Charles Teves
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) old infographic has been getting exposure lately following the recent reports of the increasing severity regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19).
People have been making efforts lately to prevent getting the virus by using all kinds of protection, including wearing face masks.
Facial hair can actually be making these efforts less effective. The CDC’s 2017 infographic shows which types of beards or facial hairstyles can be disruptive to face mask protection.
The respirator-sealing surface would be touching too many hair follicles for the protection to be effective.
Having zero facial hair would be the best for maximum protection. Other acceptable facial hairstyles include the many kinds of mustaches, side-whiskers, handlebar, etc.
The CDC added that respirators should only be worn when one is in a workplace since it really covers the mouth and nose, but face masks would be better used if you are out in public.
These respiratory viruses can be contracted from a person who has it, and that same person only needs to be at least 6 feet away.
The COVID-19 epidemic is getting worse, as there are more cases of the virus globally than there is in China.
The virus has affected the economy in many ways. Factories have stopped operating; tourism and trade routes have decreased flexibility; countries are also tightening their border policies.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics has also been affected, as it is unsure if the event will proceed due to the presence of the virus.
Kianoush Jahanpour of the Health Ministry in Iran said that it is not expected for a cure to be made anytime soon. Nearly 200 cases of the virus have been reported in Iran.
