On April 11, the Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced, at a press conference, the distribution of 10 million masks for those who had to return to work. The protection measure comes after the end of the confinement of non-essential services workers and the publication of opinions of international experts recommending its use to curb the pandemic. The distribution is being carried out in public transport stations such as the subway and suburban, in places where it is difficult to maintain a safe distance.
The Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, has explained, for his part, that the masks will not be necessary in case the trips to the workplace are made in private vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles or on foot “because there is no difficulty in maintaining the interpersonal distance “.
Returning to those citizens who join their job and use public transport (be careful because it is not recommended if you have symptoms of COVID-19, have had risky contact, you belong to a vulnerable group or you can work from home) These people will be given a “hygiene” or “barrier” mask. Of course, at the moment the delivery is only made from 6:00 to 9:00 in “the main interchanges and access points” to public transport .
Hygiene masks are intended for use by healthy people and those who are carriers of the virus but have no symptoms (asymptomatic) . Therefore, they are not recommended for those who do have symptoms of COVID-19 or who are in contact with someone who is sick.
How to put on and take off the hygiene mask
If you have long hair, put it back. The dark blue part of the mask is on the outside, the light on the inside. Before touching the mask, wash your hands with soap and water or hydroalcoholic gel , grasp the mask by the ends of the rubber bands and place it on your face. Locate the metal strip on the mask and place it over your nose. Make sure that you cover the nose, mouth and chin and that there are no gaps between the mask and the face. The elastic bands will go one above the ear and the other below. Adjust the metal strip on the nose. Wash your hands again.
During the time you wear the mask, do not lower it or raise it , that is, do not lower it to the neck or raise it to the forehead to “rest”. The mask should not be touched after donning. You also shouldn’t scratch the inside of it or take it off to talk, cough, or sneeze.
To remove the mask, wash your hands first and then take it by the ends of the elastics , it is very important that you do not touch the front or any other part of it, immediately throw it into a closed container and wash your hands again.
And how long can the hygiene mask be used? It is recommended not to use it for more than four hours . If the mask becomes damp or deteriorates, it will need to be replaced with a new one. It is important to know that all masks are for single use only .
False sense of security
The use of hygiene masks is intended that an asymptomatic person does not spread the virus, that is, that it does not spread.
It is very important that, even if you use a mask, you do not neglect the most effective measures to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, which are maintaining a safe distance and frequent hand washing with soap and water or hydroalcoholic gel.
Act as if you are the one who can infect.
