Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Can wearing masks stop the spread of viruses?
The new coronavirus strain was first
discovered in Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province earlier this
month. It spread out quickly in and out of the city and has become an epidemic.
Now the city is locked down and only those who have emergency or essential
businesses can move in and out of there. The world is now afraid that this outbreak
of coronavirus could become similar or even worse epidemic like the Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, in 2002-2003 that spread across mainland
China and Hong Kong and killed nearly 650 people.
You may also want to know that hundreds of
thousands of people die every year because of the flu. You will see many
Japanese wearing masks on the street and trains at this time of year. But are masks
as effective as people hope to prevent viruses from getting in or out of the mouth?
The best way to avoid being infected, or infecting
others, is to avoid interacting with others and going to crowded places, such
as stations, markets, schools, or offices and getting on public
transportation like trains or busses. However, there are times when you need to
go out, and the only protection you could have is to put a mask on. Unfortunately,
you can count on it no more than gargling or washing your hands thoroughly.
Why?
Enjoy reading the article and learn what you
should do to minimize the risk of virus infection.
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