The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has made a statement regarding the rapid use of non-medical face mask to prevent the contraction of COVID-19.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) explained that the home material made face mask would not prevent someone from contracting the disease caused by Coronavirus but would instead, reduce the spread of infection.
The statement was to help put more light on the use of a face mask since it has been made compulsory that movement will be prohibited without a face mask. The statement read;
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“Non-medical face masks include self-made or commercial masks or face covers made of cloth, other textiles or other materials such as paper. They are not standardized and are not intended for use in healthcare settings or by healthcare professionals.
They serve to limit the spread of droplets and offer some measure of protection to those around you.
The material of construction is usually cloth(textile fabric), non-woven wadding, or paper-like materials. For these Barrier Masks, 100% cotton is preferred though, polyester, linen, or knit fabric can be used.
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Simple test: If the wearer can put off a flame from a cigarette lighter that is placed in front of the wearer, the mask is protective enough
Barrier face masks do not prevent you from contracting the disease but, they have been found to contribute to reducing the spread of infections when used widely in conjunction with other measures. Such measures include social distancing, not touching the face, eyes or mouth, washing of hands with soap for 20 secs, or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
These face masks are recommended to be washed daily and preferably should be a double layer of fabric to increase the absorbency and effectiveness.
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It must be noted that several washes, drying, and stretching of the mask over time reduce the effectiveness of the mask.”
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