-19 while saving lives.
3However, there is still debate over whether everyone should wear some kind of face covering when they leave their homes.
4Staying home and limiting contact with groups of people remain the best ways to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
5But some experts suggest that some kind of face covering may help, too -- not by protecting the wearer from infection, but by protecting others from the wearer.
6There is growing evidence that people can spread the disease without having signs of sickness themselves.
7Two studies have linked 6 percent to 13 percent of infections to people who were not showing any signs of infections themselves.
8The new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, spreads mostly through small drops of liquid that infected people expel from their mouths.
9That happens when they cough or sneeze. But it can also happen when they talk or sing.
10If virus-infected drops of liquid land on surfaces, people who touch the surface get the drops on their hands.
11From the hands, it is a short trip to the eyes, nose or mouth.
12Masks may help by blocking at least some of those droplets.
13"I don't think it's going to be the most effective tool in our toolbox, but I think it might help," said Tim Schacker.
14He is vice dean for research at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
15However, he added, "this is a tough question because like all things COVID, we lack data."
16There is not much definitive research on how well face masks of any kind work to prevent any disease, and even less research for a new disease like COVID-19.
17N95 masks generally are best for preventing someone from catching a virus.
18When used correctly, they fit closely onto the face and block more particles than most other masks.
19However, many people do not use them correctly.
20They often do not get a tight enough fit, which largely defeats the purpose of the masks.
21Dr. Chongfei Jin works at Patient First in the state of Virginia.
22He said there are many videos available online that show how to wear the mask the right way.
23He said, "I just want to remind the public three things: Avoid inside out. Avoid upside down. And cover your nose as well."
24Health care workers are facing serious shortages in part because the panicked public has bought N95 masks for themselves.
25"If they run out of masks, then it's very difficult for them to stay healthy to take care of you and me when we get sick," said Jon Andrus, a professor of global health at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
26Surgical masks are another popular choice.
27But experts say they provide limited protection from the coronavirus since they do not fit as closely to the face.
28They may help prevent the wearer from infecting others.
29But again, the masks should be saved for health care workers.
30Some cloth masks may also help protect the public too.
31But it is not clear how much protection different kinds of fabric provide.
32Some efforts have aimed to ask the public to sew fabric masks for health care workers facing extreme shortages.
33But, these homemade masks do not provide the usual level of protection.
34One study from 2013 states, "A homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals."
35The researchers added, "But it would be better than no protection."
36Jin, the Virginia doctor, said a "homemade mask, I believe that is the last resort. If you have a surgical mask, please use the surgical mask [as] that's much better."
37Andrus, the global health professor, is worried that masks will give wearers a false sense of security.
38Wearing a mask of any kind is no substitute for social distancing, he said.
39But, "This is a war," he added. "Anything we can do to minimize risk is critically important."
40I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Experts seem to agree: If you are not a health care worker, do not buy N95 masks, long considered the best of protective masks. 2They will not help you much, and they are in extremely short supply for the people who need them most: health care workers trying to protect themselves from COVID-19 while saving lives. 3However, there is still debate over whether everyone should wear some kind of face covering when they leave their homes. 4Staying home and limiting contact with groups of people remain the best ways to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. 5But some experts suggest that some kind of face covering may help, too -- not by protecting the wearer from infection, but by protecting others from the wearer. 6There is growing evidence that people can spread the disease without having signs of sickness themselves. Two studies have linked 6 percent to 13 percent of infections to people who were not showing any signs of infections themselves. 7The new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, spreads mostly through small drops of liquid that infected people expel from their mouths. That happens when they cough or sneeze. But it can also happen when they talk or sing. 8If virus-infected drops of liquid land on surfaces, people who touch the surface get the drops on their hands. From the hands, it is a short trip to the eyes, nose or mouth. Masks may help by blocking at least some of those droplets. 9"I don't think it's going to be the most effective tool in our toolbox, but I think it might help," said Tim Schacker. He is vice dean for research at the University of Minnesota Medical School. 10However, he added, "this is a tough question because like all things COVID, we lack data." 11There is not much definitive research on how well face masks of any kind work to prevent any disease, and even less research for a new disease like COVID-19. 12N95 masks generally are best for preventing someone from catching a virus. When used correctly, they fit closely onto the face and block more particles than most other masks. 13However, many people do not use them correctly. They often do not get a tight enough fit, which largely defeats the purpose of the masks. 14Dr. Chongfei Jin works at Patient First in the state of Virginia. He said there are many videos available online that show how to wear the mask the right way. 15He said, "I just want to remind the public three things: Avoid inside out. Avoid upside down. And cover your nose as well." 16Health care workers are facing serious shortages in part because the panicked public has bought N95 masks for themselves. 17"If they run out of masks, then it's very difficult for them to stay healthy to take care of you and me when we get sick," said Jon Andrus, a professor of global health at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 18Surgical masks are another popular choice. But experts say they provide limited protection from the coronavirus since they do not fit as closely to the face. They may help prevent the wearer from infecting others. But again, the masks should be saved for health care workers. 19Some cloth masks may also help protect the public too. But it is not clear how much protection different kinds of fabric provide. 20Some efforts have aimed to ask the public to sew fabric masks for health care workers facing extreme shortages. But, these homemade masks do not provide the usual level of protection. 21One study from 2013 states, "A homemade mask should only be considered as a last resort to prevent droplet transmission from infected individuals." The researchers added, "But it would be better than no protection." 22Jin, the Virginia doctor, said a "homemade mask, I believe that is the last resort. If you have a surgical mask, please use the surgical mask [as] that's much better." 23Andrus, the global health professor, is worried that masks will give wearers a false sense of security. Wearing a mask of any kind is no substitute for social distancing, he said. 24But, "This is a war," he added. "Anything we can do to minimize risk is critically important." 25I'm Ashley Thompson. 26Steve Baragona reported this story for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 27_____________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29droplet - n. a very small drop of liquid 30tough - adj. very difficult to do or deal with 31tight - adj. difficult to move : fastened, attached, or held in a position that is not easy to move 32surgical - adj. of or relating to the process of performing a medical operation 33global - adj. involving the whole world 34sew - v. to make or repair something (such as a piece of clothing) by using a needle and thread