Western countries are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 infections compared to Asian countries
because of the West's aversion to wearing masks.
We need universal mask-wearing to aid in lowering COVID-19's virality.
Updated 4/17/2020
The U.S. Surgeon General and W.H.O. have said masks are not effective at preventing COVID-19 spread. However, they have recently reversed their position on mask-wearing. Anything that prevents aerosolized viruses from being transmitted lowers the virality of COVID-19 1.
#DYK? @CDCgov's recommendation on wearing a cloth face covering may help protect the most vulnerable from #COVID19.
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) April 4, 2020
Here's how you can make one today, in just a few easy steps: pic.twitter.com/eFuE7Brw0J
If you do not have any respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, or runny nose, you do not need to wear a medical mask. When used alone, masks can give you a false feeling of protection and can even be a source of infection when not used correctly. ➡️https://t.co/0nyHux1SgN pic.twitter.com/JDQhnowx3p
— World Health Organization Western Pacific (@WHOWPRO) March 26, 2020
Masks aid in decreasing COVID-19's virality by three pathways 8.
We need to increase these virality-decreasing pathways by encouraging a universal mask-wearing protocol to fight COVID-19.
Credit to Sui Huang's article COVID-19: Why We Should All Wear Masks
Despite Japan's large elderly population and early infection, the infection and death rate is one of the lowest in the world. A leading reason for this is Japan's strong mask-wearing culture lowering the virality of COVID-19 to manageable levels. Japan has only had 1,387 infections, yet being one of the earliest countries to become infected 2. Tokyo Metropolitan Police paper towel mask
Starting on March 18, the Czech Republic made it mandatory to wear a mask while in public. So far there have only been 2,942 COVID-19 confirmed cases and 23 deaths, making it one of the lowest infected countries in Europe. 6 We should keep a close eye on the Czech Republic's future infection rate relative to its neighbors to show the quantifiable impact of mask-wearing. OVERVIEW: Czech campaign #masks4all.
Anything that prevents aerosolized viruses from being transmitted person-to-person will lower COVID-19's infection rate 5.