As COVID-19 spread all across the world, many of us became aware of how important face masks are. While face masks may cause a slight inconvenience, especially during the summer season, these tissues are the only barrier between us and the deadly SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus). 

Healthcare officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local institutions from all around the world are urging people to wear face masks, as it’s the only way to prevent the transmission of the virus. 

This article will focus on the importance of wearing face masks to keep yourself and your family safe. 

Why is it important to wear facemask? 

When we go back to the basics, the primary role of face masks is to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via respiratory droplets, which can easily enter through the mouth and nose to infect new hosts. 

This protection is provided thanks to the complete barrier between your nasal and oral cavities with the outside world. 

However, if you wear the mask in a floppy manner that doesn’t cover your mouth and nose properly, your risk of catching the virus will increase. 

In fact, the CDC has released several statements and how-to infographics to emphasize the importance of properly wearing face masks, asking people to: 

• Put the mask over the nose and mouth, then secure it under the chin 
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of the face 

One major benefit of wearing face masks is to protect the people around you, especially if you have been exposed to someone carrying the virus or work in a crowded place (e.g., grocery stores, restaurants, airports). 

Because of this risk/benefit analysis, many governments around the world released emergency laws that mandate the public to wear masks in an attempt to stop the further spread of COVID-19