Hi folks,
these are unprecedented times we live in. I have to be blunt about this, the Covid-19 Corona Virus poses the greatest threat to millions of lives since World War Two. Millions of people could die if this pandemic is not brought under control as soon as possible. The solution to this is in our own hands, each one of us can take a personal responsibility and take some small steps to stop the spread of the virus and save lives. I really want to encourage our readers and subscribers to wear home made face masks when going out in public to protect others and in particular to protect front line staff that you come in contact with such as shop assistants, check out staff, security staff in shops and supermarkets, the Gardai and medical staff to mention a few.
Wearing face masks as well as social distancing and hand hygiene etc will help prevent the spread of the Corona virus and save lives
Why do I think that face masks will help to prevent the spread of the virus? Well, we can see that China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore are some of the few countries to get the virus under control.
If you look at video footage from those countries you will notice that they are all wearing face masks and wearing of masks is encouraged in those countries. In the Czech Republic and Austria, it is mandatory to wear face masks. The Center for Disease Control in the US is now recommending that people wear non-medical cloth masks that can be “fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure”. France’s Academy of Medicine (Académie Nationale de Médecine) announced last week that a mask should be compulsory for outings both during and after the current lockdown.
I would like to make an appeal to our Government and The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to make a simple recommendation to everyone who goes out in public to wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus.
People who feel sick aren’t supposed to go out at all, but there is evidence to suggest that people without symptoms may also transmit the corona virus without knowing they’re infected.
Some people say that there is limited evidence that wearing a face mask will protect the wearer from contracting the virus and therefore there is little point in wearing one. However, the most important reason why you should wear a mask is to stop you from spreading the virus to someone else rather than the other way around. Let’s assume that we all may have the virus at some stage and there is evidence now to suggest that up to one in four people may show no symptoms at all but may still be spreading the virus. Well if by wearing a face mask, we can stop it from spreading to someone else and save even one life then it will be worthwhile.
Some may argue that masks cannot be purchased but that’s no excuse, there’s plenty of videos on YouTube showing how we can make our own masks. The Hong Kong government has a video showing people how to make their own masks which you can see here and the Center for Disease Control in the US has a website with instructions on how to make your own mask which you can see here.
If everyone stayed apart properly, wore face masks and followed the hand hygiene advice etc, the whole thing would be over in a couple of weeks. Don’t forget that you should wash your hands when putting on or taking off a face mask and do not touch your face with your hands. There are tutorials online for how to do it correctly so please check these out also.
By taking these small steps and thinking of others, we can beat this virus.
Stay Safe
Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
6 April 2020
P.S. If you have any positive feedback on ways we can work individually or together to help win this battle against the virus please post a comment or send an email for my personal attention here
Here are some other resources you may be interested in:-
The Czech government has trumpeted mask-wearing as vital in controlling the spread of the Corona virus and has urged other governments to follow suit:- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/czechs-get-to-work-making-masks-after-government-decree-coronavirus
France’s Académie Nationale de Médecine (Academy of Medicine) announced Friday that a mask should be compulsory during outings both during and after the current lockdown:- https://www.france24.com/en/20200405-coronavirus-abrupt-reversal-on-mask-policy-in-france-and-the-us-raises-new-questions
This week Germany’s disease control agency urged Germans to wear homemade masks:- https://www.thelocal.com/20200405/coronavirus-and-face-masks-how-countries-have-changed-their-advice
How to sew a reusable face mask with filter pocket:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm_NmpdgWWA
How often should you clean your fabric face mask? https://www.today.com/health/how-keep-your-coronavirus-face-mask-clean-t177735
Calls for mandatory wearing of face masks in Germany to help counter the spread of Covid-19:- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/calls-grow-for-germany-wide-use-of-face-masks-covid-19
I protect you, you protect me, see how homemade masks are essential for slowing the spread of the virus:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhNo_IOPOtU
The noble lie about masks and coronavirus should never have been told:- https://theweek.com/articles/906647/noble-lie-about-masks-coronavirus-should-never-have-been-told
