The face mask is advancing in the streets now that the cabinet advises us to wear one in all public indoor areas. Face masks should provide an extra barrier against the coronavirus, but only they can be worn correctly. Six questions and answers.
1. How do I put on a face mask?
Wash your hands with soap and water before putting on the non-medical mask. Use the strings or elastics to set it up. Do not touch the inside. Make sure it fits snugly on the face and covers the nose and mouth and chin. Hermetically sealing the face is important to prevent contamination and spread.
2. How do I take off the mask?
Use the strings or elastics to take off the mouth cap. Also, do not touch the inside of the mouth cap and your face (eyes, nose and mouth). Wash your hands with soap and water after taking off the mask.
3. How do I store the mouth caps before, during or after a trip?
It is important that you store the mouth caps in a ‘safe’ way. You cannot keep a disposable copy. Keep a reusable mouth cap as sterile as possible, for example in a sealed bag or container. It is important to store a clean and used mouth cap separately from each other. Do not put them loose in your jacket pocket, trouser pocket or bag. Then viruses can easily spread further.
4. Do I have to put on a clean mask at every store when I go shopping?
The advice is to continue to wear the mask when shopping, even if you go from one store to another. This also applies when transferring to public transport.
5. How do I wash a reusable face mask?
A non-medical face mask should be washed at 60 degrees on a full wash cycle after each use. Wash only with detergent, do not add fabric softener.
6. Does the mouth cap offer sufficient protection if you have facial hair?
It is important that a face mask fits your face as closely as possible. This may not be the case if you have (a lot of) facial hair. The American version of the RIVM has listed all types of facial hair to show when a mouth cap does and does not work. Do you have a beard where the mouth cap does not work and you really have to use it? Then, according to them, there is nothing for it but to shave off the beard. View here the overview of CDC.
Would you like to know more about the facts and fables surrounding face masks? Look here.
Source: RIVM.
