TTO – From March 16, in crowded public places such as supermarkets, airports, train stations, bus stations, on public transport..., people must wear masks.
A company meeting in Ho Chi Minh City. All employees must wear masks to prevent droplets that could spread the coronavirus.
This drastic direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shows a high determination in stopping the possibility of widespread COVID-19 infection.
To avoid panic and people rushing to buy masks, leading to shortages, Youth had an interview with Dr. Le Quoc Hung, head of the Department of Tropical Diseases (Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City).
Dr. Hung said: "Even though it is not during the COVID-19 epidemic, wear mask when going to public places are very good. In addition to the risk of infection with viruses, it can help people avoid dust, smoke, and toxic emissions in the environment.
Wearing a mask should be a habit.
Doctor Le Quoc Hung - Head of Tropical Diseases Department (Cho Ray Hospital) - Photo: HOANG LOC
* The doctor said the purpose of wearing a mask is to prevent large droplets containing the virus from splashing onto the face of the person in contact. So it can be understood that wearing a mask should be a habit for everyone when going to the hospital. public?
– That’s right. Specifically, during the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask for people who are not sick is to avoid inhaling large droplets containing many types of viruses from the person opposite.
As for people in the incubation period, no one knows if wearing a mask can prevent the virus from spreading. In this case, if not wearing a mask, droplets containing the virus can be shot 2 meters away, which is very dangerous.
Foreign visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are all aware of wearing masks when going out in public – Photo: DUYEN PHAN
* But now the reality is that people are rushing to buy medical masks. This indirectly pushes the mask market into scarcity and high prices….
– People need to understand the meaning of wearing masks during this epidemic season.
In my opinion, the main purpose of wearing a mask is to prevent large droplets from splashing far into the face of the person in contact. Therefore, any type of mask can be used, it can be a cloth mask, a 2-layer or 3-layer mask. It is not necessary to wear a medical mask or an N95 mask.
Because this 4-layer mask is the type that medical staff are using to care for infected patients. This abuse causes a shortage of market supply, which is very dangerous.
Protect yourself and your community
* What is the risk of infection when facing an infected person wearing a mask in public, according to the doctor?
– For people who have been infected with COVID-19 and have spread the virus from their throats at a strong level, wearing a mask is certainly less effective in preventing it. However, with the current drastic direction in raising awareness of wearing masks in public places, it is an effective solution to help eliminate many risks of the virus spreading to the community.
Giving away free masks to people in Ho Chi Minh City – Photo: DUYEN PHAN
* According to doctors, the risk of infection in public places such as Are supermarkets, airports, train stations, bus stations, and public transport large?
– Of course, the more crowded the place, the higher the risk of infection, because it is impossible to know whether the person is sick or not. In addition, the more crowded the place, the higher the chance of coming into contact with infected secretions.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health's recommendation to limit going to crowded places in the context of the complicated epidemic is necessary to protect yourself and the community.
4 things to do immediately when going to crowded places
In the context of the complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic, if it is necessary to go to crowded places, the Ministry of Health recommends that each person remember:
– Always wash your hands with soap and clean water: This is a simple but very effective measure in preventing epidemics. The necessary times to wash your hands are: after coughing, sneezing; after holding, grasping, or coming into contact with potentially dangerous objects such as elevator buttons, doorknobs, stair handrails, and railings; after using the toilet; after cleaning children; before eating; when your hands are dirty, before entering and after leaving the service area.
– Avoid touching your face, nose, mouth and do not enter the service area if you have a fever or cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue or if you are in home quarantine as required by health authorities.
– Always cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, preferably with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
– Always use masks properly when coming to service areas according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health and immediately throw the mask in the trash after use. Absolutely do not spit indiscriminately.
