Don’t trust face masks – they won’t stop you getting the virus
Although people have been pictured wearing them all over the world since the outbreak began, face masks are probably not any good at protecting people from catching COVID-19.
Face masks are no good at protecting people from catching COVID-19
University of Reading scientist Dr Simon Clarke said individual viruses are so small they could pass through the filters on most masks people would buy from shops.
But scientists do also say anyone who is already infected could reduce their risk of passing the virus on by wearing a mask.
In France, a strong belief that the French would culturally reject the practice — and confidence that masks could be imported quickly if needed — has contributed to a desperate shortage.
In the past decade, France’s formidable national stockpile of masks shrank from 1.7 billion to 150 million at the outset of the current pandemic.
The debate over the simple face mask has sometimes evolved into a larger discussion over the role of the individual in society, pitting the West’s individualism against Asia’s collectivism.
President Trump appeared to embody that ambivalence when, even as he announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now endorsed widespread mask-wearing, he said he would not wear one himself.
Frédéric Keck, a French anthropologist specializing in pandemics, said that, in the West, mask-wearing was seen through an individual’s perspective.
«‘There’s a virus outside, so I wear a mask only to protect myself,’» Mr. Keck said, «whereas collective reasoning, in Asian societies, is to say, ‘I wear a mask to protect others. ’»
The difference in mind-set is a crucial one given the nature of all but the highest-grade masks: Masks are believed to have some effectiveness at protecting the wearer, especially in crowded spaces, but are most effective at reducing the risks that the virus will be spread through coughing or talking.
They ask, Why do we have to wear masks? We’re not sick.
Carlesia Tully is making face masks.
Then she made masks for their co-workers.
Then she went to the local store to buy diapers and realized that none of the workers had protective gear so she made masks for them.
Then she made masks for the store’s customers, the post office employees, and the gas station attendants.
And though the debate is still live on how effective masks are in protecting the spread of the virus, evidence suggests they can reduce transmission.
Not so much by criminalising those who don’t wear a mask.
We need robust guidance, not least on the perils of fiddling with masks and then touching surfaces.
We are, of course, late to the party on masks – as we were on quarantine, border control and so many other aspects of the virus.
And if masks can help us shake off the shackles of the pandemic, and inch further towards freedom, then I’m covering up.
Whether acceptable or not, wearing of face masks or any other face shield to worship centres has come to stay, for as long as the Coronavirus pandemic persists.
So, the questions are: What is wrong in wearing face mask to church? Does face mask disturb genuine worship in any way? What is the stand of Islam on wearing of face shields? CHRIS IREKAMBA reports.
‘We Should Wear Face Mask To Church To Fulfil All Righteousness’
TO address this question of wearing face mask to the Church for worship, I will respond to it by asking this question: What would Jesus have done, if He was asked the same question or if He were to be a Church leader in our day? There are two scriptural references that would help in this regard.
We do not need to wear any face mask to Church, but we should do it to fulfil all righteousness.
So, I will agree that we should wear mask in order not to offend anyone, and be seen as law-abiding citizens.
If we are to look critically at certain scriptures, the mask that Moses wore was to cover a fading glory.
‘It Is Permissible For Muslims To Wear A Mouth, Nose Mask Or Even A Face Shield’
IT is, indeed, permissible to wear a mouth and nose mask, or even a face shield as you enter the mosque, given the present circumstances and the need to curb the spread of COVID-19.
None of these postures is impossible or difficult to assume with the relevant recitation, while wearing a mouth and nose mask.
So, both classical and modern scholars agree that it is NOT forbidden to have the mask on you, while performing Salaat.
And since the wearing of it does not seem to be as absolutely necessary as the wearing of the mouth and nose mask, I am of the opinion that it may be taken off and put aside at the start of prayer and then put on, when the actual Salaat is over.
So, in normal circumstances, when there is no need for such caution, it obviously would be extremely detestable, if not prohibited, to wear the mouth and nose mask or the face shield, while observing Salaat.
‘Wearing Of Mask To Church Has Nothing To Do With The Veil’
And, therefore, to transpose that to people wearing mask to church to mean that it is reintroduction of the veil, I cannot understand that really.
That is why I really can’t understand the reasoning behind the saying that people should not wear mask, because it amounts to the reintroduction of the veil that was torn.
I would, rather, advise such a person to either tell their members not to come to church at all, or else they allow them to wear the mask to avoid being infected by those who have it.
It’s either they tell their members not to come at all or they allow the people to protect themselves and protect others, because the veil that was torn in the temple has absolutely nothing to do with people wearing mask to church.
Wearing of mask at this critical time is the rational thing to do and I’m sure that Jesus Christ would not expect that people should expose themselves to danger or expose themselves to anything that can create problems for their health.
‘Refusal To Wear Face Masks Is Similar To Attempting Suicide’
THE use of face mask, as a preventive mechanism against Coronavirus, is permissible and indeed spiritually rewarding.
The face mask can be temporarily removed for the purpose of performing ablution or renewing the ablution.
Refusal to wear face masks exposes people to risk and danger, and is similar to attempting passive suicide, which is seriously frowned at in the Qur’an. .
While we pray for divine protection against the pandemic and other diseases, we must play our own role, one of which is use of face mask and adhering to other measures against COVID-19.
«We had people line up at all of our locations but they were masked, distanced and overall in great spirits».
In the interest of safety, masks have been required on all customers and employee since the stores reopened.
«But it’s mainly just you’ve gotta wear a mask. » Don’t go coughing on anyone. » Try and stay away from people.
For those who do show up in person, face masks are required and the store will limit the number of customers allowed inside at any given time. »
Masks are required and Stamper keeps hand sanitizer on the counter. »
Masks are required, the store offers gloves and they’ve been taking other precautions. »
The text of this article was generated by the Breaking The Silence system that collected 7 news articles posted on the web from January 2019 to September 2020 and clustered for the taboo subjects related to masks
