Features
Another twist in masking against covid-19: Single or double masking for all?
By Dr B. J. C. Perera
MBBS(Cey), DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Paed), MRCP(UK), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lon), FRCPCH(UK), FSLCPaed, FCCP, Hony FRCPCH(UK), Hony. FCGP(SL)
Specialist Consultant Paediatrician
If one looks at the history of advice regarding the wearing of masks as an effective COVID-19 control measure, it has gone through a full 180-degree swing. In the initial phases of the pandemic, even the World Health Organisation (WHO) was not convinced that wearing masks was of any benefit. Our health authorities followed suit, as they always do in any situation where the WHO pontificates. Then the research scientists showed very clearly the benefits of wearing masks and after virtually a Herculean effort on the part of the scientific community, it was agreed that all should wear masks. Now, at least in our emerald isle, it has become law and at present the police even go after people who are not wearing masks and take steps to prosecute them. It has become like a kind of a mandatory second nature for all of us to wear masks.
Masks, of course, have to be worn properly for optimal benefits. This has been said over and over, again and again. With more contagious variants of the coronavirus spreading and optimal vaccination still months away for many people, all over the world, experts agree that it is time to think even harder about how well the face masks are protecting people.
Now enter DOUBLE MASKING …In a recent statement, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the USA, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a foremost authority on COVID-19, stated that he favours double-masking as a further measure to protect against even the new and more infectious Covid-19 variants, like the UK and South African strains, as well as other similar mutant variants that may arise with time. These new recommendations are in line with the regulations being currently imposed across Europe, where medical-grade face masks like the N95 and the FFP2/3, rather than cloth masks, are becoming mandatory in public spaces.
Why the sudden change? More importantly yet, how does one double-mask correctly? Here’s what you need to know. Why Is Double-Masking Necessary? Doubling-Up on Masks is perhaps the need of the hour. When it comes to double-masking, it all boils down to extra protection. As Dr. Fauci further stated in an interview with the Today Show, “If you have a physical covering with one layer, and then you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it is more likely to be more effective”.
The main reason why the extra protection is necessary, now more than ever, is that the new Covid-19 variants are more contagious than the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As has been pointed out repeatedly, it is easier for these new Covid-19 mutations to bind to human cells. Therefore, minimizing the number of novel coronavirus particles in the air that enters the human respiratory system is the key, and the easiest way to do so is to make sure that everyone is wearing masks that offer the best possible protection. One way to do this is by wearing two masks. It is of course quite important to cover our noses and mouths completely and for both masks to fit snugly. Not only will double-masking help to protect others if someone in a crowd has Covid-19, but it will also decrease every individual mask wearer’s risk of contracting the disease.
All in all, wearing two masks is a better shield between you and the novel coronavirus. But why are doctors not advising us to wear three, four, or even five masks at the same time? More layers must surely be better. However, the main reason why that is not a good idea for most people is that wearing multiple masks will make it difficult for you to breathe, depending on the material. “You can pack on 10 layers, but what you do is to lose breathability, become quite uncomfortable and you have overdone the filtering capacity that you want” states Onyema Ogbuagu, an infectious diseases specialist and the primary investigator of Yale’s Pfizer COVID-19 Clinical Trial.
How to Double-Mask correctly? There are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to start double-masking. Here are some key points: –
Which masks are the best to combine?
Research shows that N95 masks offer the best filtration against the novel coronavirus. That being said, these masks may not be the best choice for most people because putting on and breathing in an N95 may be quite tough, especially if you have to wear it for hours. Still, if you can handle it, wearing an N95 mask is the gold standard. It is, however, not your only option. Ideally, you just want to use masks that offer both sufficient air filtration and breathability. A worthy alternative to N95 masks is a combination of a cloth mask or a surgical mask on top of a KN95 mask, which is a modification of the N95 mask. Keep in mind that by “cloth mask”, experts mean a face mask that consists of at least two layers of tightly-knit material, and certainly not a bandana handkerchief or a neck gaiter or a scarf.
How should we layer the face masks?
According to infectious disease experts, the best way to wear two masks is to start with the mask that offers the best air filtration and then wear the other mask, usually a cloth mask, over it. Therefore, put on the KN95 or a surgical mask first, and then wear the cloth mask over it. Make sure there are no gaps on the sides of the masks and they provide a tight fit. That manoeuvre will ensure that no contaminated air will be able to sneak in from the sides.
All in all, the idea of double-masking is pretty straightforward, and it is definitely worth a shot, especially when you have to commute by public transportation or have to spend time in populated areas. However, experts are of the opinion that it is generally better for someone to even wear a single mask properly than to wear two masks improperly. Of course, if one could wear two masks properly, then that would probably be best. The philosophy that “one mask is good, two masks are better, is probably true”, said Dr Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association. He further stated “I would prefer that somebody wore one mask properly than two masks improperly, but if you can wear two masks properly, that’s great”.
Whether you’re doubling up, wearing an N95, or just donning your favourite fabric mask, the most important thing to do is to make sure that you are wearing it properly. Masks should cover your nose and mouth and be as tight to your face as possible, according to the Centres for Disease Control in USA.
Experts say that the coronavirus variants do not have superpowers to penetrate masks better than the older versions of the virus. But when they do get through, it is more likely that a person will get sick. There is still a lot we do not know about the variants or what makes them more contagious. It could be that they are better at entering cells, or that they produce higher viral loads, meaning that when an infected person talks or coughs, they’re spewing out more viral particles.
Yet for all this, what they do have is the ability to exploit any kind of lapses in the way you wear those masks. Therefore, if you have got a flimsy mask on or if you have got a mask that you do not wear that well … it is going to be less forgiving when you are dealing with a new variant,
Until more people are vaccinated, just keep physical distancing and wearing masks, and avoid mixing in crowds indoors. Of course, masks are just one way to reduce your risk of transmitting and spreading COVID-19, and everyone should continue distancing, avoiding crowds, limiting time indoors with people outside your household, and staying home as much as possible. There is no way in which these can be relaxed, at least not as yet.
Whatever it is, try to do a little bit better job at both the masking and all the different prevention steps that all of us have been following to try to get everybody past that finish line where we have enough people vaccinated to be able to spend less attention on these very same things. Public cooperation in that scenario is the holy grail on which we have to depend on, relentlessly.
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There’s an ill more dangerous and pervasive than the Coronavirus that’s currently sweeping Sri Lanka. That is the fear to express one’s convictions. Across the public sector of the country in particular many persons holding high office are stringently regulating and controlling the voices of their consciences and this bodes ill for all and the country.
The corrupting impact of fear was discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago when dealing with the military coup in Myanmar. It stands to the enduring credit of ousted Myanmarese Head of Government Aung San Suu Kyi that she, perhaps for the first time in the history of modern political thought, singled out fear, and not power, as the principal cause of corruption within the individual; powerful or otherwise.
To be sure, power corrupts but the corrupting impact of fear is graver and more devastating. For instance, the fear in a person holding ministerial office or in a senior public sector official, that he would lose position and power as a result of speaking out his convictions and sincere beliefs on matters of the first importance, would lead to a country’s ills going unaddressed and uncorrected.
Besides, the individual concerned would be devaluing himself in the eyes of all irrevocably and revealing himself to be a person who would be willing to compromise his moral integrity for petty worldly gain or a ‘mess of pottage’. This happens all the while in Lankan public life. Some of those who have wielded and are wielding immense power in Sri Lanka leave very much to be desired from these standards.
It could be said that fear has prevented Sri Lanka from growing in every vital respect over the decades and has earned for itself the notoriety of being a directionless country.
All these ills and more are contained in the current controversy in Sri Lanka over the disposal of the bodies of Covid victims, for example. The Sri Lankan polity has no choice but to abide by scientific advice on this question. Since authorities of the standing of even the WHO have declared that the burial of the bodies of those dying of Covid could not prove to be injurious to the wider public, the Sri Lankan health authorities could go ahead and sanction the burying of the bodies concerned. What’s preventing the local authorities from taking this course since they claim to be on the side of science? Who or what are they fearing? This is the issue that’s crying out to be probed and answered.
Considering the need for absolute truthfulness and honesty on the part of all relevant persons and quarters in matters such as these, the latter have no choice but to resign from their positions if they are prevented from following the dictates of their consciences. If they are firmly convinced that burials could bring no harm, they are obliged to take up the position that burials should be allowed.
If any ‘higher authority’ is preventing them from allowing burials, our ministers and officials are conscience-bound to renounce their positions in protest, rather than behave compromisingly and engage in ‘double think’ and ‘double talk’. By adopting the latter course they are helping none but keeping the country in a state of chronic uncertainty, which is a handy recipe for social instabiliy and division.
In the Sri Lankan context, the failure on the part of the quarters that matter to follow scientific advice on the burials question could result in the aggravation of Islamophobia, or hatred of the practitioners of Islam, in the country. Sri Lanka could do without this latter phobia and hatred on account of its implications for national stability and development. The 30 year war against separatist forces was all about the prevention by military means of ‘nation-breaking’. The disastrous results for Sri Lanka from this war are continuing to weigh it down and are part of the international offensive against Sri Lanka in the UNHCR.
However, Islamophobia is an almost world wide phenomenon. It was greatly strengthened during Donald Trump’s presidential tenure in the US. While in office Trump resorted to the divisive ruling strategy of quite a few populist authoritarian rulers of the South. Essentially, the manoeuvre is to divide and rule by pandering to the racial prejudices of majority communities.
It has happened continually in Sri Lanka. In the initial post-independence years and for several decades after, it was a case of some populist politicians of the South whipping-up anti-Tamil sentiments. Some Tamil politicians did likewise in respect of the majority community. No doubt, both such quarters have done Sri Lanka immeasurable harm. By failing to follow scientific advice on the burial question and by not doing what is right, Sri Lanka’s current authorities are opening themselves to the charge that they are pandering to religious extremists among the majority community.
The murderous, destructive course of action adopted by some extremist sections among Muslim communities world wide, including of course Sri Lanka, has not earned the condemnation it deserves from moderate Muslims who make-up the preponderant majority in the Muslim community. It is up to moderate opinion in the latter collectivity to come out more strongly and persuasively against religious extremists in their midst. It will prove to have a cementing and unifying impact among communities.
It is not sufficiently appreciated by governments in the global South in particular that by voicing for religious and racial unity and by working consistently towards it, they would be strengthening democratic development, which is an essential condition for a country’s growth in all senses.
A ‘divided house’ is doomed to fall; this is the lesson of history. ‘National security’ cannot be had without human security and peaceful living among communities is central to the latter. There cannot be any ‘double talk’ or ‘politically correct’ opinions on this question. Truth and falsehood are the only valid categories of thought and speech.
Those in authority everywhere claiming to be democratic need to adopt a scientific outlook on this issue as well. Studies conducted on plural societies in South Asia, for example, reveal that the promotion of friendly, cordial ties among communities invariably brings about healing among estranged groups and produces social peace. This is the truth that is waiting to be acted upon.
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By Sanjeewa Jayaweera
It was on 3rd January 1972 that our family arrived in Karachi from Moscow. Our departure from Moscow had been delayed for a few weeks due to the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It ended on 16th December 1971. After that, international flights were not permitted for some time.
The contrast between Moscow and Karachi was unbelievable. First and foremost, Moscow’s temperature was near minus 40 degrees centigrade, while in Karachi, it was sunny and a warm 28 degrees centigrade. However, what struck us most was the extreme warmth with which the airport authorities greeted our family. As my father was a diplomat, we were quickly ushered to the airport’s VIP Lounge. We were in transit on our way to Rawalpindi, the airport serving the capital of Islamabad.
We quickly realized that the word “we are from Sri Lanka” opened all doors just as saying “open sesame” gained entry to Aladdin’s cave! The broad smile, extreme courtesy, and genuine warmth we received from the Pakistani people were unbelievable.
This was all to do with Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike’s decision to allow Pakistani aircraft to land in Colombo to refuel on the way to Dhaka in East Pakistan during the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It was a brave decision by Mrs Bandaranaike (Mrs B), and the successive governments and Sri Lanka people are still enjoying the fruits of it. Pakistan has been a steadfast and loyal supporter of our country. They have come to our assistance time and again in times of great need when many have turned their back on us. They have indeed been an “all-weather” friend of our country.
Getting back to 1972, I was an early beneficiary of Pakistani people’s love for Sri Lankans. I failed the entrance exam to gain entry to the only English medium school in Islamabad! However, when I met the Principal, along with my father, he said, “Sanjeewa, although you failed the entrance exam, I will this time make an exception as Sri Lankans are our dear friends.” After that, the joke around the family dinner table was that I owed my education in Pakistan to Mrs B!
At school, my brother and I were extended a warm welcome and always greeted “our good friends from Sri Lanka.” I felt when playing cricket for our college; our runs were cheered more loudly than of others.
One particular incident that I remember well was when the Embassy received a telex from the Foreign inistry. It requested that our High Commissioner seek an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto (ZB), and convey a message from Mrs B. The message requested that an urgent shipment of rice be dispatched to Sri Lanka as there would be an imminent rice shortage. As the Ambassador was not in the station, the responsibility devolved on my father.
It usually takes about a week or more to get an audience with the Prime Minister (PM) of a foreign country due to their busy schedule. However, given the urgency, my father spoke to the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Sectary, who fortunately was our neighbour and sought an urgent appointment. My father received a call from the PM’s secretary around 10 P.M asking him to come over to the PM’s residence. My father met ZB around midnight. ZB was about to retire to bed and, as such, was in his pyjamas and gown enjoying a cigar! He had greeted my father and had asked, “Mr Jayaweera, what can we do for great friend Madam Bandaranaike?. My father conveyed the message from Colombo and quietly mentioned that there would be riots in the country if there is no rice!
ZB had immediately got the Food Commissioner of Pakistan on the line and said, “I want a shipload of rice to be in Colombo within the next 72 hours!” The Food Commissioner reverted within a few minutes, saying that nothing was available and the last export shipment had left the port only a few hours ago to another country. ZB had instructed to turn the ship around and send it to Colombo. This despite protests from the Food Commissioner about terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit prohibiting non-delivery. Sri Lanka got its delivery of rice!
The next was the visit of Mrs B to Pakistan. On arrival in Rawalpindi airport, she was given a hero’s welcome, which Pakistan had previously only offered to President Gaddafi of Libya, who financially backed Pakistan with his oil money. That day, I missed school and accompanied my parents to the airport. On our way, we witnessed thousands of people had gathered by the roadside to welcome Mrs B.
When we walked to the airport’s tarmac, thousands of people were standing in temporary stands waving Sri Lanka and Pakistan flags and chanting “Sri Lanka Pakistan Zindabad.” The noise emanating from the crowd was as loud and passionate as the cheering that the Pakistani cricket team received during a test match. It was electric!
I believe she was only the second head of state given the privilege of addressing both assemblies of Parliament. The other being Gaddafi. There was genuine affection from Mrs B amongst the people of Pakistan.
I always remember the indefatigable efforts of Mr Abdul Haffez Kardar, a cabinet minister and the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. From around 1973 onwards, he passionately championed Sri Lanka’s cause to be admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and granted test status. Every year, he would propose at the ICC’s annual meeting, but England and Australia’s veto kept us out until 1981.
I always felt that our Cricket Board made a mistake by not inviting Pakistan to play our inaugural test match. We should have appreciated Mr Kardar and Pakistan’s efforts. In 1974 the Pakistan board invited our team for a tour involving three test matches and a few first-class games. Most of those who played in our first test match was part of that tour, and no doubt gained significant exposure playing against a highly talented Pakistani team.
Several Pakistani greats were part of the Pakistan and India team that played a match soon after the Central Bank bomb in Colombo to prove that it was safe to play cricket in Colombo. It was a magnificent gesture by both Pakistan and India. Our greatest cricket triumph was in Pakistan when we won the World Cup in 1996. I am sure the players and those who watched the match on TV will remember the passionate support our team received that night from the Pakistani crowd. It was like playing at home!
I also recall reading about how the Pakistani government air freighted several Multi Barrell artillery guns and ammunition to Sri Lanka when the A rmy camp in Jaffna was under severe threat from the LTTE. This was even more important than the shipload of rice that ZB sent. This was crucial as most other countries refused to sell arms to our country during the war.
Time and again, Pakistan has steadfastly supported our country’s cause at the UNHCR. No doubt this year, too, their diplomats will work tirelessly to assist our country.
We extend a warm welcome to Mr Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a truly inspirational individual who was undoubtedly an excellent cricketer. Since retirement from cricket, he has decided to get involved in politics, and after several years of patiently building up his support base, he won the last parliamentary elections. I hope that just as much as he galvanized Sri Lankan cricketers, his political journey would act as a catalyst for people like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to get involved in politics. Cricket has been called a “gentleman’s game.” Whilst politics is far from it!.
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Believe me, seeing certain videos, on social media, depicting action, on the dance floor, at some of these entertainment venues, got me wondering whether this Coronavirus pandemic is REAL!
To those having a good time, at these particular venues, and, I guess, the management, as well, what the world is experiencing now doesn’t seem to be their concerned.
Obviously, such irresponsible behaviour could create more problems for those who are battling to halt the spread of Covid-19, and the new viriant of Covid, in our part of the world.
The videos, on display, on social media, show certain venues, packed to capacity – with hardly anyone wearing a mask, and social distancing…only a dream..
How can one think of social distancing while gyrating, on a dance floor, that is over crowded!
If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coronavirus makes its presence felt…at such venues.
And, then, what happens to the entertainment scene, and those involved in this field, especially the musicians? No work, whatsoever!
Lots of countries have closed nightclubs, and venues, where people gather, in order to curtail the spread of this deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands.
Thailand did it and the country is still having lots of restrictions, where entertainment is concerned, and that is probably the reason why Thailand has been able to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
With a population of over 69 million, they have had (so far), a little over 25,000 cases, and 83 deaths, while we, with a population of around 21 million, have over 80,000 cases, and more than 450 deaths.
I’m not saying we should do away with entertainment – totally – but we need to follow a format, connected with the ‘new normal,’ where masks and social distancing are mandatory requirements at these venues. And, dancing, I believe, should be banned, at least temporarily, as one can’t maintain the required social distance, while on the dance floor, especially after drinks.
Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana keeps emphasising, on TV, radio, and in the newspapers, the need to adhere to the health regulations, now in force, and that those who fail to do so would be penalised.
He has also stated that plainclothes officers would move around to apprehend such offenders.
Perhaps, he should instruct his officers to pay surprise visits to some of these entertainment venues.
He would certainly have more than a bus load of offenders to be whisked off for PCR/Rapid Antigen tests!
I need to quote what Dr. H.T. Wickremasinghe said in his article, published in The Island of Tuesday, February 16th, 2021:
“…let me conclude, while emphasising the need to continue our general public health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded gatherings, to reduce the risk of contact with an infected person.
“There is no science to beat common sense.”
But…do some of our folks have this thing called COMMON SENSE!
