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Efficacy of single mask questioned

Efficacy of single mask questioned

It is more than certain now that the present spurt in the number of Covid positive cases and deaths in the country is because of Covid-19 in its new avatar, as a  ‘double mutatnt ‘ strain, that is wreaking havoc and infecting and killing even youngsters and babies in its virulent form and speed of transmission. Probably it is time to rename the virus as Covid-20, instead of Covid- 19. Secondly, medical experts are now beginning to doubt the efficacy of wearing a single mask,  given the airborne and dangerous nature of the new strain. Even the surgical N-95 mask is now  found to be only 35% effective in offering the wearer protection. Double- masking on the other hand, offers around 80% protection, leaving the user still at a risk of 20%, besides being more suffocated. Vaccinations are also not the panacea against the new mutant strains. What next is  therefore the million dollar question. From here to eternity it seems.  



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Let’s fight this Coronavirus collectively and safely

ELVIDIO MIRANDA, Via email
Published Apr 22, 2021, 11:17 PM IST
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As the number of Covid-19 new cases spurted in India to an all-time high in any country at 3.16 lakh cases and the number of fatalities reached 2,102, here is a word of encouragement for all our countrymen that they should fight the spread of the novel coronavirus by sprinkling a bit of empathy to the people around us despite social distancing. Step your vigilance and awareness against contracting Covid-19 by one notch up by observing SOPs.  Last year, being a leap…

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