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

Who says you can't look good if you cover most of your face with a face mask?  The rules of protection against infection with the new coronavirus do not prevent the ladies from the royal families or with high positions in the state to be chic.  At the first official engagements during the pandemic, Queen Mathilde of Belgium and the President of Slovakia perfectly matched their protective mask with their clothing.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium (46 years old) recently adopted a bold outfit, with an asymmetrical blouse and intense orange pants, at a meeting with women entrepreneurs from a flower farm.  It is the queen's third public engagement since the quarantine was established in Belgium, a country severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

 In fact, the queen's visit to Gediflora aimed to address this topic, the impact of coronavirus on the business in Belgium.  Coquettish, Mathilde accessorized her outfit with oversized earrings, a gold bracelet, a clutch with green finishes and green sandals.

But the most important accessory was the protective mask, which the queen took care to match with the rest of the outfit.

Slovakian president accused of turning a face mask into an aesthetic accessory.

 Zuzana Čaputová, the president of Slovakia, made people angry at the end of March, when she matched her protective mask with a garnet dress, during a political event held in Bratislava.  At the time, Slovakia had reported 186 cases of infection with the new coronavirus, and there were many who criticized the president's flirtation.

Other voices have argued that her gesture could be a source of inspiration, especially for young people, who treat the coronavirus pandemic with too much relaxation.  In fact, Zuzana's image was compared to the famous Mileena from "Mortal Kombat".

Known for impeccable clothing taste, Queen Letizia of Spain taught a lesson in adequacy during the coronavirus pandemic.  On a working visit with her husband, King Felipe, on the largest fresh food distribution platform in Spain, Letizia impressed with her sober, practical outfit and perfectly adapted to the new rules of protection.

While interacting with the workers on the platform, Letizia wore a protective mask and black gloves, matched with black pants and blouse.  In fact, at one point, he waved his elbow to avoid direct contact with workers.

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.

The well known football clubs also make money during the pandemic.  FC Barcelona decided to sell anti-coronavirus masks and launched 3 models, in three different sizes.

Each of them costs 18 euros and, according to the statements of those in the marketing department of the Catalan group, they are made of ecological cotton.  Moreover, they are reusable, because, according to the "data sheet", they do not lose their anti-virus qualities even after 40 washes.  To encourage local industry, Catalans ordered masks from workshops in the city.

 To advertise them, the people from Barcelona also photographed the technician Quique Setien wearing it at one of the trainings this week, so that the fans know exactly what they are buying.  Because they are already on the market and, according to the official website of Messi's team, the masks can be found in five stores, one of which is also in Barcelona airport.

 The three existing models are now only the first of a total of nine to appear until the resumption of the Spanish first division, which is scheduled to take place around 12 May.

The face shield is very effective. It does not make breathing difficult, and glasses do not fog up.  According to scientists from the University of Iowa, the face shield reduces the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 96% if an infected person coughs in your face.  And even if you contact the patient for 30 minutes, the shield will protect you by 80%.

 For comparison: the effectiveness of disposable medical masks ranges from 60 to 75%.  For homemade fabric masks, this number varies depending on the material, from 40 to 90%, and for a respirator reaches 95%.

The face shield does not need to be washed and wait until it dries, it can be disinfected with soap and water or a 70% solution of alcohol, as recommended by use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations regarding the situation of their acute shortage of WHO.  And it is reusable, unlike surgical masks.  Yes, and it interferes with touching your face.

 For optimal protection, the visor should completely cover your chin and forehead, so choose the right size.  Ideally, the shield should be worn with the mask.  So you cover both your mouth and face skin and eyes.

 If you do not know where to buy such a shield, you can make it yourself with a simple instruction.

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.