Thread by @just1doctorwala

#thread
Everytime there is a new epidemic different WhatsApp forwards pop up. This particular one i have seen at least 3 times in the last 4 years
Short answer
The information in this picture is WRONG & FALSE
#FactCheck
#coronavirusindia #coronarvirus #CoronavirusOutbreak

These masks are called MASKS or common surgical masks. They are usually used by healthcare workers when treating patients.

They are designed with a filter inside the white side to prevent the spread of water droplets from the breath OF THE PERSON WEARING IT.

So in essence wearing this mask protects the patient not the wearer. The droplets will collect in the mask & you breathe through it. But since it is your own droplets no harm. Wearing the mask in reverse will not work. Imagine if it collect the droplets from air. Common sense🤦🏽‍♂️

So there is only one way to wear this mask and that is coloured side out. Ideally those who are already infected should wear it as it will protect others around them who are not yet infected. It works better than covering face with hand when coughing and sneezing.

So what should you wear to protect yourself? What you need is a respirator. Specialized mask like devices which provide a tight seal of the device to the face. Most of us healthcare people use N95 masks. Two variations in models of those below.

These have special filters which filter out small airborne particles and also fit snugly to the face providing a nice air tight seal around it. We wear this while treating patients with highly virulent infections. Healthcare workers working in isolation wards MUST wear this.

But these masks are far more expensive than common surgical masks and also it is better for the general population to not panic buy them else healthcare workers may not get them to use while treating patients.

So what should you do to help prevent yourself getting infected? The WHO has released some quick tips reduce your risk of getting the disease.

If you find yourself with fever, running nose, throat pain, get a doctor to check you out. Most people who get corona just exhibit symptoms like the common cold and it will pass just as easily. The deaths we are seeing are those who are already having another underlying disease.

For majority of the adult population it will come and go as a common cold.

People who are at risk are very old and very young. Those with underlying diseases like Asthma and COPD. Those with cancer. Those with liver and kidney diseases. Those who are immunocompromised.

So in short. Please verify anything you get as social media forwards. Google it yourself if you don't want to trust anyone but yourself. But please be wary of spreading fake news and creating panic at this time.

Stay safe and stay healthy everyone!

Here is a video to explain the difference between common mask and specialized respirator

Exactly

https://twitter.com/roteIndischer/status/1223208334972440576?s=19

👌

https://twitter.com/NikSB9/status/1223240330318733312?s=19

note how the passengers are being made to wear N95 masks

https://twitter.com/ndtv/status/1223427419958235136?s=20

Correction this should have read 0.25 microns
Missed it the first time

https://twitter.com/just1doctorwala/status/1223208746551271426?s=19

Thank you to @abhijitbarua for pointing this out 👆