Use of Masks Reduces the Risk of Contracting Covid-19

JAKARTA – Some time ago there was a conflict about use of masks. Some experts believe that face mask can increase the risk of contracting it Covid-19, because by wearing masks people will touch their faces more often.

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But a new study finds if wearing a mask In times of pandemic this is something that is already right because it can provide more protection from the threat of infection and viruses.

Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, reviewed surveillance video footage to track the behavior of several people wearing masks and the number of times they touched their faces. The study monitored 4,699 people before the Covid-19 pandemic and 2,887 people during the pandemic.

They concluded that the local government’s recommendation to raise awareness by wearing masks was associated with reduced behavior for people to touch the face, especially touching the eyes, nose and mouth, so as to prevent transmission of Covid-19 contact in public places.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the study found about 1 in 10 study participants touched their faces. Meanwhile people in China and Japan are also much less likely to touch their face. During the pandemic, the number of people touching faces in China, South Korea and Western Europe decreased.

However, a separate study conducted by researchers at the University of California in San Francisco, United States found that wearing masks also significantly reduced face-touching behavior among US health care professionals.

Assistant professor at Stony Brook University, New York, USA, Hector E. Alcala, PhD, said that people who are aware of health messages about wearing masks may also pay more attention to warnings against their faces, so they don’t always touch them to prevent Covid-19 transmission.

“I think wearing a mask makes people more aware that we have these reflexive behaviors, such as touching our faces,” said Medical Director for Infection Prevention at Atrium Health in North Carolina, USA. Katie Passaretti as reported Healthline.

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He said that facial touch is expected to decrease as people become more accustomed to wearing masks and also wearing masks that fit comfortably. “If wearing a mask reduces facial touch, it can increase the strength of the health message to the public about the benefits of self-protection from masks. Not only to protect yourself but to protect others,” added Dr. Katie.

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