We haven’t talked about COVID-19 for a while, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone anywhere. Where some parts of the world are seeing cases go down, others are looking at significant jumps. It’s still important to do all you can to boost immune strength.
Regardless of where you live and the situation in your community, the risk still exists. It’s on you to ensure you’re keeping your guard up and taking action to limit your risk of contracting the virus.
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Wearing a mask is recommended and has become a reality for many communities. Most retail locations aren’t allowing customers inside without one, while some municipalities have enacted laws to ensure citizens are masked indoors.
But do these measures make people less likely to comply with other preventative measures like social distancing and handwashing?
Not according to a new study. Thankfully, an analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge found that mask-wearing did not enhance “risk compensation.” They found that mask-wearing did not diminish hand-washing, and in some cases, it even enhanced it.
And that’s good news. It means that despite the World Health Organization’s (WHO) and other health departments’ fears, mask-wearing is generally not providing a false sense of security. Hand washing and social distancing remain two essential factors in preventing the spread of the COVID-19.
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So remember to wash your hands when you return home and sanitize them before getting in your car or after touching any doors, display items, etc. that you may encounter when you’re out and about. Also, wash or sanitize hands before and after removing your mask.
By continuing to be diligent and careful, you give yourself a better chance of steering clear of the coronavirus. It appears that we will be living with the virus for a long time, so complacency can have devastating consequences.
As businesses and towns reopen, it can be very easy to forget that there is an invisible virus circulating. Do your best to stay on top of your hand hygiene even if you’re wearing a mask and doing your best to social distance.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
