I'm Not Wearing a Mask, Why Should I Care?

 I'm Not Wearing a Mask, Why Should I Care?

You’ve probably heard the news about COVID 19, the super bug that has spread throughout 10 countries in just two months and has claimed more than 100 lives. You might be wondering if you should be concerned, and if so, what you can do to protect yourself from this dangerous virus—especially if you aren’t a healthcare worker. While it’s impossible to predict how big of an impact COVID 19 will have on our country, it is important to take precautions against it now while they still work.

The Flu Is Spreading

It’s that time of year again. The flu is spreading throughout offices around the country. We all know what happens when we get sick: fever, coughing and sneezing. However, did you know that when you have these symptoms it’s possible for your coworkers to catch them too? That’s why so many offices have enacted no-touch policies; employees are asked to sit in their cubicles with their masks on. But does wearing a mask really protect us from catching germs? And how much protection do masks actually offer? Let’s find out.

The Reason We Wear Masks in Public

When you wear a mask in public you are giving protection to others. If someone else is not wearing one and they get sick then there is a good chance it will spread. It only takes one person to start an epidemic. If everyone wears masks then we can protect each other from disease and colds so that no one has to feel sick if they don’t want to be. There was even research done which found that if everyone wore masks at least ten percent of deaths per year could be prevented! That’s a lot of lives saved for something as simple as putting on a mask. So why wouldn’t you wear one?

What Can You Do Without Wearing a Mask

If you’re not wearing an N95 mask for your health, you are risking those around you. Many people think that masks only protect others from them—how wrong they are! Here are some of what we can do without masks: hang out in malls and grocery stores without having to worry about spreading germs. Kids will also have more fun at school and parents won’t have to worry about their kids getting sick. We can even go on public transportation like buses and trains without having to worry about coughing or sneezing. You might be thinking that masks aren’t necessary but if everyone is doing it then why shouldn’t you? Masks don’t just protect us, they also help keep our communities healthy by reducing transmission rates when worn correctly.

Create an Awareness

This year's flu season is already here. And with widespread infection looming on our horizon, you may be wondering: do all those people with masks over their mouths and noses actually protect us from catching their viruses? The answer is yes . . . but only to a certain extent. If everyone around you was wearing an N95 mask - or any other form of mask for that matter - you wouldn't have to worry about falling ill.

Don't Take Your Health For Granted!

You don’t wear a mask to keep from breathing in germs or diseases – you wear it because of what those pathogens could do to your body if they get inside. The same is true for your business: You protect yourself with protective measures like antivirus software and spam filters because that spam and malware can do serious damage to your computer system. But are you taking similar precautions to protect your data? If not, why not? Think about how much more valuable personal information (like Social Security numbers) is than some random virus. What would happen if someone got into your systems and stole that information? How much would it cost you to try and recover from such an attack? Those are questions worth asking before deciding whether or not to take steps to better protect yourself against cyberattacks.

Wear a Mask and Save Lives!

Many people who don’t wear masks think it won’t happen to them—but it can. That’s why everyone should wear a mask when there is an outbreak. A mask will prevent viruses and bacteria from infecting you. When you wear a mask, it protects you and those around you. It doesn’t matter if someone else wears one or not; if they aren’t protected by one, then you still need to wear one to protect yourself!