How to Properly Wear a Hospital Mask

If you are healthy, the World Health Organization (WHO) says, you need to wear a face mask only if you are taking care of someone who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19. Those who are sick should also wear a mask because it will help contain any germs that are released when they cough or sneeze.

A video published by the WHO explains how to properly put on, wear and take off a protective face mask. The first step before putting it on is to wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds. The next step is to inspect the mask for any holes or tears.

Following this, you should determine which side of the mask is the top and which is the bottom. This can be determined by locating the metal strip, which will identify the top. Then you should see which side is the inside of the mask, "which is usually the white side," according to the WHO video.

The mask should then be fit to the user's face, placing the two elastic strings behind each ear and pinching the metal strip on the mask's top to the shape of your nose. The mask should be pulled over your mouth and chin, "making sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask."

It is very important to avoid touching the mask's front, which will contaminate your hands. If this happens, you should immediately wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

When it is time to remove the mask, pull the elastic strings from behind the ears and avoid touching the front of the mask. The mask should be held far away from the face and discarded immediately. Masks should then be placed in a closed bin. Wash your hands shortly afterward.

According to the WHO video, a single-use mask should be discarded as soon as it gets damp, and it is very important not to reuse them.

The novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China and has continued to spread across the globe, infecting over 1 million people worldwide, as well as causing over 54,000 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker. The U.S. has become the pandemic's epicenter, with over 245,000 cases and at least 6,058 deaths.

As the WHO notes, wearing a mask is one way of preventing infection by the virus, but the most important thing to do is to frequently wash your hands. Protective measures have helped over 218,000 people recover from the virus globally.