Love wearing that mask on your arm or under your chin? You’re spreading germs
When it comes to bad habits, we can all concur that at that place are some that are pretty disgusting – like picking one'south nose and flicking that rolled-upwardly scrap of booger in public or otherwise.
But it's not just a matter of looking gross. There are certain habits that could be an outcome health-wise and in this new series, we've asked experts to explicate why exactly you should think twice almost doing certain things.
Take mask wearing, for example. It is something nosotros've all started getting used to. Withal, there are certain habits that likewise come up with it – such as pulling your mask down nether your mentum earlier you eat or beverage, or temporarily transferring your mask to your arm before y'all run or brisk walk.
"Wearing your mask on the elbow or chin are both bad mask-wearing habits, and defeat the purpose of wearing a mask to protect or reduce your chances of infection," said Dr Grace Huang, a full general practitioner with DTAP Dispensary.
PULLING DOWN THE MASK ONTO YOUR Mentum
The surfaces of your mask comprise microbes, said Dr Catherine Ong, a consultant with the segmentation of infectious diseases at National University Infirmary. "For an infected person, the viral particles will accumulate on the surface that comes into contact with the face," she said.
Furthermore, a worn mask is frequently moistened with respiratory and saliva droplets, which makes its inner surface more conducive for the virus to survive on than a dry out surface, she said.
A mask's outer surface is no better equally information technology is covered in bacteria, viruses and dirt from the external environs, said Dr Huang. "Pulling your mask down to your mentum ways the external surface of the mask may come into contact with your face and perhaps your lower lip, spreading these pathogens directly to your mouth and face up."
WEARING THE MASK ON YOUR ARM
It may be user-friendly but it's not a good idea to wear your mask on your arm or elbow while exercising, said Dr Huang. While perspiration is not known to spread COVID-19, she said that when you perspire, you may inadvertently affect your confront, which increases your hazard of spreading pathogens from your hands or artillery to your eyes, olfactory organ and oral fissure.
Conversely, you could be introducing your mouth to more pathogens when you put your mask dorsum on. "You are effectively spreading pathogens from your arms, which may have touched a lot of mutual surfaces, to your nose and oral fissure," said Dr Huang.
Then what's the best manner to continue your mask while y'all're jogging? "The best selection is to take a clean carrier to protect the mask from the external surround," she said. "If nosotros tin comport our phone and depository financial institution cards with united states, calculation a minor Ziploc bag that tin can exist tucked into your phone case or pocket is just a matter of getting used to."
WHAT Most FOLDING THE MASK OR STASHING IT INTO THE POCKET?
You'll exist wrong to retrieve that placing your mask on your wallet or phone, instead of directly on the table, is a more aseptic move. "Our wallet and phone are probably some of the dirtiest objects we ain," said Dr Huang. "We touch external surfaces and then handle our phone and wallet, substantially rendering them fomites. The safest choice is still a make clean carrier or mask holder that is non exposed to external dirt and pathogens." Fomites are objects that are likely to comport infection.
And forget about folding your mask (no matter how carefully) before stashing information technology in your pocket. "This is non platonic as the mask may get crumpled or displaced with movement", said Dr Huang.
DOES THE MASK'S Material MATTER?
Reusable fabric masks are not fluid resistant and may hands absorb sweat or any fluids that information technology comes into contact with, said Dr Huang. So such masks act like sponges, absorbing fluid on your arm or chin, and transferring it to your mouth and nose when you put your mask back on.
"Dispensable surgical masks are fluid resistant and filter ameliorate than reusable cotton masks," said Dr Huang. "However, disposable paper masks will non take the aforementioned effectiveness."
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/bad-habit-mask-wearing-covid-19-237806
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