Newsletters

POSTED: July 31st, 2020
POSTED IN: EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP, July/August 2020, MOCEP, News,

Jefferson City, MO —The Missouri College of Emergency Physicians (MOCEP) reminds everyone that practicing social distancing and continuing to cover your face when in public is the best recourse to slow the spread of the virus.   

“Mask wearing combined with frequent hand washing and observing social distancing are the simplest and best actions we can do to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” said Christopher Sampson, MD, FACEP, President of MOCEP.

While medical professionals continue to urge anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to self-isolate, even those that don’t suspect they have the virus should cover their face because they could be asymptomatic and still be contagious. The infectious viral particles emitted when someone talks, breathes, coughs, or sneezes can remain in the air for up to three hours.

Reports have shown that covering your face with a mask or cloth during those infrequent times you need to be in public have effectively flattened the curve. According to a recent study from The Lancet spanning 16 countries, there is a 17 percent reduction in risk of infection for those wearing a mask or face covering versus those not covering their face.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recommend that people who are not medical professionals wear cloth or homemade masks in public rather than tighter fitting medical-grade masks, like the N95. Currently, CDC recommends that anyone above the age of two wear a face covering, with exceptions for those who have trouble breathing or cannot remove a face covering without assistance.

Without a cure, personal choices and safe behaviors are the best defense against spreading COVID-19 and overwhelming our health care system. Although it may be inconvenient or uncomfortable, covering your face does not meaningfully deprive the body of oxygen. Workers in many professions wear masks that meet National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health standards all day without experiencing breathing issues. Many of the masks worn by people in fields like construction or manufacturing are heavier than the cloth coverings recommended for the public.

Visit ACEP’s www.emergencyphysicians.org for more information about protecting yourself from COVID-19.

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The Missouri College of Emergency Physicians (MOCEP) is a not for profit organization created to support and advocate for Emergency Medical Physicians (EMPs) practicing in the state of Missouri. MOCEP is a state chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). To find out more, go to www.mocep.org.

Media contact information:

Sarah Luebbert, Executive Director
[email protected]
573-636-2144