Because Coronavirus can be spread easily, countless Palm Beach County residents have resorted to wearing face masks to protect themselves.  The virus is transmissible through human contact and exposure to respiratory droplets from an infected person.  When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they force out respiratory droplets into the air. They can also spread those droplets around if they touch their eyes and nose then touch another person or surface. Meet these infectious drops and you could get sick.

There is data that face masks can slow the spread of airborne viruses. For example, one study from 2008 found that those who used a mask were 80% less likely to get the flu. Additionally, a 2009 report observed that wearing face masks and frequent hand-washing, lowered people’s risk of getting the flu by about 70%.

The CDC.GOV/CORONAVIRUS recommends the following “Do’s and Don’ts” for facemasks.

DO:

-        Wear it whenever going out in public

-        Make sure you can breathe easily through it

-        Make sure it covers entire nose and mouth

-        Wash after using or dispose after wearing 

DON’T:

-        If under the age of two years old

-        Use surgical masks or PPE intended for healthcare workers