Why I Wear a Mask: Phelps Health Doctors, Employees Share Reasons

Properly wearing a mask is one way you can help protect yourself and others from the spread of illnesses, such as COVID-19.

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets, and masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from spreading to other people. Masks provide you and those around you with protection.

Protecting their families, loved ones and others is why many healthcare workers at Phelps Health wear masks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 2 and older wear a mask in public and when they are around people who do not live in their household.

You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick. According to the CDC, several studies have shown that people with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic (never develop symptoms) and who are pre-symptomatic (not yet showing symptoms) can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to others.

By wearing a mask, you can help protect others around you who may be at an increased risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19.

Melissa Johnston, a nurse with Phelps Health Surgical Services, said she wears a mask because her mother, who is 97, lives at home with her.

“Wear your mask and wash your hands. Do whatever you can to protect others,” Johnston said. “It's the easiest thing you can do.”

Some masks are more effective at protecting you than others. Masks should be made of tightly woven fabrics, such as cotton, and worn over your mouth and nose. They should have two to three layers and should fit snugly around your nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of your face.

Cloth masks that can be washed and reused as well as non-medical disposable face masks that are used one time and then thrown away are types of masks the public can wear.

Medical or surgical masks as well as N-95 respirators should be saved for healthcare workers and first responders to prevent supply shortages.

“I wear my mask because I believe it’s the best way to stop…the pandemic,” said Lindy Hardwick, a chaplain at Phelps Health. “I wear it for the patients here, my family, for myself and for the community.”

Masks should not be worn by children younger than 2 years old, anyone with trouble breathing and anyone who is unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Wearing a mask is not a substitute for other precautionary guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition to wearing a mask, follow these healthy habits:

• Stay six feet apart from other people who do not live in your household.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid crowded places and close contact with others not living in your household.
• Stay home if you feel sick or have symptoms of COVID-19.