“Chance of getting covid if you were wearing a mask?”
I have been going to school now for 8 days. I realized the person I sit next, her sister has covid. I have been wearing a K-95 mask at school everyday. What is the chance that the Pearson I sit next to has covid and what is the chance I have covid?
Male | 10 years old
Medications: N/A
Conditions: N/A
4 Answers
InfectiousDiseaseSpecialistInfectiousDiseaseSpecialist
I personally think masking, especially with an N95 is the best way to protect yourself against ANY respiratory viruses! If it doesnt bother you continue to wear it especially if you are immunocompromised in any way.
Thanks for the question.
You should ask this person if he or she has been tested. He or she is obligated to quarantine if exposed. Unfortunately, asymptomatic people can transmit the disease. You have low likelihood of acquisition with a K95 mask. If you are unsure, wait 5 days after last exposure and get tested yourself.
You should ask this person if he or she has been tested. He or she is obligated to quarantine if exposed. Unfortunately, asymptomatic people can transmit the disease. You have low likelihood of acquisition with a K95 mask. If you are unsure, wait 5 days after last exposure and get tested yourself.
Florin Paul
Queens, New York
Good morning to you. Thanks for your question.
SARS-CoV-2 virus is transmitted by air, but there is also the risk to contaminate yourself by touching contaminated objects or surfaces with the virus. Therefore, apart from wearing a face mask, personnel hygiene ( washing your hand as often as possible, in highly dusted and contaminated environment wearing gloves, washing clothes as often as possible is also important. Cleaning the house daily, using disinfectants for air and surfaces in the house as well as at your working place, cleaning and wipe your desk with disinfectants are preventive measures very simple but extremely efficient in maintaining the close environment. In respect of your query about getting infected with Covid 19, there is only one method to find out the reality: testing for SARS-CoV-2 is the only one method giving you the appropriate answer.
Take care and stay safe,
SARS-CoV-2 virus is transmitted by air, but there is also the risk to contaminate yourself by touching contaminated objects or surfaces with the virus. Therefore, apart from wearing a face mask, personnel hygiene ( washing your hand as often as possible, in highly dusted and contaminated environment wearing gloves, washing clothes as often as possible is also important. Cleaning the house daily, using disinfectants for air and surfaces in the house as well as at your working place, cleaning and wipe your desk with disinfectants are preventive measures very simple but extremely efficient in maintaining the close environment. In respect of your query about getting infected with Covid 19, there is only one method to find out the reality: testing for SARS-CoV-2 is the only one method giving you the appropriate answer.
Take care and stay safe,
You have asked a very smart question. The answer isn’t easy. Your classmate is certainly at risk for catching COVID from her sister. She should be tested before being allowed back in school. If she is infected she might feel perfectly fine but still spread the virus to others. You are doing the best you can by wearing your N95 mask. Make sure it fits snugly at your nose and cheeks. Social distance and use good hand hygiene. Your risk is relatively low but unfortunately it is not zero. If you get any symptoms like having a cold or the flu, let your teacher and your parents know. Continue the smart, good job you are doing to protect your health and that of others.
