Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Historian and Member of North Pacific Surgical Association, North Pacific Surgical Association, Salem, OR, USA.
Am J Surg. 2021 Jun;221(6):1279-1284. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.02.024. Epub 2021 Mar 6.
Facial maskings have been part of the human story since time began, and the reasons for their needs and the materials that went into their making would vary according to the reasons and materials available. The health-related needs took centuries to become established, but not until the germ theory of disease became recognized. The facial mask, seen as an essential defensive tool for prevention of respiratory transmitted disease continues to be the prime personal protective piece of equipment. With air-born contaminations, such as the present pandemic SARS- CoV-2 viral infestation, why would there be opposition to the use of this personal protective cover of our airways, when until an immunologic answer is available, it is the best single prevention we have. When supported with other measures, like distancing, washing and non-crowding, society would be much safer and secure, with probable less acute and drastic outcomes due to the spread of this virus.
自人类诞生以来，口罩一直是我们生活的一部分，其使用的原因和所使用的材料因需求和可用材料的不同而有所不同。与健康相关的需求经过几个世纪才得以确立，但直到疾病的细菌理论被人们所接受，这种需求才得以确立。口罩作为预防呼吸道传染病的基本防护工具，一直是主要的个人防护设备。随着空气传播污染物的出现，如当前的 SARS-CoV-2 病毒流行，既然在获得免疫应答之前，这是我们拥有的最好的单一预防措施，那么为什么会有人反对使用这种保护我们呼吸道的个人防护装备呢。当与其他措施（如保持距离、勤洗手和避免人群拥挤）相结合时，由于这种病毒的传播，社会将更加安全，急性和剧烈的后果也可能会减少。
