Dylan Stoll | Health Editor
Featured Image: Surgical masks and face masks are needed more in hospitals by physicians and nurses than the general public. | Courtesy of Pixabay
Believe it or not, the use of surgical masks to prevent contraction of the novel coronavirus is actually a pointless and even dangerous endeavour, according to the Surgeon General of the U.S., Dr. Jerome Adams.
“You can increase your risk of getting it by wearing a mask if you are not a health care provider,” said Adams during an interview on Fox and Friends. “Folks who don’t know how to wear them properly tend to touch their faces a lot and actually can increase the spread of coronavirus.”
Being the operational head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps., Adams’ words should not be taken lightly, and neither should any of the other vocal health professionals warning against the purchase and use of surgical masks.
However, the reasoning behind this is not only because they are ineffective, but also because of the severe mask shortages that are a result of mass purchases. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Robert Redfield explained the issue during a House Foreign Affairs hearing.
“We need to make sure those N95 masks are available for the doctors and nurses that are going to be taking care of individuals that have this illness,” said Redfield. “It really does displease me. There is no role for these masks in the community.”
To make matters worse, the cost of the masks have increased significantly. In one such example, “Price Gougers” as they are referred to, pushed the price of a 100-pack of universal 4533 sanitary dust masks from $8 to over $200.
But even if you have the spare change to buy these overpriced masks, some have reported that the CDC is hijacking orders in an attempt to replenish their dwindling supplies. David Bowman told CNN that he tried to buy some but his order was taken: “The CDC just stole my mask.”
According to Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, the frantic, mass purchases of surgical masks is a psychological response to feeling out of control in a situation often unfortunately described as an apocalyptic pandemic.
“The coronavirus is coming, and we feel rather helpless,” said Schaffner in an interview with CNN. “By getting masks and wearing them, we move the locus of control somewhat to ourselves.”
Instead of buying these masks, health care professionals encourage the public to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus by implementing simple, daily rituals such as washing your hands regularly, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and disinfecting surfaces before using them.
“There are things people can do to stay safe,” said Adams. “One of the things they shouldn’t be doing in the general public is going out and buying masks.”
