Page 84 - Yggdrasil 2021

O it>
X
Mask on
By Kaitlin Johnson '2 4
During the C O V ID -19 pandemic, it is important to make sure
we are protecting ourselves and others, and using the right mask, is key to our safety.
"I might even go so far as to say that this face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against C O V ID than when I get a COVID vaccine, because the immunogenicity may be 70%.
And if I don't get an immune response, the vaccine is not going
to protect me. This face mask will," said Robert Redfield, Director ofthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is pretty clear that masks will be in our lives for quite some time, so we need to make sure to use them responsibly to effectively slow the virus. Before putting on and taking o ff a mask, you should wash or sanitize your hands. When using a disposable mask, make sure to discard the mask in the trash. If you are using a cloth mask, you should wash it after each use.
Over the past six months, masks have become an integral
part of our daily lives. Where once there were none, besides medical masks, today masks are everywhere - in different colors, materials and patterns. There are also many styles o f masks, some more effective than others.
Surgical masks and KN-95 masks, designed for the medical profession, provide the best protection. Early on in the pandemic, mask shortages arose, so the general population was encouraged to use alternatives such as cloth masks. Generally, cloth masks made from tightly woven cotton fabric are the best. Most have pockets to insert filters, which provides an extra layer of protection. You can wash and reuse cloth masks after use, and they also help trap droplets that are released when someone coughs, sneezes, or even just talks. Surgical masks also protect you from coming into contact with any viral droplets around you. Although they are not reusable, they offer protection even if another person isn't wearing a mask.
W hile wearing a mask w ith exhalation valves may be easier to breathe through, they do not protect others around you. As you breathe out wearing the mask, you are releasing unfiltered air particles, which could be spreading the contagion to the public. These masks protect you, but not others.
Upper school nurse, Nurse Useche writes, "The teachers and everyone in this school is working so incredibly hard to make
sure we can provide an amazing education for the students and continue to keep everyone safe. But w e also need the students to speak to each other and say "hey, remember to put your mask back on. This accountability and kind reminders to one another can help us learn these new mask protocols."
AND WASH YOUR HANDS!
82
Photos by l--ldidy Lli Jensen