Is it really enough to only wear masks in public after lockdown?

By now we all know why we should all be wearing face masks when we are in public, whether they are the omnipresent surgical masks or home made alternatives.

But is it enough to protect us from getting infected? 

The answer is quite likely NO!

According to a recent research conducted by University of Hong Kong found the coronavirus strain was up to 100 times more infectious than SARS and bird flu in two facial orifices, including conjunctiva, the cells lining the surfaces of the eyes, which "highlights the fact that eyes may be an important route of SARS-CoV-2 human infection,”according to Dr Michael Chan Chi-wai, who led the research team.

The findings from Dr Chan’s team and others challenge the widely held assumption in the earliest stages of the health crisis that medical staff would be adequately protected with N95 masks and protective clothing, without the need for specialist glasses.

Does that same assumption help explain also why the rate of infection among health professionals are so alarmingly high some of the most affected European countries, like Italy and Spain? As they have been so poorly protected?

Quitando moños by Spanish illustrator Joaquín Xaudaró (1872-1933)

Now the three most affected countries in Europe: Italy(4 May), Spain(11 May), France(11 May) have all ended their confinement, at least partially, most people will be out for work, do exercise, visit their family or friends who do not live them, attend the funerals which could not be held during the lockdown, or just be out, to live.

So in order to really protect us, we should not only wear masks and gloves(which curiously has not been recommended enough, while handwash is the rigeur), but also eye-wears, like sunglasses, glasses with or without glasses, or even the those ridiculously looking face shields to protect the eye areas.

Two thailand new born babies wear face shields