To mask or not to mask: East and West have different views

[snoop1130]

To mask or not to mask: East and West have different views

By Kittipong Thavevong

 

 

As the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps the globe, scientists have highlighted an anomaly: while the number of infections and fatalities continues to rise in the West, the contagion is gradually subsiding in Asia.

 

Experts and observers say the divide may be due to Asians’ habit of wearing face masks in public.

 

Many Asian countries have urged – or even required – their citizens to wear face masks in public as a protective measure against Covid-19. However, facial protection is nothing new to Asian countries.

 

Asians have been covering their faces against airborne ultra-fine dust for years, while protective masks have even become a fashion statement in countries like South Korea and Japan.

 

More recently, some provincial governors in Thailand have ordered mandatory mask-wearing in public during the outbreak. The governors of Samut Sakhon, Phuket and Chanthaburi – empowered by the Emergency Decree invoked last month by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha – have ordered people to cover their faces while in public or face a fine of up to Bt20,000.

 

In the West, however, citizens have been advised not to wear face masks unless they are ill. Until recently the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that masks should only be worn by the sick and those tending to them – before finally admitting that facial protection may save lives.

 

Yet still, very few European nations are advising their citizens to wear masks.

 

Experts put this down to a cultural divide between Western individualism and Eastern collectivism.

 

For instance, US President Donald Trump said he would not wear a face mask despite his government urging citizens to cover their faces in crowded areas to prevent the disease from spreading.

 

“This is voluntary. I don’t think I’m going to be doing it,” Trump said last week, even though the number of infections and deaths were surging in the US. “Maybe I’ll change my mind, but this will pass and hopefully it will pass very quickly.”

 

Trump remained defiant even after the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO advised people to wear cloth-based face coverings in public. The advice came after studies showed that patients are infectious for 48 hours prior to developing symptoms and that up to 50 per cent of coronavirus cases can be asymptomatic – meaning patients can be contagious without displaying any clear symptoms and without even knowing they are sick.

 

“We want our country back. We’re not going to be wearing masks forever,” Trump said when asked if his administration will consider ordering Americans to wear face masks in the face of the pandemic.

 

The US president has obviously chosen to stick with the WHO’s previous edict, that only those suffering symptoms should wear masks.

 

Meanwhile, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has cautioned that masks can increase the “risk of infection due to a false sense of security”, and is also warning that incorrect use of masks can cause the wearer to become infected.

 

This view is shared by the Infectious Disease Association of Thailand, which has said that instead of reducing risk, improperly worn masks can actually boost the chance of catching the virus. It said surgical masks should only be made available for medical personnel and healthcare workers, to prevent shortages, while also warning that fabric masks will do little to fend off infections.

 

Yet many experts and studies point to the benefits of face masks in preventing the transmission of viruses, as reports of asymptomatic cases continue rising in many countries.

 

Prof Dr Yong Poovorawan, chief of Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, attributed the dropping numbers in East Asia to locals’ penchant for wearing masks.

 

He cited a case study in China which found that mask-wearing passengers on a bus carrying a Covid-19 patient suffered a lower rate of transmission than passengers who did not wear masks.

 

A study conducted by Henan University of Chinese Medicine concluded that masks were an effective defence against contracting disease in enclosed spaces. “Wearing a face mask protects yourself and others. Use of face masks is therefore likely to play a vital role in mitigating disease spread,” it said.

 

Dr Tanarak Plipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control, cites an experiment which found that fabric masks stopped test animals from contracting tuberculosis.

 

Several other studies also found that face masks can reduce the risk of flu infections, especially when combined with regular hand washing and wearing gloves.

 

Experts in Hong Kong also hailed the protective powers of masks, given the city’s experience during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003.

 

David Hui, a respiratory medicine expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said it was “common sense” to wear facial protection. “If you are standing in front of someone who is sick, the mask will give some protection. The mask provides a barrier from respiratory droplets, which is predominantly how the virus spreads,” he told Time magazine.

 

Hong Kong infectious disease specialist Joseph Tsang told Time that covering the face offers a two-fold benefit. “Wearing a mask is not just for protecting yourself from infections, but also for minimising the chance of your infection from spreading to others,” he said.

 

Falling Covid-19 numbers in Asia along with images of people wearing masks may now be helping change things in the West. Recent images from Italy and other European countries badly hit by the virus show more and more people wearing masks.

 

The Czech Republic and Slovakia have made mask-wearing in public mandatory, though in neighbouring Austria the rule only applies inside supermarkets. Germany is also advising people to don masks, while Israel has instructed everyone to cover their face while outside.

 

It seems the aversion to face masks is slowly waning in Western countries, which may help them in their battle against the virus.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/to-mask-or-not-to-mask-east-and-west-have-different-views/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-04-09

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[Cricky]

When in Rome 

[MaxYakov]

Trump doesn't need to wear a mask - he has the Secret Service protecting him from the virus!

[Chazar]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

may be

could  perhaps  might maybe

[Chazar]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The mask provides a barrier from respiratory droplets, which is predominantly how the virus spreads,”

yeah when they land  on something then someone else  touche s that surface  then their  face

[Chazar]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Falling Covid-19 numbers in Asia

because THEY got it  first, Europe is  behind  them, lets  see if a  non mask wearing countries  follows  suit in  a  month or  so

[Chazar]

I read somewhere the reason many Asians  wore  masks was  due to Mers was it? which WAS an airborne  virus and they remember  that.

[Chazar]

1 hour ago, VYCM said:

When in Rome 

Eat  Pizza? Slay  a  Christian?

Edited April 9, 2020 by Chazar

[Chazar]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

which may help them in their battle against the virus.

may  might  perhaps........ again watching the Thais today, they  all  fiddle  constantly  with their masks  making them 100% useless

Edited April 9, 2020 by Chazar

[Amusements]

PEA....Wear a mask

Family Mart...Wear a mask

7/11 Wear a mask

And the list grows expediential.

Either fit in or stay indoors.

 

[Hank Gunn]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Prof Dr Yong Poovorawan, chief of Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, attributed the dropping numbers in East Asia to locals’ penchant for wearing masks.

 

He cited a case study in China which found that mask-wearing passengers on a bus carrying a Covid-19 patient suffered a lower rate of transmission than passengers who did not wear masks.

Probably because it hindered their penchant for spitting in public places/spaces. What governments should be doing (both in Asia and Europe/the Americas) is educating people on public hygiene. Don't cough/sneeze in open places, and if you do, cover your face, NOT with your hand (which can then be used to spread any infection to the next surface you touch) but with the crook or your elbow or back of your forearm. Hell, this was taught to my nephew in the US about 6 yrs ago when he was 8 yrs old.

[Virt]

There is a slight increase of countries recommending that it's best to wear a mask if sick or not, but i still have to see a solid study that actually shows it helps.

I understand that if you have symptoms a mask will somewhat prevent you from spreading it because it's not airborne, and i understand that in some asian countries prior to covid 19 it's common to use a mask if sick.

 

How about a proper study that actually shows if they work or not, instead of each country following their advice of their so called experts.

Plenty of experts all ready proved wrong during this outbreak, so lets get some facts instead of this "lets spin the bottle"

[sjaak327]

39 minutes ago, Virt said:

There is a slight increase of countries recommending that it's best to wear a mask if sick or not, but i still have to see a solid study that actually shows it helps.

I understand that if you have symptoms a mask will somewhat prevent you from spreading it because it's not airborne, and i understand that in some asian countries prior to covid 19 it's common to use a mask if sick.

 

How about a proper study that actually shows if they work or not, instead of each country following their advice of their so called experts.

Plenty of experts all ready proved wrong during this outbreak, so lets get some facts instead of this "lets spin the bottle"

There is another problem, back in the west there is a shortage of masks, and rightfully the masks should be reserved to people that are actually working in hospitals coming into direct contact with people that actually have the disease, the rest should practice social distancing, which would already be effective to a large degree.

[John21]

3 hours ago, Virt said:

How about a proper study that actually shows if they work or not, instead of each country following their advice of their so called experts.

Plenty of experts all ready proved wrong during this outbreak, so lets get some facts instead of this "lets spin the bottle"

I agree with what Virt has said here.

Also, I am very puzzled by the fact that little appears to be known about the transmission of the sars cov 2 virus. It seems that it is anyone's guess as to whether it can float on the air and thus go around corners and so on, which means that to be safe, we must act as if it might be able to.

I can't understand why the same community that have learned to treat AIDS  and herpes successfully and have sequenced the genome of the sars cov 2 virus don't even know whether it can float on the air, or how long it can live on human skin. It seems nuts. Am I missing something?

 

 

[John21]

2 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

There is another problem, back in the west there is a shortage of masks, and rightfully the masks should be reserved to people that are actually working in hospitals coming into direct contact with people that actually have the disease, the rest should practice social distancing, which would already be effective to a large degree.

Maybe, but there is also making your own mask, or just wrapping a scarf around your face, and wearing a pair of swimming goggles, breathing through the scarf (or other cloth) as much as possible. That would be completely legal and would not affect the shortage of masks. And distancing can still be practiced (the safest thing is both mask/DIY mask combined with it).

[smedly]

I'm staying neutral on this simply because I don't think wearing one is increasing risk, I think there are situations were a mask should be worn - but the ultimate protection is washing hands 

 

 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51205344

[JonnyF]

It seems pretty obvious to me that wearing a mask helps against a virus that can enter via the nose and mouth. Also, why would the doctors and nurses be wearing them while treating confirmed cases.

 

It certainly doesn't do any harm to wear one and if it makes others around you feel safer then that's another reason.

 

Obviously wash your hands as well. The two are not mutually exclusive.

[Cricky]

11 hours ago, Chazar said:

12 hours ago, VYCM said:

When in Rome 

Eat  Pizza? Slay  a  Christian?

You'll pay the price, upto you.

 

A childish attitude will not be tolerated.

[cardinalblue]

The main reason why Asians were masks in public is the crappy air pollution that exists throughout Asia...a last defense measure b/c their  governments have failed in clean regulations and enforcement...

 

The 2nd reason and to me one I really like is Asians have been taught to wear a mask when sick with a cold or flu...this does 2 things....reduces transmission during a cough and gives familiarity with mask wearing...

 

 

[jaiyen]

To see how good your mask is, put it on, strike a lighter in front of you and blow it out. If it goes out then the mask is useless ! Could try it with talcum powder on your hand if you have no lighter.

[MJKT2014]

Since there's a 20,000THB fine for not wearing one outside your front door in some parts of Thailand it's a pointless question.

[smutcakes]

4 hours ago, John21 said:

I agree with what Virt has said here.

Also, I am very puzzled by the fact that little appears to be known about the transmission of the sars cov 2 virus. It seems that it is anyone's guess as to whether it can float on the air and thus go around corners and so on, which means that to be safe, we must act as if it might be able to.

I can't understand why the same community that have learned to treat AIDS  and herpes successfully and have sequenced the genome of the sars cov 2 virus don't even know whether it can float on the air, or how long it can live on human skin. It seems nuts. Am I missing something?

 

 

Bare in mind that this is only 3-4 months old. Experts are no doubt looking into it, but they obviously need to check, verify, double check etc etc before saying anything. Not to mention that i am sure all are stretched to breaking point on this, so need to prioritize. There are various guidelines already about how long the virus can last on various materials, and in the air.

[Dazinoz]

Personally I hate wearing masks. I used to hate wearing the quality "rubber" masks with correctly designated cartridges at my work in an oil refinery but i KNEW they protected me. Whether they work or not  here at least wearing them appeases the locals and maybe stops Facebook posts like the one calling for Thais to slingshot shoot "sh|t tourists" in phuket. 

Edited April 10, 2020 by Dazinoz

[dinsdale]

No need to wear a mask unless you're sick is code for we don't have enough masks. As for listening to the WHO why? WHO didn't listen to Taiwan because CCP told them not to. Taiwan knew what was happening early in the piece. Of course CCP who the WHO is in bed with knew about person to person transmission in early Dec. If all countries closed their borders then against WHO advice and everyone started wearing masks then this thing may well be over and 10's of thousands of lives saved.

[Dene16]

Masks are not necessarily there to protect yourself but to protect others, many people do not realise they are infected. A mask will stop you from infecting others

Its not rocket science just common sense

In the Asian countries where the wearing of masks (especially since the outbreak) has become normal/mandatory, the virus has subsided very quickly

Countries in Europe have a vastly higher spread of contagion and death rate (what is the difference?)

I am in the UK which it is now probably the second worst country, for the virus, in the world  

I had to go shopping yesterday and i would say that less than 5% of people were wearing masks.

And i thought Thai people were stupid !!!!! 

[mauGR1]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

I'm staying neutral on this simply because I don't think wearing one is increasing risk, I think there are situations were a mask should be worn - but the ultimate protection is washing hands 

 

 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51205344

Same here, i also separate carefully potential contaminated objects, like notes and coins, keys, shopping bags and wrappings.

Wearing a mask is just showing respect and compassion to fellow humans, and avoiding some heavy fine too.

Edited April 10, 2020 by mauGR1

[Phuket Stan]

17 hours ago, MaxYakov said:

Trump doesn't need to wear a mask - he has the Secret Service protecting him from the virus!

<deleted>…..Cant the Secret Service have a few days off....like a month

[AgMech Cowboy]

18 hours ago, VYCM said:

When in Rome 

My thought exactly!!!

[utalkin2me]

13 hours ago, Virt said:

There is a slight increase of countries recommending that it's best to wear a mask if sick or not, but i still have to see a solid study that actually shows it helps.

I understand that if you have symptoms a mask will somewhat prevent you from spreading it because it's not airborne, and i understand that in some asian countries prior to covid 19 it's common to use a mask if sick.

 

How about a proper study that actually shows if they work or not, instead of each country following their advice of their so called experts.

Plenty of experts all ready proved wrong during this outbreak, so lets get some facts instead of this "lets spin the bottle"

No study needed.

 

If you have lived on earth for any amount of time you already understand that potentially infectious "things" fly out of people's mouths all the time. 

 

[JAG]

13 hours ago, Virt said:

How about a proper study that actually shows if they work or not, instead of each country following their advice of their so called experts.

Perhaps the 'experts" - however you regard them - have rather more pressing calls on their time and expertise?

 

wearing a mask may or may not provide protection, either for the wearer or others nearby, but it certainly reassures people in this society. Irritating or not, we should fall in line and wear them.