The Importance of Wearing a Mask During a Pandemic: There are Benefits!  

by Richard Ramirez

We must remember the benefits of masking as a win/win because we are able to protect ourselves and we can protect each other. We get an opportunity to be heroes to one another. COVID-19 does not discriminate against anyone. An article by Katarina Buchkovska says, the virus does not discriminate and can infect all people. It is possible to get sick on or off campus. It has been scary to discover that you can catch the virus by spending time with family and friends. However, it is necessary for students to keep masking so we can remain on campus seeing one another in person. It is extremely serious for St. Mary’s University to continue to require masks to be worn inside all buildings. In the restaurant where I work, for example, it is important not to congregate in a small area, keep six feet apart, wear masks, sanitize everything, and always wear gloves.

It alarms me how people can get sick and that many people can die from the virus. People who have preexisting conditions can suffer the most because they have weaker immune systems. I believe that it is important to understand the safety concerns of others because once someone like this gets sick, they may not recover. In Mirsoleymani’s et al. study, comorbid conditions lead COVID to become life threatening. Comorbidity refers to having an illness before getting sick with COVID-19. In this study, people with these conditions struggle with the virus because it becomes life threatening. The seriousness of the disease must be understood instead of thinking that it is recoverable now that 700,000 have passed away. Even though it is possible to recover from COVID-19, not being able to recover is another possibility. Coughing, sneezing, and talking expel saliva into the air, and we need to wear a mask to prevent those particles from being inhaled by others.

The essential workers in healthcare, often referred to as heroes, who know that their patients have COVID-19 figured out what does and does not work while protecting themselves and others. According to an article by Muhammad Akif Dilshad et al., healthcare professionals discovered that SOPs including proper use of PPE reduces the risk of acquiring COVID-19. Medical doctors who have used all protective measures should be trusted when they suggest SOPs. Those SOPs that work in the hospitals, can also be applied out in public and on campus. In an article by Andrey Gerasmov et al., if we continue to remain serious about the pandemic and continue to protect each other, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is important for us to stay the course as we move further into the next phases onward to the end of the pandemic. All of us can benefit by wearing a mask and being vaccinated. It can improve our situation in society.  

After the Texas quarantine ended, essential restaurant employees were allowed to return to work after they completed a COVID-19 safety course. These training sessions, which we took to reopen our businesses, were meant to protect the employees from the customers. This is why every customer is required to wear a mask upon entering my restaurant. Customers only take the mask off when they are eating; but if they need to get up for any reason, the mask goes back on. Protecting ourselves is the first benefit of wearing masks. Masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) continue to protect others as the second benefit. Also, in my restaurant where I work, masks have been proven to work because all of us who use these standard operating procedures (SOPs) have not gotten sick of any illness throughout the pandemic. Even with businesses like mine adhering to COVID protocol is necessary. According to an article by Ikay Dagyaran et al., healthcare professionals struggled to defeat this new enemy, COVID-19. The pandemic is a global nightmare which is why it is important that we continue to be diligent about protecting ourselves.

I know for a fact that it is a good idea to wear a mask during a pandemic. Masking not only benefits yourself, but it benefits others as well. Wearing a mask while being vaccinated is a double defense and inspires others to follow your example. It is also an opportunity for us to tell one another that “I care about you, and I want to keep you safe.” This also refers to the Marianist values: “Educate for Adaption and Change as ‘New Times calls for new methods’ -Father Chaminade.” Together, we can all make it through the pandemic with this heroic act. 

References

Buchkovska, Katarina. “THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM DURING COVID 19 – HAS THE WORLD BEEN CAUGHT UNPREPARED?” Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, 2020. 

“Community Data.” SA2020, 31 Aug. 2021, sa2020.org/data. 

Dagyaran, Ilkay., et al. “Like Soldiers on the Front – a Qualitative Study Understanding the Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Experience of Treating and Caring for Patients with COVID-19.” Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, 2020. 

Dilshad, Muhammad Akif., et al. “Risk of Covid-19 Infection during Endoscopy: Efficacy of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Protecting Health Professionals.” Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, 2020. 

Gerasmov, Andrey., et al. “ESTIMATION OF THE VALUE OF THE COVID-19 BASIC REPRODUCTIVE NUMBER AND THE EFFECT OF ANTI-EPIDEMIC MEASURES AND ‘SEASONAL FACTOR’ ON THIS VALUE.” Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, 2020. 

Mirsoleymani, Seyedreza, et al. “Predictors of Mortality Among COVID-19 Patients With or Without Comorbid Diabetes Mellitus.” Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, 2020.