Science has already proved that wearing a face mask can reduce the risk of a COVID-19 infection by up to 70% when accompanied by the other safety measures recommended by the CDC.
However, simply wearing a mask isn’t enough.
The way you wear your mask and how you clean it after each use can also make a huge difference in keeping you safe – not just from the new coronavirus, but from other bacteria and viruses too.
In fact, it turns out that using a dirty mask multiple times can even cause an illness.
The hidden risks of wearing a face mask
Karen Bally, director of infection prevention for Ascension Via Christi Hospitals, explains that our surrounding air is filled with dust particles – especially in closed spaces with poor ventilation.
As you wear your mask, many of these dust particles can accumulate inside the material and you end up breathing them in too.
The result? A sore throat.
Data collected by Mayo Clinic suggests that sore throats are in fact a symptom for an underlying illness. Causes can range from viruses and bacteria to muscle strain, outdoor irritants and even gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) sometimes.
Neha Vyas, family medicine physician, explains that face masks can make a great place for germs laying in the atmosphere. If you wear the same mask multiple times without washing it properly, you might ultimately breathe in viruses or bacteria trapped inside the material.
Sore throat, a real problem
In essence, getting a sore throat isn’t that much of a problem since it can be easily cured – sometimes even with natural remedies alone.
However, sore throats are part of the list of COVID-19 symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, although the symptom itself isn’t that alarming or uncomfortable, it may be worrying especially if you think you may have been exposed to the virus recently.
But is a sore throat that common in coronavirus patients?
A recent Chinese study commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) analyzed 55,000 subjects tested positive for COVID-19. Of all those cases, only 14% listed sore throat as a symptom.
So if you do get a sore throat, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s caused by the coronavirus (although it’s always important to watch out for any suspicious symptom). Sometimes, though, it might just be time to replace your mask or clean it properly.
Cleaning your mask
The CDC recommends us to clean our face masks after every single use. According to them, you can simply toss your mask in the washing machine along with other laundry. Ideally, you should use your regular detergent and the warmest water setting allowed for your mask’s type of fabric.
Furthermore, if your job or lifestyle requires you to wear your face mask all day long, remember to always take it off with clean hands and only touch the ear loops.
As for one-use-only masks, the recommendation is real: you should throw away your mask after every single use to avoid any health risks.
Although the current situation isn’t looking very well pandemic-wise, we can (and will) get through this together by following all of the safety recommendations issued by public health authorities. Here are the most important ones:
- Always wear a face mask when out in public
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap for at least 20 seconds
- Use hand sanitizer as often as possible
- Avoid touching frequently touched surfaces
- Maintain the recommended social distance (at least 6 feet) from others