Face Mask: An essential tool to fight the invisible enemy
Over the past few months, an increasing volume of information has helped
increase awareness regarding the transmission and clinical
characteristics of SARS-CoV-2. Following pandemic declaration by the
World Health Organization(WHO),global authorities and international
scientific societies immediately took measures to reduce the
transmission and subsequent morbidity associated with COVID-19. These
measures, however, were not sufficient to limit the contagion, which
drastically increased in the critical periods of March-April 2020,
bringing initially Iran followed by Italy and Spain to their knees.
Thereafter, the contagion spread rapidly to France and the United
Kingdom, as well as overseas to the USA and worldwide.
The identified routes of COVID-19 virus spread are respiratory aerosols,
spray droplets, and physical contact. Many nations disseminated
heterogeneous messages regarding self-protective measures,such as the
importance of face coverings,hand hygiene and SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Moreover,the possibility of contact tracing through geosocial
applications and public service platforms has been met with variable
interest.[1] Universal acceptance of these precautions could be
extremely crucial,especially in the upcoming months as several nations
proceed with the reopening of commercial establishments and educational
activities.