Face Mask Could Be Risky Too

Going back into normalcy after COVID-19, customers and employees would be expected to wear a face mask. Many employers will make it compulsory for all staff to wear a face mask while at work.

With the adverse effect of the Novel Coronavirus, a number of medical practices have little or no scientific support as regards to how the spread of this pandemic can be subdued. One dominant precautionary measure is the wearing of facial masks and other related stuff. When this pandemic started, it was assumed that it would behave in terms of spread among communities, like other respiratory viruses but it has so far swerved scientists. As a result of this, having a vaccine is becoming difficult.

For the scientific backing in connection to the use of face mask, a recent careful examination of the literature, in which 17 of the best studies were analyzed, concluded:

“None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection.”

It’s therefore noteworthy that, no studies have been done to demonstrate that either a cloth mask or the N95 mask has any effect on the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Any recommendations, therefore, have to be based on studies of influenza virus transmission. And, as you have seen, there is no conclusive evidence of their efficiency in controlling flu virus transmission or otherwise.

Now that it has somewhat been established there is no scientific evidence necessitating the wearing of a face mask for prevention, are there dangers to wearing a face mask for long time? Several pieces of research have indeed found clear challenges with wearing such a mask. This can vary from headaches, to increased airway resistance, carbon dioxide accumulation, to hypoxia, all the way to serious life-threatening complications.

What is the way forward then?