On Jan. 21, a five-year-old child who traveled from Wuhan, China to Cebu City was investigated by the Department of Health (DOH) for showing coronavirus-like symptoms. And as of Jan 27, the DOH has placed 24 patients under investigation for suspected coronavirus cases.

As the threat of the contagious virus still looms over the country, it’s important that we take all necessary precautions to stay protected. Because the coronavirus can be transmitted from person to person, it’s advised that the public wear anti-infection masks such as the N95 when visiting crowded places and health facilities.

However, many people are unaware of the proper way of wearing masks, as they simply place it over their mouths and nose, and hook it over their ears, which leaves gaps around the nose where air can still slip through. Here is a tutorial on how to wear these N95 masks properly.

To wear the anti-infection masks properly and efficiently, here are the steps you must follow.

Unfold the mask. Place it over your mouth and nose, and make sure that the metal strip is resting on top of your nose.
Squeeze the metal strip, so that it pinches tightly around your nose. This will give you an airtight fit.
Make sure that the mask is covering all of your nose down to your chin.
The N95 mask can only be used for a maximum of 8 hours.
When taking it off, make sure you do not touch the outer side as it may have gathered certain bacteria related to the virus. Take it out by holding only the strings around the ears, and carefully dispose of it.

Header photo courtesy of Richard A. Reyes from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

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