A RESEARCHER said people should think about face masks for Covid-19 as they do for condoms for sexually transmitted infections.
David O’Connor, who studies viral diseases at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said protective face masks can act – like condoms – as a barrier to stop the transmission of viruses.
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The researcher, who is an expert in HIV and other viruses – including the new coronavirus – made the remarks highlighting that coronavirus can also be spread by people who feel healthy and have no symptoms.
He said: “If a substantial amount of transmission occurs before people feel sick, how do you stop that?
“By the time people feel sick and seek care, all the testing and isolation in the world would be too little, too late.”
Dr O’Connor added: “HIV is also spread while people feel fine and consistent, correct condom use is a barrier to sexual virus transmission that works.
BARRIER METHOD
“Face masks are a barrier method that might also need to be worn consistently and correctly to prevent transmission of this virus.”
The researcher said it is now time to “normalise face masks, and fast” – adding that kids should be wearing them when classes resume, as well as adults when they go to work or go out for leisure activities.
Dr O’Connor made the comments on masks and condoms after two research papers came out in the past week, the New York Times reports.
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One, appearing in Nature Medicine, said that vital shedding – when people are spreading active viruses by breathing, coughing or sneezing – can begin two to three days before any symptoms show up.
Another paper which was published in the journal Science reported that crab-eating macaques were susceptible to infection by the new coronavirus and that they appeared to be shedding the virus from their bodies almost as soon as they were infected.
The study suggested that even though monkeys never developed visible symptoms, the virus was detectable and their lungs showed damage similar to that caused by a disease such as Covid-19.
VISIBLE SYMPTOMS
Dr O’Connor said social distancing for everyone can help fight the spread of the virus – just as masks would do.
The researcher said there should be increased marketing to promote the use of face masks, just as it was done to encourage people to use condoms – suggesting ideas such as designer or more comfortable face masks.
University of San Francisco data scientists Jeremy Howard, who recently led a global review panel on the effectiveness of masks, said face masks are critical to fight COVID-19.
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He said: “It looks a lot like (face masks) could be one of our most important tools.”
The World Health Organisation main adviser David Heymann said wearing a masks “is equally effective or more effective than distancing.”
He added: “Even the people that the WHO are meant to be getting advice from are telling them this is perhaps the most critical tool in the toolbox.”
A report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said masks were particularly helpful for infectious people who did not have symptoms.
It said: “Medical face masks are recommended as a means of source control for persons who are symptomatic in order to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.”
It added: “A face mask may help reduce the spread of infection in the community by minimising the excretion of respiratory droplets from infected individuals who may not even know they are infected.”
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