Wearing mask is the best way for containing the epidemic

    Frank Mar. 26, 2020, in Waterloo, Canada

http://www.kwcg.ca/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=61910&do=blog&id=12949

Feb. 29, 2020, the Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) said that the infected people develop signs and symptoms of fever and mild respiratory symptoms, on an average of 5 - 6 days. There other reports said that some infected people have long stay as normal in never showed symptoms, but they are all contagious to others. Therefore, all people are suspects, so that it is necessary to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the virus.

For epidemic control, in compared with the countries in the culture circle of China, Canada and the western countries are still in the uncontrolled state under the misleading of improper guidance, many people did not wear mask in opening mouth and nose to spread and accept virus.

If you view on the YouTube video, in China, all people wear mask. Mask wearing helped to reduce the spread of the virus effectivelly.

It is not only the people in China, but also in overseas.

Mask helps the employees of China’s firms in Iran zero infections

Mar. 16, 2020, a Mandarin article The firms of China in Iran are zero infection among employees reports that, the medical experts, of China sent to Iran for aiding Iranian fighting against virus, found that the companies of China in Iran copied the prevention methods from demotic China, for example, strict implementation of the management with closed environment of forbidding stranger in, regularly disinfection, force everyone wearing masks and check body temperature of employee to identify the infected people; so that has been achieved ‘zero infection’ among their employees. 

In the firms, the most of employees are Iranian, Chinese are few; which means that the companies of China have well educated their employees and Iranian employees also well educated and saved the life of their families, and the healthy families ensured the health of employees.

Below is fact that the mask helped South Korea successfully contained epidemic.

Mar. 24, 2020, article How South Korea flattened the curve said that “No matter how you look at the numbers, one country stands out from the rest: South Korea.” “In late February and early March, the number of new coronavirus infections in the country exploded from a few dozen, to a few hundred, to several thousand.”

“At the peak, medical workers identified 909 new cases in a single day, Feb. 29, and the country of 50 million people appeared on the verge of being overwhelmed. But less than a week later, the number of new cases halved. Within four days, it halved again — and again the next day.”

“On Sunday, South Korea reported only 64 new cases, the fewest in nearly a month, even as infections in other countries continue to soar by the thousands daily, devastating health care systems and economies. Italy records several hundred deaths daily; South Korea has not had more than eight in a day.”

“South Korea is one of only two countries with large outbreaks, alongside China, to flatten the curve of new infections. And it has done so without China’s draconian restrictions on speech and movement, or economically damaging lockdowns like those in Europe and the U.S.”

“As global deaths from the virus surge past 15,000, officials and experts worldwide are scrutinizing South Korea for lessons. And those lessons, while hardly easy, appear relatively straightforward and affordable: swift action, widespread testing and contact tracing, and critical support from citizens.”

 “South Koreans’ cellphones vibrate with emergency alerts whenever new cases are discovered in their districts. Websites and smartphone apps detail hour-by-hour, sometimes minute-by-minute, timelines of infected people’s travel — which buses they took, when and where they got on and off, even whether they were wearing masks.”

“People ordered into self-quarantine must download another app, which alerts officials if a patient ventures out of isolation. Fines for violations can reach $2,500.”

“Television broadcasts, subway station announcements and smartphone alerts provide endless reminders to wear face masks, pointers on social distancing and the day’s transmission data.”

Other best example of mask helped to have prevented the epidemic is Japan

March 23, 2020, a Mandarin article When entering Shanghai from Japan, there is no need for centralized isolation for 14 days said that, at present, for the people from or through key epidemic countries, Shanghai is 100% isolated. For those from other countries, Shanghai has implemented 100% virus nucleic acid testing then decides whether isolated.

Japan has been called out of the list of key epidemic countries by Shanghai, Japanese will conduct a nucleic acid test. If the test result is negative, there is no need to be isolated for 14 days.

Why did the Shanghai so safely move Japan out of the list of key epidemic countries? The main reason should be that so far, the number of confirmed diagnoses from Japan is still in zero.

As my view the answer has made clear from the article provided pictures – the most of people wear mask in japan.

Ueno Park, a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing, is overcrowded. Many people wear masks.

The K-1 International Fighting Tournament in Saitama Arena was held on time, and 6,500 people watched the game. The organizers distributed masks to the audience and provided disinfectants.

The article said that at this moment, nucleic acid testing in Japan is still difficult to be gotten.　

There were other proof that Japan has successfully contained the epidemic.

Mar 23, 2020, article Coronavirus Cases in Japan by Prefecture reported that Infections in Japan: 1,046 (as of March 22, 2020)

Mar. 21, 2020, a Mandarin article The expected outbreak in Japan, why did it not happen said that, Japanese government responded epidemic slowly, resulting in continuous outbreaks of unknown infections.

Therefore, many people expect that the outbreak will be sooner or later, but as of Mar. 21, there were only 1,016 confirmed cases in Japan (the most of them were inbound one). It is a good model in developed countries. In contrast, Italy has more than 47,000 cases, and the United States and Germany have close to 20,000 cases.

Bloomberg News reported that Japan, adjacent to China, was one of the earliest countries to have the epidemic, but so far has no major outbreak, which has puzzled experts.

Japan did not implement severe Chinese-style closures, nor did it adopt European-style large-scale quarantine or American-style "shelter in place". Although schools were closed, however, the vast majority of Japanese people continued to live in normal lives. The Tokyo Metro is still crowded during peak hours, and restaurants are open as usual.

Some critics say that Japan is purposefully testing less, for that Tokyo Olympics can be held as scheduled in July, deliberately reducing the number of confirmed patients.

A report issued by a group designated by the Japanese government on Mar. 9 pointed out that about 80% of people diagnosed in Japan were not transmitted to others. The group's report said: "Many cluster infections were identified quite early." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cited the reports, saying that there was no need for Japan to declare a state of emergency.

Seasonal flu cases in Japan have fallen for seven consecutive weeks, showing that the Japanese are serious about personal epidemic prevention.

The infection rate in densely populated Tokyo is only 0.0008%, and Hokkaido, the worst-affected epidemic, has lifted its state of emergency.

Above comments are all ignored that key reason, the great contribution of masks. Please look at photo below.

Nakamise Shopping Street in Asakusa, Tokyo is still full of tourists on the 20th. Associated Press

Canada is just in the state of opposite with Asian countries　

For the epidemic control in Canada, the biggest problem is the numbness of people, many of them have no sense for taking measures to prevention, in workplace and supermarkets, many people are without masking; especially, in the workplace, people are talking each other in closely as that of before, they never have sense that coronavirus is in specially looking for killing such ignorant people.

Please look at the fact that people in negatively supervising mask wearing. In March 18, 2020, there was a report that Asian Canadian Woman Wearing Face Mask Kicked Out of Toronto Supermarket.

The problem seems from the misleading of some officials or professional institution.

March 18, 2020, article Coronavirus: Why masks don't work reports that, in his ongoing defensive war against COVID-19, Quebec's public health director and medical expert Horacio Arruda says that wearing mask can do more harm than good. He was inciting the general population to stop using mask, unless they are confirmed in sick. 

Mar. 24, 2020, when I revise this article to here, I Googled a shocking information from the website of Gov-Quebec.

Instructions and directives - Gouvernement du Québec that last update: March 23, 2020

“Masks are not an effective means of protection for the general public. Their use is indicated more for patients who are suspected of being infected and for the health professionals who are providing care for them. You can watch the message from Dr. Horacio Arruda This hyperlink will open in a new window. (French only), Québec Director of Public Health, on the topic.”

Below is the screenshot from Gov-Quebec suggested video that the top official as medical expert who is in taking charge of epidemic prevention by warning people that mask do not useful but harmful from prevent virus.

 YouTube video: Demande du Dr Arruda : éviter l’usage de masques à des fins préventives

 Mar 18, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBeBM-4toJE&feature=youtu.be

 Mar 19, 2020, YouTube Video: New COVID-19 policies for personal protective equipment

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=ggDYXxQtcZI&feature=emb_logo

In Canada, the LifeLabs is a provider for screening infections of COVID-10. As Canadian government certified professional Lab, on the website of LifeLabs, it suggested that “any customers who screen positive for suspected COVID-19 will be asked to wear a mask according to pre-screening questions provided by Public Health Agency of Canada.

It was the reason I specially added comments in the article Now is wartime by military forcing people home and mask when outdoors:

“It is not the virus in robbing people's life, but, it is the careless behavior of people, it is the ignorant conduction of medical experts and it is the negligent governance of government in sacrificing their people to the coronavirus.”

“In China, the success in containing virus should thank the efficient governance, so that actual practice is better than under martial law. But, democratic countries will be in mess until military forcing people home and mask outdoors.”

In the United States, the epidemic is more wildly

March 26, 2020, a report United States Coronavirus Cases: 68,594, Deaths:1,036, Recovered:428.

For such a result, the misleading of the authority CDC has played great role.

Mar. 5, 2020, on the website of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Unites States suggests that “immediately putting a surgical mask on patients being evaluated for respiratory symptoms.” “A mask should be worn by infectious patients any time they leave the isolation room.” “Masks are not usually recommended in non-healthcare settings.”

People must understand that only a safe public environment can ensure everyone in safe, and only that everyone wearing mask can create a safe public environment by essentially reducing the spreading of the virus from the root level. An easy rational measure of government and a simple protection of oneself can help to stop the pandemic.

The homemade mask will be fine

At present, the masks are not easy available. According to an article, masks need to be changed within a few hours. As a result, the amount of the consumption is too large to ensure supply. I think that medical personnel need to change the masks as required.

For daily life, ordinary people do not need to change the mask too often at all. Sometimes water washing or microwave disinfecting is feasible.

If it cannot get mask, as my view, the homemade one is also feasible for daily use in an environment that is not severe contagious.

Anyway, as an effective measure for contain the epidemic, government must force people cover their mouth and nose when outdoors by anything possible.