The pressing question remains: how will so many people obtain masks?
After weeks of maintaining that healthy individuals do not need masks in public, the CDC and the White House are reportedly reevaluating this stance. The novel coronavirus and the severe illness it causes, COVID-19, are still on the rise, with projections indicating a potential for hundreds of thousands of deaths across the United States during this pandemic.
While there is no robust scientific evidence proving that surgical or cloth masks provide effective protection against the virus, N95 masks—which do filter out viruses—are already in critically short supply globally, particularly at hospitals where they are most required. Nevertheless, anecdotal evidence suggests that countries in Asia, like Singapore and Taiwan, which generally see higher rates of mask-wearing, exhibit lower mortality rates from the disease.
However, a significant concern arises: if the CDC or the White House officially recommends that Americans wear masks in public, where will the supply come from? Medical-grade face coverings are urgently needed by healthcare professionals, and a surge in demand from the general public could exacerbate the already critical shortages we face.
A brief search on sites like Target, Walgreens, CVS, and Amazon reveals that surgical masks are nearly impossible to find online. Some Etsy vendors offer cloth masks, yet these are also essential for the healthcare workers on the front lines, and a rush by the public to purchase them could lead to even larger issues.
“You don’t want to take masks away from the health care providers who are in a real and present danger of getting infected,” Dr. Mark Johnson, director of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases, told a news outlet this week. However, he acknowledged, “The concept of widespread community use of masks outside the healthcare environment is under serious consideration within the task force. The CDC is closely examining this.”
Regardless of the CDC’s forthcoming recommendations, it remains crucial for Americans to isolate at home whenever feasible and to practice social distancing when venturing out for essential reasons. Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others, wash your hands frequently—especially after touching surfaces in public—and if you exhibit any symptoms of illness, do your utmost to stay isolated to prevent spreading the disease.
As information about COVID-19 evolves rapidly, we are dedicated to providing the most current updates. With the pace of news changing so quickly, some information in this article may have shifted since publication. Therefore, we encourage readers to refer to local public health departments, the CDC, and the World Health Organization for the latest updates. For more insights on home insemination, you can check out this post here. If you’re looking for expert resources on pregnancy, visit here, and for the best home insemination kits, see here.
Summary
The CDC is reconsidering its guidance on mask-wearing for the general public as COVID-19 continues to spread. There are concerns about mask availability, particularly for healthcare workers, if masks become recommended for everyday citizens. The best course of action remains social distancing and continued isolation whenever possible.
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