New York
Face Masks are high in demand so Can wearing a medical face mask protect you against the new coronavirus? It’s a question many people are asking, including pet owners who are putting canine face masks on their dogs.
If it’s a regular surgical face mask, the answer is no,said by,Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
A more specialized mask, known as an N95 respirator, can protect against the new coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV-2. The respirator is thicker than a surgical mask, but neither Schaffner nor the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommend it for public use, at least not at this point.
If you are likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on. If you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, or have been diagnosed, wearing a face mask can also protect others. So masks are crucial for health and social care workers looking after patients and are also recommended for family members who need to care for someone who is ill – ideally both the patient and carer should have a mask.
However, face masks will probably make little difference if you’re just walking around town or taking a bus so there is no need to bulk-buy a huge supply.