In the BNR podcast Ask Gommers, Diederik Gommers, ICU specialist and OMT member, tackles key questions about the coronavirus—including how contagious discarded face masks really are.
He fields listener queries, like: How risky are face masks lying on the ground?
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Face masks littering sidewalks are increasingly common—perhaps slipping unnoticed from a pocket. As a passerby, what's the safest way to handle them?
Gommers: "Most people properly dispose of used masks in the trash, but accidents happen. If picking one up, avoid touching the inner fabric near the mouth. The coronavirus primarily spreads via respiratory droplets, but studies confirm it can survive on surfaces. Early research suggested hours; newer data shows it can persist for two or three days—or even longer."
"If you must handle a discarded mask by the fabric, wash your hands thoroughly right away. If that's not possible, avoid touching your face. Better yet, grasp it by the ear loops, where virus presence is less likely—but still disinfect promptly."
Diederik Gommers answers many more coronavirus questions. Tune into the complete episode here.
