© Maitiu O Tuathail / Twitter
Maitiu O Tuathail shows that wearing a face mask does not affect oxygen levels. Maitiu O Tuathail / Twitter
- Wearing a face mask helps prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
- Still, some people refuse to wear masks, falsely claiming that the cloth shield causes their oxygen levels to drop.
- A doctor debunked this common myth by filming himself testing his oxygen levels while wearing six face masks.
- Visit the Insider home page for more stories.
Despite the overwhelming evidence that face masks effectively reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, some people still refuse to wear masks.
In Ireland, where the use of masks last week became legally compulsory on public transport and in stores, General Practitioner Maitiu O Tuathail saw an influx of patients panic over wearing them. They had read false claims on social media that face masks can reduce oxygen levels in the blood and even cause brain damage.
One patient (a mask user) suggested that O Tuathail post a video to counter these claims, so he filmed himself testing his oxygen levels while wearing not one but six surgical masks.
—Maitiu O Tuathail (@DrZeroCraic) July 14, 2020
Her oxygen level was stable at 99 percent, as she put on all the masks her ears could handle.
“That is consistent whether you wear six masks for one minute or throughout the day. The level of oxygen in the blood will not change,” said O Tuathail.
Wearing a mask will not affect your oxygen levels, even if you wear it all day.
Some commenters said that while O Tuathail’s oxygen levels remained stable for the duration of the video, he did not demonstrate what would happen if he wore a mask all day or while exercising.
He said his surgeon friends have no problem wearing masks for hours on the job. One of her colleagues commented on her post saying that she had measured her oxygen levels while performing a prolonged procedure with a mask on, and they remained stable.
Wearing a homemade cotton mask will also have no effect on your oxygen levels.
“Because oxygen molecules are so small, they can penetrate through whatever you put on your face, no matter how long you leave it on your face,” he said.
Some people with asthma have lower oxygen levels, but wearing a mask will not make them worse.
Another common misconception is that people with certain medical conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should not wear masks because they have additional difficulty breathing.
People with COPD have regularly lowered oxygen levels closer to 92 percent, O Tuathail said, but wearing a mask won’t lower their levels more than normal.
While wearing a mask can be uncomfortable for these people, choosing a good fit and fabric can make a difference.
Social distancing is the best way to stay safe, but wearing a mask is key when that’s not possible.
O Tuathail noted the evidence that wearing a face mask can reduce the amount of virus particles emitted by up to 99 percent, significantly reducing the risk of transmitting the disease.
“The first weapon we have in the fight against COVID is social distancing,” he said. “But when we can’t social distance, our seat belt, if you like, is a mask or a mask.”
The use of face masks has been shown to be successful in preventing the spread of the new coronavirus in scientific studies and real-life situations.
Two COVID-19 infected Missouri stylists cut the hair of 140 clients and did not transmit the virus to a single client. They both wore masks.
In countries where mask use is common, such as China and Japan, outbreaks of coronaviruses were more modest compared to nations that were not accustomed to the practice.
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