As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc, experts maintain that if all people wear nose masks and observe other safety protocols, the pandemic could be brought under control.  

But there seems to be argument over which masks are most effective. There are suggestions that some masks may actually spread the virus than not wearing one at all.  

It is common to see some people in public using handkerchiefs, as nose masks.

According to Mr Kalvin Odonkor, a nurse and health blogger, “some people really don’t understand that not all face coverings are equal, and that there are some that are going to be more or less effective”.

He said given the rate of droplet transmission, people must stop covering their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs, bandana and other materials.

“All masks are not equal; some are of inferior quality and this could be dangerous. I think that many people are just wearing these face coverings not realising that they are meant to serve a purpose” he said.

For those who are still confused about why masks are necessary, he noted that asymptomatic spread was one of the factors to keep in mind. 

He said that, there were many people out there who did not know that they were infected, and that face shields or nose masks helped to reduce contracting the disease from those who did not show any signs or symptoms.  

“If everybody knew their status, that would be a different story, but the fact of the matter is that most people don’t know whether they’re infected or not,” he said.

By Geoffrey Buta