Kenyans Are Wearing The Face Masks The Wrong Way

The coming of Covid-19 to Kenya came with its set of challenges. One of the challenges was that Kenyans had to wear masks, something they had only been seeing other countries as China doing.

The government ordered that it was mandatory for Kenyans to wear masks every time they were outside their houses and in public. Those found without are arrested, fined 20,000 shillings or jailed for six months.

The government, however, failed to educate Kenyans on how to wear a mask during this time of Covid-19. Most Kenyans, including officials in government, are wearing masks the wrong way.

See the image below:

What is the use of wearing the mask below the chin? What is the use of hanging the mask above the forehead? What is the use of using the mask to cover the mouth and leave the nose out? What is the use of hanging the mask around the neck?

You do realize that the image above comprises of senior government officials, including from the Ministry of Health, displaying the ignorance of not knowing how to put on a mask on a national TV.

A mask should cover both your mouth and nose to prevent the virus from entering your body in case you come in contact with someone already infected.

How to put on a mask:

Before touching your mask, first wash your hands with soap and water or clean them using a hand sanitizer. Remove the mask from the box and determine which one is the top and which one is the bottom. Also check which side is the inside and which is the outside.

NOTE: Avoid buying masks being sold on the streets and in the open by hawkers. What if the person carrying them around is infected? How will you know the number of people the mask might have come in contact with?

For masks with ear loops, hold the loops and place them in each ear. Do not touch the surface of the mask.

For masks with ties, bring the mask to your face, pass the ties to the crown of your head and tie them in a bow.

NOTE: Disposable masks should only be used once. Stop reusing them.

Masks should not be removed by pulling them over your forehead, hanging them around the neck or wearing them below the chin.

Before removing your mask, wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizers. Do not touch the surface of the mask. For one with ear loops, hold the ear loops and remove from each ear bringing them forward.

For the mask with ties, untie the bow, hold the strings and bring them forward together with the mask.