How not to wear a face mask. Viral images with the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium

People's inventiveness has never disappointed. As the face mask has become an indispensable accessory all over the world, manufacturers have adapted and found new ways to make it more efficient, more beautiful, more friendly. Thus, transparent protective masks appeared, with a view to the smile. For certain categories of people they are extremely useful.

An Italian company has started producing transparent surgical masks that seem to be in high demand. The center part of the mask is made of polyurethane, well sealed with the rest of the material, can be washed by hand and reused.

 These models of masks are useful primarily for people with hearing impairments, which are based on sign language. Restaurant owners also find it extremely useful for waiters who want to show a smiling face. Beauty salon staff and anyone working with the public can use such masks. But not only. And ladies who care about their image and do not want to give up makeup, lipstick, can use such a mask.

"Transparent masks are for everyone. Anyone can use them to have an easier communication, not only through words, but also through gestures, facial expressions, lip movements ", said Dorina Marini, the representative of the factory in Italy, quoted by PRO TV. The cost of such a mask is almost $ 7, and the manufacturer has already had to honor 15,000 orders.

Such protective equipment can make you dangerous to others.

Sometimes protective fabric masks are equipped with a special valve.  In this case, the mask works like this - you inhale air through filters and exhale it through a one-way valve.  Thus, warm air comes out from under the mask faster, it becomes easier to breathe, the mask is easier to wear, and glasses will not fog up.

We put on masks for two reasons.  Firstly, we hope that they will protect us from COVID-19 (however, disputes are still underway regarding the effectiveness of masks).  Secondly, more importantly, the mask does not allow us to infect others, if we are sick and do not suspect it.

 The valve allows free passage of air as it exhales.  This means that an infected person will spread particles of the virus around him as if he weren’t wearing any protection at all.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend using masks and respirators with valves to prevent infection with this disease.

 Such protection can be worn in conditions of smog, dust and smoke - for example, at a construction site or factory where harmful particles are floating in the air.  But the mask with the valve will not stop the spread of the virus.

Disposable masks have invaded the beaches of Hong Kong where, for several months, residents have been covering their faces to protect themselves from the new coronavirus.

According to environmental associations, these masks add to the already worrying amounts of plastic waste floating in Hong Kong's waters, writes Agerpres.

 "The disposable mask is just another weight we leave to future generations," said Gary Stokes, co-founder of OceansAsia.

 Shortly before the pandemic broke out, the Hong Kong environmental organization launched a one-year study on waste and microplastics found on one of the country's most remote and uninhabited islands.

 The five most commonly found items were bottles, polystyrene packaging, lighters, disposable cutlery and plastic straw.

 Currently, disposable masks float on the surface of the sea, along the beaches and the coast.

Recently, environmentalists identified and collected 70 masks within a radius of 100 meters.  A week later, another 30 masks were found.

 "Since people started wearing masks, the consequences of this phenomenon are now visible on the beaches," Stokes said.

 Hong Kong's nearly 7.5 million people produce six million tons of waste each year, of which only about 30% is recycled.

Now they are advised to wear not only sick.

WHO Director-General Tedros Hebreyusus, during a new COVID-19 briefing, announced new recommendations for the prevention of coronavirus.  Here are the main points:

•  Doctors and other medical staff should always wear masks, regardless of whether they work with infected coronavirus infections or not.
•  People over 60 years of age, as well as those who have chronic diseases, are advised to wear masks wherever it is impossible to maintain physical distance.
•  The governments of the countries should encourage the wearing of masks in any places where it is impossible to maintain physical distance, especially for public transport and shops.



•  Those with symptoms similar to coronavirus infection should stay at home.  All who contacted him should be quarantined.
•  If a sick person or someone who has contacted him needs to leave the house, he must wear a mask.
•  WHO considers masks to be of high quality, which consist of three layers of different materials or more.

 Previously, the WHO spoke only about the need to wear masks for the sick, because there was insufficient data (apart from clinical studies, which many experts consider to be of little relevance to real life).

In self-isolation mode, many men began to pay less attention to shaving. A unique challenge appeared on Twitter, indicated by the tags #coronabeard and #letsgrowtogether: its participants grow beards while they are in quarantine. Jim Carrey, for example, promised not to shave until he can return from filming again.

But in February, infographics created by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention crawled through news sites. In it, the organization recommends that men shave off their beards and mustaches, otherwise they will not be able to wear a protective mask correctly.

But do not rush to grab a razor and get rid of your beauty. The media, as always, exaggerated a bit. This infographic appeared back in 2017, when they did not even suspect a coronavirus.

In an original article, the CDC advises shaving facial hair only to medical professionals who wear N95 type respiratory masks. Their CDC does not recommend wearing on the street. For those who do not work in a medical facility, an ordinary fabric mask will also work. And it may well be combined with a beard.

If you want to leave facial hair, keep in mind that you should not touch it without washing your hands before doing this. iT is also important to simply wash it thoroughly every day with soap or shampoo.If you feel that the beard constantly encourages you to touch your face - shave it away from sin.