Surgical mask
A surgical mask is also called a procedure mask, medical mask or a face mask.[1][2] is a mask. It is worn by medical doctors during surgery and during nursing. Surgical masks are used to catch the bacteria in liquid droplets and aerosols from the mouth and nose. They do not protect from viruses very well. They have a face seal that lets in more air than a respirator. A respirator keeps more dust and viruses out. For a respirator that can keep viruses out, see N95.
There are different types of surgical mask. Not all surgical masks should be used for surgery. Chinese health officials have rules for non-surgical and surgical masks.[3]
A low number of surgical masks is a big issue in the ongoing 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.[4][5]
Surgical masks are worn all year in East Asian countries. This includes countries like China, Japan and South Korea. Masks lower the dust making others sick a little. Mask keep out a little bit of dust particles from air pollution.[6] Some surgical masks have been made for looks. People wear these in Japanese and Korean pop culture. This is a big influence in East Asian youth culture.[7][8]
Surgical Mask Media
A surgical team of (from left) operating surgeon, assistant, and scrub nurse, all wearing masks with integral protective face shields
A supermarket shopper wearing a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic
A medical professional wearing a surgical mask during an operation
A face mask with Disney characters, designed for children
Passengers on public transport in Mexico City wearing face masks during the 2009 swine flu pandemic
Single-use medical masks produced by BYD Electronic. These medical masks conform to the Chinese standard YY/T 0969–2013.
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References
- ↑ Geggel, Laura (March 2020). "Can wearing a face mask protect you from the new coronavirus?". livescience.com. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
- ↑ "Advice on the use of masks the community, during home care and in health care settings in the context of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak" (PDF). www.who.int. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
- ↑ "For different groups of people: how to choose masks". NHC.gov.cn. National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ↑ "Not Enough Face Masks Are Made In America To Deal With Coronavirus". NPR.org. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
- ↑ "Chinese mask makers use loopholes to speed up regulatory approval". Financial Times. 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
- ↑ Yang, Jeff (19 November 2014). "A quick history of why Asians wear surgical masks in public". Quartz. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
- ↑ Dazed (2015-12-24). "How surgical masks became a fashion statement". Dazed. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
- ↑ "How K-Pop Revived Black Sickness Masks In Japan | Kotaku Australia". Archived from the original on 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2020-04-13.