A: As COVID-19
spreads across the
world, it is clear there
are two schools of
thought when it comes
to face masks. Wearing a mask in
public has become the norm for
many in Asia, where it is seen as a
way to help stop the virus’ spread.
Governments distribute them, and
in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of
the outbreak, people are required to
wear a mask to go outside.
But in the U.S., their use is
discouraged for most. The U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, in line with World Health
Organization recommendations,
says only those who are sick or their
caregivers should wear masks.
Similarly, in Europe, the European
Centre for Disease Prevention
and Control says masks may even
increase infection risk by causing
“a false sense of security and
increased contact between hands,
mouth and eyes.”
Many U.S. experts say there is
scant evidence that wearing masks
benefits the public. They also fear
that if everyone starts wearing
masks, there won’t be enough for
health care workers. But many
experts in Asia say that wearing
a mask can keep a person from
inhaling the respiratory droplets of
someone else—the main way COVID-
19 spreads.
Even before this outbreak, masks
were common across East Asia,
partly as a result of the 2002–03
outbreak of SARS, which killed nearly
800 people. For many, wearing one
has become a symbol of civic duty
during an uncertain time.
“If I have a mask on, and if, touch
wood, I’m infected, I could cut the
chain off where I am,” says Cheryl
Man, 20, a Hong Kong native in
New York City. “That could save a lot
of people.”
—Hillary Leung/Hong Kong
SHOULD I BE
WEARING A
FACE MASK?
There’s at least one critical difference between the seasonal flu
and COVID-19: we have a vaccine for the former but not the latter.
In the absence of widespread vaccination, the best option is to use
aggressive social distancing to “flatten the curve” of the disease as
early as possible. The goal is a lengthier outbreak that stays within the
bounds of what the system can handle—assuring there’s treatment
enough to go around.
Some countries are
succeeding. South Korea, for
example, was able to swiftly
implement measures like
drive-through testing centers,
which allowed for wide-scale
diagnoses with minimal
risk of exposing others. The
window for flattening the
curve in the U.S. is rapidly
closing, but it’s still open.
The government must do its
part in ratcheting up testing
capacity and preparing
the health care system for
the wave of patients surely
incoming, but people are
not powerless. Individuals,
healthy or not, can do their
part simply by keeping
their distance from others.
Temporary isolation may be
what’s required to help the
whole country get through
COVID-19, together.
Q
:
5
Importance of
protective measures
in outbreaks
Daily number of cases
Time since first case
Without
protective
measures
With protective
measures
Health care
system capacity
KEY QUESTIONS
COVID-19 cases
by days since
100th case
Italy
Iran
S. Korea
Japan
France
Germany
Spain
Days
1 5 10 15 20 27
U.S.
0
10K
20K
30K
4
SOURCES BY CHART NUMBER: 1) COUNTRY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND JHU CSSE AS OF MARCH 17;
2) KCDC, MARCH 17; CHINA CDC, FEB. 17; ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITÀ, MARCH 16;
3) WHO (MERS AND SARS); CDC (FLU); JHU CSSE (COVID-19); 4) CDC; 5) JHU CSSE, MARCH 17
ILLUSTRATION BY BROWN BIRD DESIGN FOR TIME
