The emergence of the COVID-19 virus did not just cripple the economy of cities and states all over the world; it also made people live in the constant fear of one another. The virus became a full-fledged pandemic in just two months after it entered major European cities such as Italy, Britain, France and the Americas as well. At a glance, it has affected more than hundreds of thousands of people with death tolls skyrocketing as scientists and pharmaceutical companies all over the world race to find a lasting cure to this virus.
The World Health Organization, through its various channels, advised keeping social distancing and encouraged the use of face masks to help curb the spread of this virus since it is passed on from person to person mostly due to direct contact. The question now is; are these masks enough?
From surgical to n95 masks to respirators and face shields; even as far as locally made face masks that are dominantly used in less developed countries, a critical look at the availability of these masks may be needed to assume the possibility of there been enough to go round. The ban on international travel also puts this assessment at risk as data cannot be collected as efficiently as it should due to the fact that research team will be forced to adhere only to information gathered through virtual interviews and popular opinions as against the empirical use of scientific methods that yield better results.
In answering this question, one must consider a number of factors before one being convinced about a result that gives more light on the subject matter. These factors include, but not limited to:
- Living conditions of the larger populace of the given area of study.
Unfortunately, a larger percentage of world population falls in the middle and lower class levels of human living. As such, gathered data may be deemed inaccurate as there isn’t enough evidence to determine whether these households can or cannot buy face masks.
- Actions of political and non-political groups in ensuring smooth distribution of face masks either for free or through a regulated price limit.
- The distribution network that ensures that masks are adequately and judiciously spread.
- Individual or corporate investors may seek to make a profit from the sale of facemasks.
- The variables that determine the distribution and usage pattern of face masks that allow for the actual evaluation of its availability.
There are hundreds of other factors to consider when determining whether face masks are enough for more than seventy percent of the world population while still trying to maintain the set guidelines by health professionals in curbing the spread of this dangerous virus. As it stands, more is needed to ascertain for sure, the accuracy of data gathered over a given period of time. So, whether there is a measure of face masks availability or not, bodies concerned with the correct use and disposal of these masks have a lot to do in gathering the needed information.