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The Use of Cloth Face Mask During the Pandemic Period in Indonesian People

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The Use of Cloth Face Mask During the Pandemic Period in Indonesian People Yudhastuti. Kesmas: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional (National Public Health Kesmas: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional Journal). 2020; Special Issue 1: 32-36 DOI: 10.21109/kesmas.v15i2.3945 (National Public Health Journal) The Use of Cloth Face Mask during the Pandemic Period in Indonesian People Ririh Yudhastuti Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia Abstract The use of masks protects individuals from the spread of COVID-19 and control the source of transmission through droplets, but with limited medical masks, a cloth face mask can be used as an alternative personal protection from COVID-19. This study aimed to describe the use of cloth face mask as an alternative personal protection during the pandemic. WHO recommends the use of non-medical masks both at home and in public places. The use of face masks is a WHO’s recommendation on April 6, 2020. Medical masks are categorized as medical waste, then the disposal must be appropriate to prevent COVID-19 transmission in community. Cloth face mask can be used repeatedly and washed, its use can be adjusted to face. However, using a face mask alone is not enough to provide an adequate protection level. Other steps must be taken, such as washing hands with hand soap in running water, keeping a physical dis- tance of minimum one meter from people, especially from those showing respiratory tract symptoms (coughing, sneezing), cleaning items touched by hands of people such as door handles and handles stairs. Therefore, the use of cloth face mask must be carried out together with clean and healthy living behaviors. Keywords: cloth face mask, COVID-19, Indonesia, mask crisis, pandemic Introduction 4,628,903 confirmed cases were reported with a total of Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause dis- 312,009 deaths where cases were reported in 216 coun- eases, ranging from mild to severe symptoms. tries or regions.2 The total number of confirmed cases in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new type of Indonesia up to May 19, 2020, was 18,010 cases with a disease that has never been identified before in humans. mortality rate of 6.6%.3 In December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization Several behaviors have been recommended to limit (WHO) China Country Office reported a case of pneu- the spread of COVID-19 to be carried out, which is the monia of unknown etiology in Wuhan City, Hubei same as in the influenza pandemic, such as washing Province, China. On January 7, 2020, China identified hands, limiting social distance and coughing, and sneez- pneumonia of unknown etiology as a new type of corona - ing.4 In addition, WHO has recommended the commu- virus (coronavirus disease, COVID-19). In January 30, nity to use face masks.5,6 Several studies also suggest the 2020, WHO has designated the Public Health Emergency use of face masks in public places.7,8 of International Concern (PHEIC). The increase in the Medical masks must be provided for health workers.9 number of COVID-19 cases took place quite quickly and The use of medical masks in the community will cause a there has been a spread between countries.1 shortage of masks for health workers.6 The impact of the Common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection COVID-19 pandemic, such as people's fear of the dis- include symptoms of acute respiratory disorders such as ease, causes people flock to buy face masks and some fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. The average in- even hoard them. This results in a mask vacuum and sky- cubation period is 5 - 6 days with the longest incubation rocketing mask prices.10 period of 14 days. In severe cases, COVID-19 can cause The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, (CDC) recommends the use of cloth face mask in public and even death.1 As of May 18, 2020, a total of settings, especially in significant community-based trans- Correspondence*: Ririh Yudhastuti, Department of Environmental Health Received : May 30, 2020 Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Airlangga Street, Surabaya City, Accepted : May 31, 2020 East Java, Indonesia, E-mail: [email protected], Phone: +62-878-5486-2677 Published: July 31, 2020 Copyright @ 2020, Kesmas: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional (National Public Health Journal), p-ISSN: 1907-7505, e-ISSN: 2460-0601, SINTA-S1 accredited, http://journal.fkm.ui.ac.id/kesmas, Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Yudhastuti, The Use of Cloth Face Mask during the Pandemic Period in Indonesian People mission areas. The CDC also recommends the use of a community should be considered.15,16 Concern about the simple face-covering mask to slow the spread of the virus insufficient supply of masks in the community is because and help people who might have the virus, but not know a medical mask must be provided for health workers. it from spreading it to others.11 The recommended cloth While, to control the source of COVID-19 and protect face mask is not a surgical mask or an N-95 respirator. yourself, the use of a cloth face mask (non-medical) is Surgical masks or N-95 respirators are critical supplies sufficient for protection, especially if everyone uses it. that must be continuously reserved for health workers Fabric masks are easily made at home and reused after and other first medi cal respondents.11 washing.16 In Indonesia, the need for face masks in the The use of face masks protects individuals from the community is increasing, especially after the Indonesian spread of COVID-19 and control the source of transmis- Government recommends to always use masks while do- sion through droplets of others, but with limited medical ing activities outside home.17 It is recommended to at masks, a cloth face mask can be used as an alternative least use a cloth face mask to prevent the coronavirus personal protection from COVID-19. This study aims to transmission which is increasing and spreading across describe the use of cloth face mask as an alternative per- provinces and districts in Indonesia. sonal protection during the pandemic. A research on influenza, influenza-like illness, and coronavirus in humans provides evidence that the use of Method medical masks can prevent the spread of sparks that can In a commentary, the authors sought to present new cause transmission from the infected people to other peo- views to researchers about certain topics. Commentary ple and the air contamination due to the sparks. There is can also draw attention to current progress and speculate an evidence that the use of medical masks by healthy peo- on the direction of certain topics in the future. Therefore, ple at home or by people who come in contact with peo- the authors review scientific texts and messages pub- ple infected with COVID-19, as well as in a crowd, face lished in the mass media and scientific articles as well as masks can serve as limited prevention, although there is social life about the use of face masks during the COVID- currently no evidence that using face masks (either med- 19 pandemic. Also, the authors use prior knowledge and ical masks or other types) by healthy people in the com- experience, particularly regarding information on the use munity at large, including the use of face masks together of cloth face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in in the wider community, can prevent people from respi- Indonesia. In this commentary, the author attempts to ratory tract infections, including COVID-19.18 The account for any information published during the Indonesian Government’s policies recommend that medi- corona virus crisis. cal masks should be provided for health workers. The use of medical masks by the public can create a false Results and Discussion sense of security, so that other health measures such as Since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), maintaining hand hygiene and physical distance are ig- there have been battles related to the use of face masks nored, and there is still a practice of touching the face be- in the community. Sometime before, WHO is still incon- hind the mask and under the eyes. Some suggestions such sistent in the use of masks in the community. On January as maintaining a physical distance of approximately one 2020, WHO did not recommend the use of face masks in meter, avoiding crowds of people (more than five people) healthy individuals in the community (mass making) as a and washing hands in running water with hand soap for way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the in- 30 seconds is a very helpful role in preventing the trans- terim guidelines dated on April 6, 2020.12,13 The United mission of COVID-19.19,20 Kingdom Public Health has made similar recommenda- WHO and decision-makers can continue to advocate tions, however, the United States Centers for Disease the use of non-medical masks both outdoors and Control and Prevention has recommended the use of indoors.19 In such places, the following points related to cloth face masks outside home or public places and the non-medical masks must be considered, such as 1) the action is followed by other countries, such as Canada number of layers of cloth / tissue, 2) the ease of breathing and South Korea. Initially, the purpose of using face given to the user of the mask material 3) the waterproof masks was to protect oneself, then for reasons of public or hydrophobic nature 4) the shape of the mask 5) con- health, the use of face masks is to protect each other be- formity to face shape and 6) mask size.
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