Health experts have finally said what we’ve all dreaded– COVID-19 may never go away. Even if the world achieves herd immunity through the magic of vaccines, the virus will still linger on for years or decades though in a reduced capacity that’s not able to create the same present damage.
Face masks are big business these days and fly-by-night manufacturers are certainly taking advantage of the pandemic. Since the start of the year and as the new administration is slowly gearing up to open up the economy, over 20 million counterfeit N95 respirators have been seized by federal authorities across the U.S with more arrests expected in the coming months.
Nothing good comes out of being ill from COVID-19. Aside from the damage it can cause our bodies and its potential to be fatal, some coronavirus patients have also experienced trauma from others who pointed fingers at them and told them it’s all their fault.
Despite 27 states along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, recently extending or issuing stricter mask mandates this month to curb the spike of COVID-19 cases, 23 states have relaxed the wearing of face masks, leaving their constituents to decide on whether to protect themselves from COVID-19 or otherwise.
A lot has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged worldwide particularly on how health experts are encouraging the public to protect themselves. Last year, filtering respirators such as the N95 and KN95 varieties were in short supply prompting health authorities to reserve them for medical use only. However, health authorities are now recommending the wearing of N95 and KN95 respirators for the general public instead of opting for low-grade face masks this year.
From DIY face masks made of cloth to standard N95 respirators, face coverings have been an essential part of life to everyone around the world since the pandemic began. And while they protect us against COVID-19, the improper disposal of single-use surgical masks and respirators is causing waste problems on both land and sea which sends an ominous environmental warning that could last for decades.
With over 31 million COVID-19 cases all over the U.S., it’s not surprising how some prominent figures are coming out to shed light on their experiences in battling the deadly virus and eventually overcoming it.
A few weeks before she was set to celebrate her birthday, French nun Lucile Randon (or Sister Andre to those closest to her), tested positive for COVID-19. Though she did not feel any major symptoms, she placed herself in quarantine inside her Toulon home for fear that she might pass on the virus to other residents.
As more expectant mothers in the U.S. are growing worried about the effects of COVID-19 on their pregnancies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released standards and guidelines to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
While recent studies show that there’s a low risk of infection to newborns, it is still important for mothers to wear face-coverings and practice proper hygiene to avoid contracting the COVID-19 virus during the pregnancy or when taking care of a newborn considering that they are at an increased risk for severe illness.
Proper protocols upon detection of pregnancy
According to the CDC, women who are pregnant but do not show any COVID-19 symptoms should still make regular antenatal care visits to health facilities, where health workers will educate them on the symptoms and the importance of social distancing, the wearing of face masks when meeting visitors or going out, and what to do when they experience pregnancy-related complications. Medical-grade face masks with 95% levels of protection such as KN95 respirators are recommended for mothers from the gestation period to delivery.
For pregnant women who are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with a potential carrier, testing and treatment should be administered immediately at a COVID-19 health facility, after which the general triage process will be observed.
Birthing alternatives out-of-hospital
A concerted effort by the CDC together with the American Hospital Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and immunologists has also shed light on out-of-hospital deliveries for expectant mothers.
Among these, home births or deliveries in nearby birth centers that can provide prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum support are accessible countrywide. This, considering saturated admissions in hospitals for COVID-19 patients and the high risks involved in having their deliveries at hospitals can increase their chances of being infected.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of midwives in the U.S. with over 12,000 professionals across the country. However, midwives need to ensure that mothers are aware of available birthing options, potential risks involved in opting for out-of-hospital births, and proper practices in delivering newborns. It is also essential for midwives to practice infection protocols such as the wearing of face-coverings during health visits so they can also avoid COVID-19.
As early as July last year, Americans have already accepted how face masks will remain commonplace into the future. One McKinsey survey reported that 88% of Americans believed that COVID-19’s infection rate will reduce in nine months. Evidently, the opposing 12% proved to be more correct with the U.S. reaching its record-high of 402,270 new cases on December 20 last year and coming to a total of 30.2 million infected individuals to date.