A medical virologist, Dr Kolawole Oladipo, has recommended a mask per day depending on its type if such mask has not been contaminated. Oladipo, in an interview with our correspondent, said the wearing of a facemask for a long time could lead to headaches, reduction in blood oxygenation, allergies, itchiness, and redness on the skin.“I will recommend that mask should be worn in high-risk areas and it would be good to take a break by removing the mask in safe areas.
“Fabric masks should be washed daily with antiseptic soaps and if possible, to iron it before any reuse. Disposable masks should be used once and be properly discarded.
“When a respiratory virus such as SARS-CoV-2 infects an individual, the virus will always be expelled with each breath. This is called viral shedding, and it is one of the main ways that respiratory viruses spread.
“If this person wears a mask, especially a tightly fitting mask, they will be continually re-breathing the virus, raising the viral concentration in their lungs and nasal passages.
“We know that people who have horrifying early-on reactions to COVID-19 have high concentrations of the virus early-on, which often leads to the deadly cytokine storm in an unfortunate selected number.”
The expert also advised Nigerians who have been vaccinated not to jettison the use of facemasks, saying this would reduce the transmission rate of the virus.
source: Punch
