Head of the Tema Metropolitan COVID-19 case management team, Dr Kwekuma Yalley, has urged people to handle their nose masks properly to help them stay safe from the novel virus.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s health show dubbed ‘Apomuden Fie’, the medical practitioner observed with concern that majority of Ghanaians fail to handle their nose masks hygienically.
He disclosed that, COVID-19 spreads mainly from person-to-person through respiratory droplets hence risky for people who fail to wear and handle their nose masks in a germ-free manner.
He added that, “Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing, these droplets can then land in the mouth or noses of people who are near you or they may breathe these droplets in, so it is very necessary to wear and handle your mask appropriately.”
Admonishing Ghanaians on the risk-free ways to handle a nose mask, Dr Yalley said, observing hand-hygiene before touching the mask is the most vital.
He also added that, people should desist from touching the outer surface masks when removing or wearing them.
“You don’t have to touch the surface of the nose mask because when you do that, you are rather exposing yourself to the virus rather than protecting yourself ; you might not know whether the last surface your hands touched before touching the nose mask has been infected or not.”
Dr Kwekuma Yalley
Dr Yalley also stressed that surgical masks must not be worn continuously for more than 8 hours. He also urged that masks be changed once it gets wet.
He added, “the nose mask should be removed from the ears and not from the nose; also, people should avoid putting their nose masks into their bags or pocket without any rubber around it.”
Concluding, Dr Yalley stressed that, “masks are a key measure to suppress transmission and save lives; masks reduce potential exposure risk from an infected person whether they have symptoms or not; people wearing masks are protected from getting infected; masks also prevent onward transmission when worn by a person who is infected.”
He therefore urged the public, to wear their nose masks at all times indicating, it is the best way to live around the virus to avoid being infected.
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