Mask-wearing and social distancing are currently used as the dominant methods of safeguarding populations from the spread of COVID-19. Mask-wearing has become a controversial topic because of the myths being spread about their negative impacts on the human body, which do not have any scientific support. However, such a simple action, together with social distancing, can and does save lives. It is essential to wear a mask because its main goal is to prevent droplets that result from coughing, sneezing, or talking, from transferring from one person to another, causing an infection (CDC, 2020). If there is no mask available around, even wearing a scarf or a bandana around one’s face is better than not wearing a mask and potentially infecting others or being infected. Wearing a mask is not only about protecting oneself but also showing respect for others, especially those at high-risk as well as healthcare workers who work tirelessly on saving people’s lives.
Social distancing is as important as mask-wearing because it minimizes the potential numbers of infected people as physical contacts reduce. It is imperative to avoid crowded, public places, and stay at home as much time as possible, refraining from unnecessary visits to shopping centers or restaurants. While distancing oneself from crowds helps not getting ill by getting COVID-19 from someone else, it can also work the other way around. A person may have the virus without any symptoms showing and can unknowingly give it to someone else who could react to the infection in a much more severe and life-threatening way. As the pandemic challenges global society in multiple ways, it is essential that people are aware of simple ways of in which they manage the problem while also caring for one another.
Reference
CDC. (2020). Considerations for wearing masks. Web.