As we have once again arrived in this period of the emergency public activity restriction (PPKM Darurat) in the islands of Java and Bali, one of the crucial questions you can ask yourself is how disciplined you have been in following the Covid-19 health protocols for over a year now. For instance, have you been wearing your face mask properly?
While you might think that you got this covered, in this article, Prime Plus Medical would like to invite you to double-check and make sure that you have not been making any of the following ‘mask mistakes’ that are unfortunately still widely made by many. Ready to check how well you have been doing?
Not washing up before and after wearing your mask!
Over one year of living with Covid-19, we are sure that you are aware of the importance of hand hygiene by now. Related to mask-wearing, keep in mind that you need to wash your hands properly or use hand sanitizer:
- before putting on and taking off your mask,
- every time you need to adjust it while you are wearing your mask,
- even when you only touch it from the outside.
By not washing up before wearing your mask, you may end up contaminating your mask with germs that would subsequently end up on your face. Thus, touching your mask without making sure that your hands are clean increases your risk of becoming infected with Covid-19.
Wearing your mask above your chin
Your mask must cover your face from the bridge of your nose to below your chin. It also has to fit snugly, so there is no gap between your mask and your face. Protect your mouth and nose from the virus by avoiding your chin exposed. By the same logic, with your chin uncovered, your mask also does not prevent you from spreading viruses to others. That’s how important this seemingly small detail is!
Using old cloth masks that should be permanently retired!
It does not matter how much you love your collection of favorite masks! When they have holes, tears, or are worn out in the way they no longer functions as they should, it is non-negotiable that you retire them immediately. Wearing masks that have holes or tears may allow your respiratory droplets to escape and reach other people. At the same time, it also does not protect you the way proper mask-wearing does.
Reusing disposable masks
While you might think that this one is a bit too easy, this one too is sadly still considered a common mistake. Disposable masks are for single use only. That means that if, for example, you take your mask off to eat, you need to replace it with a new one after you have finished your meal. Therefore, when using a disposable mask, make sure that you have several spare ones with you, depending on how long you intend to stay outside for the day.
Not washing a new cloth mask!
Not you? We are certainly happy that you are not making this mistake. However, believe us, this issue is just as real as the previous ones! While a brand new mask might seem super clean, it does not mean that it has not touched plenty of things, and you have no way of knowing. That’s why a new mask must always be considered contaminated. Therefore it needs to be washed using detergent or soap and then hung to dry.
All of our team at Prime Plus Medical Bali sincerely hope that you could mark all the above common mask-wearing mistakes with a ‘no’ from your side. However, if you had one ‘yes’ or two, then it’s time to make some positive changes. Let your mask do its job and protect yourself and those around you. Stay safe!
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