Why You Should Wear a Mask (and Other Precautions Against COVID-19)

Whether you’re sick or not, wear a mask when you go outside.

Why? For two main reasons: 

1. You might carry the virus: The longest incubation period that we know of before symptoms arise is 28 days. That means you could be walking around for 28 days without a clue that you are carrying COVID-19, meanwhile infecting others.
2. You are at risk: For the same reason as above, except that you are the one at risk of becoming infected. Nobody knows who’s carrying the virus until they’re tested, but there is a lot of time in between going to get tested, getting tested, and then getting your results back. 

I’m not a healthcare professional, so take what I say with a grain of salt, but the advice I’m giving is based on the reasons all of us in China wore and still wear facemasks.

For those of us not working in hospitals, it’s okay not to have an N95 respirator or a surgical mask (the blue ones). Even a layer of cloth, like a scarf wrapped around your head or a bra cup (which is great because there’s an extra layer of foam inside), is better than being fully exposed. At least there’s a barrier between you and the droplets carrying COVID-19.

My friends know that I tend to rub my nose quite intensely and quite often. With a mask on, my nose is guarded. Also, if someone sneezes or coughs in my vicinity, I prefer to have their vapors land on my mask rather than up my nostrils. 

Yes, it might sneak into the loose-fitting parts of my mask when worn incorrectly, but still, don’t you think the chances of inhalation are lowered compared to my nose and mouth in full exposure? 

I have seen on hospital websites of doctors and nurses asking the public for donations of hand-sewn masks because proper medical gear is unavailable. It is completely unacceptable (and heartbreaking) that those fighting for our lives are not readily equipped. We’re basically sending soldiers into battle without armor. 

For extra safety, wear glasses (your eyes are another source of entry for the virus) and gloves, too. If you don’t have disposable ones just wear regular gloves and wash them when you get home.

You’ve probably already developed your own method of battling COVID-19 in your home, but in case not and would like some suggestions, here’s how my mom and I did it: 

Our Disinfectant Routines

Before we enter the house: 

We keep a spray bottle of 75% alcohol-based disinfectant at our entrance so it’s the first thing we reach for when we open our door.

1. Spray shoes, bottom and all around, preferably before stepping inside. 
2. Take off shoes and leave them by the door, or outside, or anywhere but wearing them inside the house. We put them on our sunny balcony. (Now might be a good time to invest in some furry house-slippers.)
3. Spray your sleeves, your jacket (I’m especially wary of the buttons/zipper), and all over, basically.
4. Spray your cell phone, keys, doorknob, light switch, anything you touched just now. 
5. Hang your jacket and mask near an open window or where it can get sun. 
6. WASH YOUR HANDS with soap and warm water before you touch anything else.
7. If you want to be super cautious like my mom, gargle with mouthwash and rinse your face.
8. Okay, now breathe and continue your new (temporary) life.

For disinfecting groceries (we did this quite loosely but when we were feeling really cautious, here’s what we did): 

1. Before taking any bags into the kitchen, spray the bottom of bags, parts that may have touched surfaces or been put on the ground (if you plan to keep these bags). Otherwise, remove all the groceries and toss the bags right away. Same goes for food deliveries.
2. Bring groceries to the kitchen and wipe down packagings with a tissue sprayed with disinfectant (or wipes if you’ve got them). Don’t directly spray your food (obviously you already knew that)! 
3. Wash produce thoroughly now or whenever you use them.

Extra food-related precautions:

• Now is NOT a great time to eat raw foods unless you really trust your washing. Veggies and fruit tend to be exposed at the supermarket and people pick through them with their fingers, so you don’t know who touched the bunch you just brought home. 
• Wash and remove skins from fruits before consuming. 
• This goes without saying, but please be extra mindful of washing your hands before preparing food.

How we clean the house: 

• Mop floors and clean countertops using a solution of disinfectant like Dettol with water. If you can’t find disinfectant, use bleach (better than nothing). Don’t use bleach for food, though!!!
• We also mix this solution into the washing machine when we wash clothes. Also, don’t use bleach unless all your clothes are white! Or you don’t mind polka-dotted, but virus-free outfits!
• My mom boils white vinegar diluted with water and walks around the house letting the vapors steam each room. Kinda stinks/freshens things up.
• Turn on some music, and do all the above more often than usual.

General things to pay attention to:

• I don’t wear my pajamas outside (though I see a lot of people do this) because I lounge around the house in them. 
• The bottom of your shoes. If you step on someone’s virus-carrying spit (though less likely than stepping on poop), don’t bring them into the house. 
• Be mindful of things that you frequently touch: car-door handles, elevator buttons, doorknobs, light switches, keys, cell phones, doorbells, etc. I use my keys as my pointer finger.
• If you have a car, disinfect your seats, window buttons, gear shift, driver’s wheel, etc. In some places in China, like my cousin’s residential compound and military compounds, they spray car tires and rims with disinfectant before they’re allowed into the parking lot.
• If you get packages delivered, discard the packaging in the trash outside.
• Finally, if you bite your nails, now is the most opportune time to cut the habit! You can do it!

I know this sounds like a lot, but it’ll become second nature soon enough. Besides, you may not need to do all that—you’ll figure out a routine that you feel comfortable with.

Do you have additional suggestions? Also, feel free to ask me any questions you have by commenting on this post, messaging me on Instagram @emilysdirtyelbows, or emailing me at emily@dirtyelbows.com.

Good luck and stay safe, friends! PUT ON THAT MASK (or scarf or bra or half a grapefruit)!!!