WHERE TO BUY N95 MASKS IN AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is known as the federal capital that houses Canberra, which is Australia's capital. And was built between Sydney and Melbourne in the early period of the 20th century. The Australian capital is the smallest mainland territory that covers a total land of 2280 square kilometres. Canberra is the capital of the capital territory as well as the country. It is the city that represents capital, federation, and democracy. 

Coronavirus Update in the capital territory

The current COVID-19 situation has affected the capital territory like any other state of Australia. The Coronavirus is an acute respiratory disease that is spread via contact or by inhaling respiration particles coming from the affected patient.  The first case of the Coronavirus was discovered on 25th January 2020 in Victoria, when a man was tested positive after coming from Wuhan. 

The lock-down had started from March for all non-residents who were planning on coming to Australia. By the end of March, all unnecessary movements, social gatherings, and businesses were banned. Because of the unavailability of any vaccine, it has been difficult to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The uncertainty that has surrounded this disease has caused panic all across the globe. This panic has also crept its way to the Australian community.

Initially, there was a high number of cases that turned up all around Australia, which caused panic and uncertainty in the country. The government started to take the necessary steps to make sure the spread of the virus is stopped as quickly as possible. The residents were advised to wear masks at all costs whenever they are going out in public and also make sure that there should be no public gathering, and social distancing is to be observed.

The graph of the COVID-19 cases dropped down a bit in April when the number of cases dropped down to 20 cases per day. However, the second wave of the Coronavirus had started by June and is still going on. To go through these tough times, ACT has implemented strict rules to prevent the spread of the virus in the region. Universities and colleges were closed as well as a strict travel ban imposed. 

It is important to note that the state has implemented strict laws that force the citizens to wear masks and make visitors stay in quarantine.  Luckily, Canberra was hit a little less than other areas like Victoria, which had the highest death toll in the country.

Coronavirus policies in CT

In the wake of the novel Coronavirus, the Australian government has taken several initiatives to create a noticeable dent in the rising graph of the COVID-19 patients. Some of these steps were the billions of dollars of grants that the federal government processed to protect the lower and middle class from staying afloat; these grants were proven to be a lifeline in the current economic disparity surrounding the citizens. Moreover, to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, international borders were sealed. 

Local flights were ordered to board a maximum of 50 passengers per flight and limiting the incoming international passengers to 450 passengers per day, which were later reduced to 350. The Coronavirus epidemic had caused a severe shortage of medical supplies and personal protection equipment. Orders were given out to acquire more than 500 million face masks and assorted equipment due to reaching Australian borders very soon. The COVID-19 crisis has given an impetus to the federal government to reach out to the state government and work with them side-by-side to ensure this crisis can be averted as soon as possible. The federal government has passed the grant of 66 billion dollars by the name of Job Keeper payments. This grant was recently extended to august and was aimed at helping out those citizens who could not keep their jobs due to the massive downsizing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special is designed to keep the citizens protected from the spreading Coronavirus.

Masks

According to the federal department of health of Australia, masks should be worn at all times when in public. In some states, not wearing a mask could result in getting fined. A mask creates a barrier between the wearer and its surrounding. Even though it is not a full-proof plan, it is still advised to wear masks when in public to stop the particles coming out of your mouth into the surrounding. Along with wearing masks, the following precautions should be taken into consideration:

• Remain home if you feel sick.
• Keep a distance of 1.5 m or more when in public.
• Refrain from going to large gatherings.
• Regularly wash your hands and keep your hygiene in check.

It is very important to keep these precautions in mind, along with wearing a mask. These guidelines that are made for you by the government or your workplace could save not only your life but also your loved ones' lives.

There are several areas were wearing a face mask, and gloves are mandatory. Suppose you are going to the hospital as a visitor, patient, or even as a practitioner. You mustn't inhale any particles that are suspended in the air. Next in line are those people who have weak immune systems like the elderly and young children. The next are those employees and care-givers who work for the nursing homes across the country as they work in an environment where their patients' immune systems are very weak.

Masks and Uses

Wearing a mask is one of the best things you can do to yourself in this environment. Masks can protect you from getting infected from viruses that are airborne around you. Surgical masks are one of the examples of these masks. These masks are very breathable and easily disposable.it is important to dispose of these masks as efficiently as possible. The correct way of getting rid of used masks is to wrap them in a plastic bag and discard them securely. 

After that, it is important to wash your hands rigorously because virus infected particles could have been attached to the mask itself. It is important to consult your doctor if you have trouble breathing when you wear the mask. These masks are important and easily accessible in the market. They are perfect for people to wear in an area where the local government has made wearing masks mandatory. Those people who are under suspicion of being infected with Coronavirus have to wear this mask to stop the spread of the virus from you to them. People who are put in quarantine after coming back from abroad are required to wear masks when they are being shifted to their rooms.

Another kind is the humble cloth mask. They are reusable and washable. You can just put them in the cleaner and wear them again the next day. These are ideally triple plied pieces of clothes that are tied with string at their ends. The masks perform the same function as a clinical mask; it should be an easy job to make them. These masks have also created a separate market presence online, and have become sources of income for various households. 

It is advised to wear these masks when you plan on going in public or when you want to attend any social gathering. Extensive information has been provided by the federal and state government on how to make these masks at home, how to wash them, and how much area of the face should be covered.

The last kind of mask, which is the most coveted and most in-demand in the market right now, is the N95 respirator. These N95 respirators are made with a specialized fiber with a high-end filter attached to it. These respirators are rated by NIOSH, which stop 95 percent of particles present in the air from getting in your respiratory tract. These respirators are essentially armors for health care workers who are battling the novel Coronavirus day in and day out. It is important that, in these tough times, this rare commodity should be left only for the health care workers as the country cannot afford to lose any of them by the hands of the novel Coronavirus. Respirators are considered as a better option for adult buyers. 

The comfortable fit and lightweight of the mask increases the comfort as well as the wearability of the mask. The cool flowing valves make it easier to breathe in humid and hot weather conditions. The overall design is ergonomic enough to fit a grown person's face, making it almost impenetrable for external particles. 

The current global pandemic of COVID-19 requires all to wear a face mask and to keep a minimum of 6-feet distance from each other to avoid the spread of the virus. In times like these, we must wear these masks to limit the rising numbers of COVID-19 patients. Respirators go through rigorous testing by the FDA and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, to make sure they are up to the mark. Moreover, some of these respirator companies provide an airflow mechanism in the respirators. 

This mechanism keeps the mask cool and avoids build-up heat and moisture. The fabric of the respirator is made of soft and light material, which contributes to its minimal aesthetic and comfort. All these features are not for show but serve an important purpose. These features combine to contribute to the longevity of the mask as well as increases the wearability of the mask.

Final word

The Coronavirus has affected every country in the world, more or less, the same way. Australia is no exception in this regard. The COVID-19 has brought the country to a stand-still. The timing of Coronavirus could not have been worse, as Australia had just come out of one of the worst bush fires in history, which had created a huge environmental impact. The COVID-19 has impacted every major part of the country. Right now, the country faces a huge shortage of protective and medical supplies like ventilators and masks. The capital territory of Australia (ACT) has managed to slow down the rapidly increasing curve that showed the effectiveness of its steps. But the work is far from over. 

The second wave is still hitting pretty hard, and because of the flu, the COVID-19 patients' health is deteriorating more quickly. Some of the most noticeable aspects of the initiatives which were taken by the federal government were the introduction of a one-stop portal where you can get all the information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Secondly, the introduction of grants like the job keeper grant, which has helped in fixing the economic problem for its citizens. And finally, the law-making and formation of disease control centers played an important role in making sure in keeping track of cluster patients all around the country. 

The federal government has advised firmly to all of their citizens on wearing masks at all times when you cannot keep a 1.6-meter distance between yourself and others like on public transportation. The federal government has issued a plethora of guidelines that can potentially save your life and your family's life. 

The ACT has also acquired millions of masks and respirators to be distributed in various parts of the country. One of this personal protection equipment is the coveted N95 mask, which is urgently needed after the COVID-19 crisis.