This site usually deals with snippets of classical authors. But today, I will make an exception because of the eerie times that we are living. As you know, besides a writer, I am a doctor. Today, I will write to you in that capacity:
The coronavirus spreads by droplets from patients who are sick with the virus and healthy carriers. The latter are usually young people and children exposed to the pathogen. Unintentionally, they are responsible for 80 percent of these infections, which are killing the elderly—people over 65. This group represents 80 percent of the dead.
Healthy carriers eject tiny invisible particles of saliva and other secretions that land on your face when they talk less than 7 feet (two meters) away from you. The distance will increase if they cough or sneeze. A mask that covers your mouth and nose will stop your droplets and those expelled at you by a man, woman, or child who speaks near you. The droplets remain airborne only for a few seconds and then fall on a surface—table, desk, anywhere. Here, full of
The ideal masks are not available for the population at large. Even medical personnel suffer a severe shortage of them. Yet, making our own masks will protect ourselves and our fellow man and woman to an enormous degree.
Here are the simple steps to make a mask (please, look at the pictures above):
1. From tightly woven cotton fabric cut two rectangles of the following sizes:
adult: 9” x 6” (29 cm x 15 cm)
child: 7.5” x 5” (19 cm x 13 cm)
2. Sew both rectangles together to make one with two layers.
3. Cut four pieces of ribbon
Adult: each should be 12” long (30 cm)
Child: 8” long (20 cm)
4. Attach the pieces of ribbon to each corner of the two-layer rectangle.
Wear your mask every day until governments provide N95 ones
Stay safe,
Louis Villalba
