Like many other nations, the Philippines has made it compulsory to wear masks in a variety of locations and conditions as a way of preventing the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, numerous posts about the correct way to wear masks have gone viral on social media; but, many still wonder: is it the white side or the blue side? We are talking, of course, about surgical masks here.
Some responded ignorantly that when you are ill, you wear the blue side out to hold the infected droplets in, and the white side out to keep the virus out when you are not; this is incorrect! With the colored side facing out, the only way to wear a mask is
To prevent germs from sticking to it, the colored side of the mask, irrespective of the colour, is hydrophobic, so it is normally the front and should face away. The white side is to absorb the humidity that we breathe out of the air, so that it touches your skin. The air moisture will bind to it and encourage germs to remain there when you wear the mask the wrong way; when you breathe, germs will travel straight to your lungs.
That is why, when taking surgical masks on and off, medical consultants have listed the following best practices to follow:
Use soap-washed and dry hands to keep the mask; wear it on the upper side with the metal-wired edge and the colored side facing out.
Cover your mouth and nose completely; make sure there are no holes between the mask and your face.
When wearing the mask, stop touching it; if you accidently do, clean your hands directly.
Without touching the outside, remove the mask by holding the ropes or elastic band used to tie it on your head; immediately discard it in a closed bin and then wash your hands with soap.
Note that surgical masks are for single use only; if they become wet, they must also be replaced.
In summary, you have to address this if you have used masks the wrong way; if you are fond of wearing fancy colored masks, make sure they comply with the regulations set by the Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt (MOHP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Thank you for the info. I see some people who wear mask with the white side out.