Face Mask Wearing in Public Places is Pseudoscience and Antithesis: A New Tool Adopted for COVID-19 Control

Comment to: Nigerian Government on Presidential Executive bill 2020 on the compulsory wearing of Face mask in Public Places.

Infection prevention and control is a scientific approach, application and practical solution of the designed to prevent harm caused by the infectious agents. Control Measures occupies unique and safe positions in terms of patient Safety and quality health for those the measures are directed towards [1].

COVID-19 a novel disease caused the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) [2]. SARS-Cov-2 is an RNA virus responsible the current corvid-19 pandemic affecting several countries and continents of the world [3]. Clinical features and risk factors are highly variable making clinical presentation ranging from asymptomatic to fatal [4]. Infectious disease control measure has a clinical role for establishing and maintaining a healthy immunity in humans. Measures taken to curb the present Pandemic should consider health benefits, health hazards and it prolong use on the use of humans health.

In clinical practice or biological sciences, epidemiology studies face mask usage is evaluated to control infection via droplets spillage in theatres, laboratories and in the field where samples are collected. World Health Organization (2020) in it’s website (Link) has clearly stated the guidelines on the use of face mask. The current compulsory wearing of face mask by healthy population is a pseudoscience and antithesis. It is a model that lack scientific evidence. The prolong use of face mask ranging from clinical mask (KN95, etc) to community face mask (those made from local cotton /wool fibres) is associated with various health hazards than the acclaimed benefits.

The prolong use of face mask by public servants who spend an average of 8 hours a day in the office will not only cause carbon dioxide poisoning, weakening of the lungs, destruction of heard immunity, cause facial discomfort and several other respiratory distress syndromes. This model is not only unscientific but obsolete in the era we are.

In recent and previous studies, the use of face mask constitutes various degrees of health implication The use of protective facemasks (PFMs) negatively impacts respiratory and dermal mechanisms of human thermoregulation through impairment of convection, evaporation, and radiation processes and therefore face mask should be limited to only health workers and those taking care of infected persons [5]. Studies on the efficacy of weather face mask can lower Corvid-19 are yet inconclusive and therefore laws making it mandatory should be review and even abandoned until scientific proven.

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Yibala Oboma

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References

1. World Health Organization (2020) who.int/infection-prevention and control. Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19.
2. Liu Y, Yan LM, Wan L, Xiang TX, Le A et al. (2020) Viral dynamics in mild and severe cases of COVID-19. Lancet Infect Dis 20: 656-657. [Crossref]
3. Wei WE, Li Z, Chiew CJ, Yong SE, Toh MP et al. (2020) Presymptomatic Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 - Singapore, January 23-March 16, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 69: 411-415. [Crossref]
4. World Health Organization (2020) Home care for patients with COVID-19 presenting with mild symptoms and management of contacts.
5. Roberge RJ, Kim JH, Coca A (2012) Protective facemask impact on human thermoregulation: an overview. Ann Occup Hyg 56: 102-112. [Crossref]