Doctors Warn Surgical Masks Don’t Protect You Against Wuhan Coronavirus

Amid the deadly outbreak of coronavirus in China that’s killed at least 26 people and sickened hundreds of others, officials in the country are encouraging the public to wear surgical masks to prevent the spread of disease.

Demands for the masks have skyrocketed, with many retailers unable to keep up, but the question remains: Do surgical masks really work?

“Surgical masks will not prevent your acquiring diseases,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, and the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Rather, he explained, surgical masks are typically used by surgeons to protect their patients from their mouth-borne germs.

“But those masks don’t work to prevent inhaling diseases,” said Dr. Schaffner.

The masks, which cover the nose and mouth, are often made from a flimsy material and aren’t fitted to the face.

In other words, spaces and gaps can form around the cheeks and edges of the mouth, making it easy for air to move in and out.

“When coughing, you can feel the puffs of air coming out of the mask,” said Dr. Schaffner.

With that said, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently recommending anyone infected with the novel coronavirus or being tested for it to wear a surgical mask when in public.

Further, one infectious disease physician told The New York Times the masks could block “large respiratory droplets” from entering your body when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

“These large droplets are largely behind the spread of coronaviruses,” the physician said.

According to Dr. Schaffner, a more protective mask, known as N-95 respirator, may be more effective.

However, he noted, a non-medical professional using this mask is likely not using it correctly, doing little to prevent the spread of illness or inhaling a disease.

“The chance of the average person going into a pharmacy, wearing them correctly and for long periods of time is unlikely,” said Dr. Schaffner. 

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As for more preventative measures, he recommends “abundant hand-washing.” 

Based on a 2014 report on the history of surgical mask usage in Asia that in Southeast Asia — namely in countries such as China, Taiwan, and Japan, among others — surgical masks are not only worn by sick people hoping to prevent the spread of illness but also for air-quality reasons.

Source: Fox News