Masks are an important line of defense against respiratory infectious diseases, and proper wearing of masks can effectively block the spread of the virus through respiratory droplets. Therefore, masks are a sharp weapon to prevent the onset of respiratory diseases, and they are also the indispensable "first weapon" for epidemic prevention.
When does the general public need to wear a mask?
The basic principle of mask use is scientific and reasonable wearing, standardized use, and effective protection. The Guidelines for the Wearing of Masks by the Public and Key Occupational Groups (August 2021 Edition) have specific and detailed guidance on the use of various groups and places. For the general public in low-risk areas, masks are required in the following scenarios and situations:
1. When it is in indoor crowded places such as shopping malls, supermarkets, movie theaters, venues, exhibition halls, airports, wharves and public areas of hotels;
2. When taking van elevators and public transportation such as planes, trains, ships, long-distance trains, subways, buses, etc.;
3. When you are in outdoor places such as crowded open-air squares, theaters, parks;
4. When visiting or accompanying the hospital, when receiving health checks such as body temperature detection, checking health codes, and registering itinerary information;
5. When symptoms such as nasopharyngeal discomfort, cough, sneezing and fever occur;
6. When the restaurant or canteen is in a non-eating state.
Second, the mask is very different, and it is necessary to choose according to needs
In the eyes of many people, masks are a simple layer of fabric, what is the difference between them? Most of the common gauze or fashion masks in the market can only play a certain mechanical barrier role on large dust particles, and cannot effectively block pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Cotton gauze masks, sponge masks and activated charcoal masks are not recommended for the prevention of respiratory diseases.
Medical masks are generally composed of an outer waterproof layer, a middle layer of filter layer and an inner layer of absorption layer, the most critical is the middle filter layer filter material, medical masks can prevent particles containing viruses and bacteria from entering the mouth and nose.
Masks as respiratory protection products, to meet the quality standards set by the state, different types of masks in terms of protective performance, comfort performance, safety performance and other aspects have different standards.
The following table is the current relevant national standards and industry standards for masks, which can be used as a reference for citizens and friends when purchasing masks:
Third, wear masks correctly, can not "take the form"
Some people joke that there are four forms of wearing masks at present: one is called the standard quasi-"full closure", one is the "half-shrugging" of the tube mouth and nose, and the "pretending" that is completely hung on the chin, and the "walking form" that is carried in the pocket. Only when worn correctly can the protective effect be achieved.
The Notice on Printing and Distributing guidelines for the Wearing of Masks in Public Science (issued by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council [2020] No. 33) points out that disposable medical masks and medical surgical masks are limited to use, and the cumulative use does not exceed 8 hours. Occupationally exposed persons should use the mask for no more than 4 hours and should not be reused. When the mask is dirty, deformed, damaged or has a peculiar smell, it should be replaced in time, and do not replace the mask on time in order to save, so that it will not achieve the due protective effect.
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1. National Health Commission's Guidelines for the Public and Key Occupational Groups to Wear Masks (August 2021 Edition)
2. The Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council issued the Notice on Printing and Distributing the Guidelines for the Public to Wear Masks in Science no. 2020 [33]
【Experts of this issue】
Li Han, Director of the Fifth Department of Health Education of Shenyang Health Service Center, Chief Chinese Medicine Physician, Doctor of Medicine, Postdoctoral Fellow. He is the executive director of the Sleep Branch of the Chinese Association of Ethnic Medicine, the standing committee member of the Youth Traditional Chinese Medicine Committee of the Liaoning Association of Integrative Traditional and Western Medicine, the member of the Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation Professional Committee of the Liaoning Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the 10,000-level talents of the Liaoning Provincial Million Talents Project, the member of the Shenyang Health Education Expert Lecturer Group, and the member of the Shenyang Health Education Well-known Expert Database.