I am using a mask since January 20. Every week, the government sells sets of 10 masks per person in local drugstores and other facilities for around 1 US dollar. Everybody uses a mask and buy them. If anyone enters a supermarket, a public building, a school, a bus without a mask won't be allowed to access them. If I walk in the street, in a public garden, or even on a beach without a mask, people will come to me to call my attention and to hand me a mask. I live in Macau where we had 48 cases and no new cases in the last 6 months. Nonetheless, prevention continues. The mask "debate" clearly shows up the difference between societies that praise community and family bonds and those downturned in the most egocentric ideas of radical individualism and complete personalization of collective social life. We still need a sense of community social responsibility and the social bonds of family and neighborhood that any social virtual network is unable to give us.

It would definitely help. That's what's been done very effectively in Asia.

It can, if you wear it properly. When it is used on you face you should never touch the mask with you hands because your hands could be contaminated from else where and you shall contract the infection to yourself.

Most important thing in prevention is to stay at home and if any body is forced to go outside for an emergency, wear the mask and when returning home, hands should be washed properly and thoroughly and then apply alcohol 70% all clothes you wore should also be washed. But it is preferable to stay home.

There is a shortage of masks and currently I spray alcohol on them and leave it to evaporate and reuse masks

Face masks reduce the dose of infectious aerosol by inhalation three times for particles less than 1 micron, and almost completely protect against particles larger than 5 microns. It is important to understand that this is a misconception that only infected individuals should wear masks - I do not understand where this misconception came from. Absolutely everyone should wear masks, moreover, even ordinary dressings on the face have an effect.

Important and comprehensive data in the last work published:

Preprint Respiratory Virus Shedding in Exhaled Breath and Efficacy of...

Proper use of face mask will certainly minimize the chances of infectious pathogens to enter through respiratory tract.

I always apply Vaseline in both nostrils and apply face mask whenever I go out to purchase medicines at this critical time when Coronavirus has gripped the world.

It is the same physical protection that has been used against other viruses as in the case of the human immunodeficiency virus always depends on the route of entry of the infection as it was and is the use of the condom. In the corona virus it is basically the respiratory route. Of course, the rest of the recommended protection measures must be added.

Where there is a shortage of masks, as in the US, if you recommend masks in public, you will get homegrown solutions that fit poorly, leading to more face touching and tugging. The more urgent measure is that people stay home unless they are in essential work, and maintain distancing outdoors. In Asia, outdoor distancing was not as feasible as here due to density and how housing/commercial places are laid out.

See https://www.mdlinx.com/hospital-administration/top-medical-news/article/2020/03/18/7622431 for the case against general mask wearing.

If people in the US want to cut and sew masks, many health care facilities would be happy for them, and there are patterns on line.

But many people are in the street and not use masks.

https://www.maskssavelives.org/

It depends also on the economic, sociodemographic and migratory conditions of different population groups. The only more effective possibility that this population have to avoid the contagion is the use of masks that can help to reduce the risk of contracting the virus through the sneezing or coughing from a sick person. Anything that prevents aerosolized viruses from being transmitted lowers the virality of COVID-19. Thank you Barbara for your message.

Thank you Barbara.

Нужно соблюдать все меры предосторожности.

It depends of the social policy of the goverments that are related to public health among others social benefits.

I strongly recommend the use of face masks to reduce the dose of infectious aerosol released by inhalation. In case, there is a shortage of face masks, one can use hand kerchief when going outside for emergency work.

Can wearing a mask help? Obviously, yes. The mask helps to retain saliva droplets by limiting their dispersion into the environment for sick people; The mask does not inhale or suck up droplets containing viruses by healthy people. My opinion the mask is important. (and if it is possible to also wear the glasses for effective protection, because we all know that it is through the eyes, nose and mouth that we catch the Corona virus)

yes

• They may lower the risk of people without symptoms transmitting the virus through speaking, coughing, or sneezing.
• They’re better than not using any mask and offer some protection, especially where physical distancing is hard to maintain

Yes the use of masks can help flatten the Coronavirus infection curve of course together with the rest of the measures of hand washing, social distancing, sanitation of the environment, detection and isolation of contacts, identification of cases in society by tests, by the cooperation of social groups, health personnel and what is most important the existence of a universal and free health system.

Yes, the use of face mask can help flatten the curve but in addition, to physical distancing, regular washing of hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer when soap is not available. Practice of personal hygiene i.e. coughing into elbow and when sneezing cover your mouth and dispose of tissue appropriately.

If only the masks being push can actually prevent or filter off this virus,and if anyone is sincerely scientifical, 90% of them can't. So wearing of mask now as it is, is just emotional reaction push by those with more insidious motives, while rejecting respiratory compromised citizens that can't wear mask for legitimate health reasons. I ask again if everyone is wearing a mask, why then the social distancing? As a soldier that fought in Afghanistan and one with years with tuberculosis management, I question this draconianic measures being pushed for a virus many have recovered without any drug or vaccines management, unlike TB that without initial 2 months of tx, TB patients go down. My opinion.

If everyone distanced, masks would be less of an issue. But the evidence since I posted my first response in March is that people aren't distancing. So it's time to advocate quilted masks for all those who enter an enclosed space, but it's also time to double down on the proposition that many trips to enclosed spaces (shops, restaurants, bars, gyms, others' homes) present unnecessary viral transmission risks and should be eliminated. And in countries like the US where cases are rising, most such destinations, including schools, should be or remain closed.

Agree but what would be the sociological and mental effects of limitations of social interactions on humanity, and why's this more profusely enforced with covid-19 less will more lethal viruses that has plague the world? Death occur due to numerous factors, it seems covid-19 is most lethal, as a microbiologist, I don't think so. Is humanity more emotional or is basic scientific empirical immunology now obsolete. Thanks

Yes.

Yes..

Universal wearing of masks by 80% people will have a greater effect than the lockdowns.

Preprint Universal Masking is Urgent in the COVID-19 Pandemic: SEIR a...

There is no evidence that masks can flatten virus spread. The use of facial mask creates the misleading sense of protection, resulting in ignorance of the other health protection measures. In addition, people do not know how to wear and how to treat masks. The use of the mask by the public is totally different from the use of the mask by health workers. The conditions of work as well as the weather conditions hinder the appropriate use of the mask. People should realize the importance of physical distancing. In addition, stay in closed places should be eliminated. People with symptoms of the respiratory tract should be guided to stay at home. Hand hygiene should be promoted. Public health workers should be present in all the highly crowed public places and promote the adoption of protective measures. Structured health education of the public is urgently needed. People are confused with the current situation. The adoption of the protective measures should be equally encouraged. There is no evidence that the use of mask is more important than physical distancing. Thus, there is no evidence that the use of face mask should be obligatory while the adoption of physical distancing not.

Wearing a face mask is the minimum one can do (when other people are in the area), but you need to keep a "safe" distance apart as well. Everyone should realize that someone you may meet is actually infected and can pass the virus by simply being close to you. Masks will flatten the curve for sure, but some refuse to wear them (like Donald Trump) and the problem starts.

Wearing a mask represents a mechanical partial barrier to the entry of the virus. therefore it should contribute to the reduction of infection and disease. Flattening of the curve is affected by all measures including mask wearing social distancing, detection of cases and isolation of the latter.

wearing a mask will protect from dust and a high dose of infectious agents == everyone should take care of their health == I believe that - everyone decides to wear or not wear a mask - BUT we cannot force others to wear a mask - // - "a human is reasonable creature" // - // - if it was not possible to stop the epidemic at the very beginning, then further (when the virus is already everywhere and a year has passed already) - wearing masks and isolating people is stupidity that we see now /// today - one way or another, everyone will face the new virus - and to be in a mask at that moment or not - this is everyone's choice ... /// == my belief - that the problem is not in masks or in isolation - but in dirty air - we poison ourselves with exhaust gases/aerosols for many years (air pollution - is the biggest problem for health ). ///// Ishmatov, A. (2020) Age- and Gender-Related Changes in the Upper Airways, Which Lead to Increased Exposure of Lower Airways to Air Pollutants, Correlate with Deaths Involving COVID-19 in the United States in 2020: Short Report (September 23, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3697921 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3697921

Wearing masks can importantly help warm and humidify the air we breathe in and this is important for innate immune responses that can control or even eliminate viruses in the upper airways. See 10.31219/osf.io/4j95b for more details.

Covering nose and face is an old human practice in cold weather!

Wearing face mask increases the cancer risk due to oxygen deficiency!, However, the claim proved to be false. See https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-masks-cause-cancer-idUSKBN26Q22N

In addition, we people in developing countries reuse the same F.masks this leads to skin rashes, common cold and tuberculosis as the mask also act as carrier if the same mask is mistakenly taken by other family members.

I am using a mask since January 20. Every week, the government sells sets of 10 masks per person in local drugstores and other facilities for around 1 US dollar. Everybody uses a mask and buy them. If anyone enters a supermarket, a public building, a school, a bus without a mask won't be allowed to access them. If I walk in the street, in a public garden, or even on a beach without a mask, people will come to me to call my attention and to hand me a mask. I live in Macau where we had 48 cases and no new cases in the last 6 months. Nonetheless, prevention continues. The mask "debate" clearly shows up the difference between societies that praise community and family bonds and those downturned in the most egocentric ideas of radical individualism and complete personalization of collective social life. We still need a sense of community social responsibility and the social bonds of family and neighborhood that any social virtual network is unable to give us.

If it wears correctly and by all the population and especially in public spaces and at work, if the mask is not worn just formally then yes it can reduce the spread I think.