It
should be noted that while cotton masks,surgical masks and improperly
worn/ill-fitted N95 respirator masks do not offer perfect
protection,neither do the tight-fitting NIOSH-approved N95
respirators.However,imperfect protection does not mean no protection at
all.In the present scenario, without a specific treatment or a vaccine
the goal for countries is to “flatten the curve” and not sudden
“total eradication”.Therefore,any additional reduction of
transmission,however small or partial,would still be significant and
achieved using barriers to stop the droplet spread.(N95 masks,surgical
masks or even plain cotton masks)
Given the need for the population to “acquire sufficient natural
immunity over time”, masks might adequately reduce the viral exposure
impacting transmission during the early waves, while allowing people
enough exposure to start mounting an efficient immune response.[4]
Clear guidelines for universal use of personal protective equipment is
essential to limit the spread of infection as communities around the
world begin to emerge from lockdown. But as the Little Prince said: ”The
essential is invisible to the eye”.