Coronavirus: This WhatsApp Message Advises People To Wear Masks Inside Out For Better Protection

As the coronavirus outbreak gets worse around the world, misinformation around the epidemic is increasing across the globe. A new message that’s been circulated on WhatsApp advises that people wear surgical masks inside-out for the best effectiveness. Normally, we wear the white part outside and the colored part inside, so what’s with the new instruction?

But a report from Times of India said that the message is nothing more than a hoax. A surgical mask basically consists of filters preventing germs from passing through its surface to the wearer’s face. So regardless of which part you wear on the outside, the mask still prevents germs from passing through.

What if one wears the mask inside out?

If you really wear the white part of the mask outside and the other one inside, you may feel uncomfortable, which can get worse as you wear it longer and longer. The findings were confirmed to come from Max Hospital’s Dr. Romil Tickoo as well as Dr. Tarun Sahni at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.

These masks are said to prevent the spread of many contagious diseases, including the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV. As of now, coronavirus is known to commonly spread in the air and a surgical mask can partly prevent this by blocking an infected person’s fluid from contacting other people. However, just a mask is far from enough to protect yourself from the virus.

There are a number of things you must follow to stay safe from the epidemic.

What should you do to protect yourself from coronavirus?

These are the most basic things you can do to protect yourself.

1. Stay away from those infected with the coronavirus.
2. Wear a mask whenever you go out. The N 95 surgical mask is recommended by professionals, but any mask you can get would help already.
3. Wash your hands regularly.
4. Clean your house and the objects you touch regularly to remove the virus.

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