As the world faces the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, many have been asking about how to prevent this potentially fatal virus from contracting.
Globally, there have been 9,320 infected, and the death toll has risen to 203 in China at the time of writing.
And yesterday (30 January 2020), Philippines confirms first case of novel coronavirus
That’s why Filipinos are queuing up to buy surgical masks, leading it to be out of stock in many places.
Surgical masks can help to reduce virus transmission, as they are designed to stop large-particle droplets and splatter from touching the mouth and nose of the wearer. It also reduces exposure of the wearer’s saliva and respiratory secretions to others.
But many people do not actually know how to CORRECTLY wear a surgical mask.
Are There Two Ways To Wear A Surgical Mask?
This hoax suggesting that there are TWO WAYS to wear a surgical mask has spread all over the Internet, on forums, Facebook, Twitter and, of course, on WhatsApp.
There’s only one way to correctly wear a surgical mask, and that is with the coloured side facing outside.
And it doesn’t matter whether you wear the mask because you are ill and don’t want to spread the germs; or if you wear it to prevent infection.
Either colored in blue, green or purple, the COLOURED SIDE is intended to face OUTWARDS.
The outer layer is hydrophobic, or a fluid-repelling layer, while the inner layer retains moisture, since the air we breathe out contains moisture.
Usually there is also a middle layer filtering the bacteria.
The colored layer has the purpose of preventing germs from sticking to it. When you wear the mask the other way around, the humidity from the air sticks to it, making it easier for germs to stay there. The mask must fully cover both the mouth and nose and is for single use only.
