Why the nose always belongs under the mask
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.It is not called “mouth and nose covering” for nothing. Nevertheless, many people leave out their noses when wearing a mask. But that means that their protective effect largely fizzles out.
If the nose is clear, it is easier to breathe. Again and again, people only pull the protective mask over their mouths to contain the coronavirus, but not over their nose. Does it still serve its purpose? Of course not, says the virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit. "There is no question that the mask must be used correctly."
Actually, that already reveals the correct name of the face mask, the mouth and nose covering. Its purpose: to catch small droplet particles that the wearer gives off when speaking, coughing or sneezing - in order to protect other people from possible infection with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
Free path for the droplets
It should also protect its wearer a little bit from inhaling the droplets of others. If the nose is clear, droplets have a free path. Then you could leave out the mask right away.
High virus density in the olfactory organ
This is also emphasized by the German Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Medicine, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO-KHC): “As a rule, the greatest virus density is not found in the lungs, but in the upper respiratory tract, especially in the nose and in the nasopharynx. "
The ACE2 receptors that help coronaviruses get into the body can be found in many organs - but above all in the nose. A clear nose is therefore dangerous in both directions, as it were as an entry and exit lane for Corona.
10 to 15 minutes of contact is the critical mark
Virologist Schmidt-Chanasit believes that wearing the mask is particularly useful in situations in which you are closer to other people for a long time - when traveling by train, for example. He also emphasizes that an infection is very unlikely in passing quickly. “It's all about the time you stand together - around 10 to 15 minutes is considered a critical mark.” In many places, wearing a face-to-face mask is compulsory.
Little protection against aerosols
The professor of arbovirology at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine also emphasizes the limits of everyday masks, i.e. non-medical face coverings. They slow down the output and keep larger droplets away from other people's own mouth and nasal mucous membranes.
But when it comes to aerosols - tiny particles floating in the air - they only help to a limited extent because they are often not close enough. Aerosols can then escape and enter on the sides, as the virologist explains.
In general, the following applies anyway: Even with a mask, you should observe the rules of distance and hygiene - and ventilate more often in closed rooms. (dpa / cf)
