Face masks check COVID-19 effects and deaths: Doctors

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: At a time when the State is witnessing an alarming rise in the number of deaths and critical patients due to COVID-19 infections, doctors have found that the widespread use of face masks is one of the effective ways to prevent further worsening of the situation.

"Rates of severe illness and death due to COVID-19 infection could be comparatively low in Assam with widespread use of face masks. Such an apparatus even blocks some of the virus-carrying droplets individuals inhale. They can significantly reduce your risk of falling seriously ill from COVID infection. The logic is to prevent virus get into one's body," a senior doctor at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital told The Sentinel on Monday.

The doctor added that in the latest wave of infections in the USA, the wider use of masks has been considered as one of the factors for the lower death rates and severe illness due to COVID infection. He further said that masks could lead to milder or asymptomatic COVID-19 infections by cutting down on the dose of virus people take in.

"In fact, masks can prevent many infections. Masks, which filter out a majority of viral particles, can lead to a less severe virus infection. So wearing mask could result in mild or asymptomatic virus infection and under such circumstances an infected person can recover fast," said another doctor at a leading private hospital.

The doctor added that in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Singapore,— where mask-wearing was a common practice— and in countries where mask-wearing was quickly embraced, such as the Czech Republic, the rates of severe illness and death due to COVID-19 infection have remained comparatively low.

"Why can't we follow the same practice in Assam? Even though the government and police are repeatedly appealing to the people to wear masks, a section of people are still not aware and loiter around without covering their mouths and noses. Imposition of fines for not wearing mask has not proved to be a deterrent," the doctor said. He, however, hoped that majority of the populace will soon realize the efficacy of face masks and start wearing them. "It is good that various types of masks including fashionable ones have arrived in the market to attract people," he added.

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