Does wearing a mask pose any health risks?

wearing face masks in public prevented as many as 450,000 new cases of Corona virus, according to a new study. That study, published online in the journal Health Affairs, estimates between 680,000 cases of the virus or prevented in the states that enacted requirements for mask use between April 8th and May 15th. Researchers say wearing face masks in public reduced the daily number of Corona virus cases by as much as 2% in Washington, D. C. And the 15 states that mandated their use. Compared to the states that did not, the longer than mandates were in place, the higher the reduction in Cove in 19 cases. Researchers also looked at 20 states that imposed employees only mandates but not public mask use, and did not find a significant impact on the spread of the Corona virus. In those states, the study did have some limitations, including the inability to measure the actual use of face coverings in any community, and researchers were only able to measure confirmed cases Cove in 19 Despite evidence that infection rates in some communities were higher for today's health minute A Mandy Gaither

Related video above: Study finds face masks prevented thousands of COVID-19 casesDoes wearing a mask pose any health risks?No, not for most people. Babies and toddlers should not wear masks because they could suffocate. The same goes for anyone who has trouble removing a mask without help.Others can wear masks without risking their health, according to experts, despite false rumors to the contrary.In areas where COVID-19 is spreading, health experts agree that wearing masks or other face coverings in public helps reduce the risk of spreading the virus when people can’t socially distance by staying 6 feet apart.The coronavirus mainly spreads through droplets that are emitted when people talk, laugh, sing, cough and sneeze. Masks lower the likelihood of those droplets reaching other people. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you could be carrying the virus and could spread it.When it's humid outside, it could feel like it's harder to breathe if you're not used to wearing a mask, said Benjamin Neuman, a professor of biology at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. But he said masks don't meaningfully decrease oxygen in the body.“The body is quite good at adjusting to keep oxygen levels where they need to be," he said.There’s also no evidence that the use of masks causes fungal or bacterial infections, according to Davidson Hamer, an infectious disease expert at Boston University. Disposable face masks are meant to be used once, then thrown in the garbage. With cloth masks, it's a good idea to wash them regularly.Wearing a mask may be uncomfortable, but health officials say you should resist any urge to touch your face. That could bring germs from your hands into your nose, mouth or eyes.

Related video above: Study finds face masks prevented thousands of COVID-19 cases

Does wearing a mask pose any health risks?

No, not for most people. Babies and toddlers should not wear masks because they could suffocate. The same goes for anyone who has trouble removing a mask without help.

Others can wear masks without risking their health, according to experts, despite false rumors to the contrary.

In areas where COVID-19 is spreading, health experts agree that wearing masks or other face coverings in public helps reduce the risk of spreading the virus when people can’t socially distance by staying 6 feet apart.

The coronavirus mainly spreads through droplets that are emitted when people talk, laugh, sing, cough and sneeze. Masks lower the likelihood of those droplets reaching other people. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you could be carrying the virus and could spread it.

When it's humid outside, it could feel like it's harder to breathe if you're not used to wearing a mask, said Benjamin Neuman, a professor of biology at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. But he said masks don't meaningfully decrease oxygen in the body.

“The body is quite good at adjusting to keep oxygen levels where they need to be," he said.

There’s also no evidence that the use of masks causes fungal or bacterial infections, according to Davidson Hamer, an infectious disease expert at Boston University. Disposable face masks are meant to be used once, then thrown in the garbage. With cloth masks, it's a good idea to wash them regularly.

Wearing a mask may be uncomfortable, but say you should resist any urge to touch your face. That could bring germs from your hands into your nose, mouth or eyes.

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