Most research conducted in the past four years on the efficacy of mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic has primarily focused on its role in preventing person-to-person transmission and reducing community infection rates. Masks serve a dual purpose: they protect others from the wearer potentially spreading the virus and shield the wearer from contracting it. However, a largely unexplored area in existing literature is the impact of continued mask-wearing by individuals who have tested positive for the virus. The question arises: Does wearing a mask after testing positive for COVID-19 contribute to retaining the virus and virus particles within the respiratory system, potentially exacerbating the infection? This concern stems from the hypothesis that masks could trap the virus, similar to a cork in a wine bottle, potentially leading to increased infection along the respiratory tract where the SARS-CoV-2 virus finds abundant ACE2 receptors (Kai, 2020). This scenario could escalate cytokine storm damage and hypoxia, driven by the virus's replication and shedding.
Contrary to the notion that virus particles are trapped in the mask's fibers, it is hypothesized that these particles are likely to be rebreathed and encounter more receptors in the nose, pharynx, and lungs (Bar-Yam, 2020). COVID-19's severity is dose-responsive, meaning the more significant the exposure to the virus, the more severe the potential symptoms; this raises concerns about the practice of requiring sick patients to wear masks. The notion that rebreathing one's virus particles could exacerbate the condition is a critical consideration, particularly in the context of mechanical ventilation and protective measures like enclosing patients' heads in plastic bubbles to protect healthcare staff—the possibility of prolonged shedding of the virus, with ongoing reinfection through rebreathing, warrants further investigation.
While this perspective raises important questions, it is crucial to note that these hypotheses have yet to be extensively explored or validated in current scientific literature. The potential risks of mask-wearing for infected individuals should be weighed against the established benefits of masks in preventing virus transmission. Further research is needed to comprehensively understand the implications of mask-wearing post-infection and inform best practices in healthcare settings.
Although not peer-reviewed, the only article that mentions positive COVID-19 virus rebreathing problems came from an academic research institution comprised of Harvard, MIT, and other prestigious scientists (Bar-Yam, 2020). However, that was from 2020. This topic was discussed here in 2021 (Ortiz, 2021). Since then, the research gap has remained. It is not too far-fetched to say we accidentally led many people to their demise in specific situations using the simple mask. It is time to discuss this openly.
References
Kai, H. (2020). Interactions of coronaviruses with ACE2, angiotensin II, and RAS inhibitors—lessons from available evidence and insights into COVID-19. Hypertension Research. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41440-020-0455-8
Ortiz, T. (2021). Can the Mask Cause a Deleterious Effect on an Individual Already COVID-19 Positive? Researchgate.net. https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_the_Mask_Cause_a_Deleterious_Effect_on_an_Already_COVID-19_Positive_Individual
Bar-Yam, Y. (2020). Don’t rebreathe the coronavirus: New mask designs. New England Complex Systems Institute. https://necsi.edu/dont-rebreath-the-coronavirus-new-mask-designs
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