Masks protect everyone. Even if they are homemade. Therefore:
The idea: If all people moving in public space wear nose and mouth masks the spread of the coronavirus could be slowed down. Because surgical masks are for use in the medical field, we make our masks ourselves.
This is now we protect everyone.
The risk of infection can be reduced considerably if we all wear a mask. But how does this work?
Prof. Christian Drosten, virologist at the Charité Berlin: “We can assume that 44 percent of all infections took place before the infecting person was even sick.”
1.
The main mode of transmission appears to be droplet infection, i.e. when an infected person coughs, sneezes or has a wet pronunciation. Source
2.
Even though you do not have any symptoms, you can still have the virus and infect other people. This is especially true when you are young, because young people often do not even notice the disease. So a mask protects the others from you prophylactically. Source
3.
Staying at home is the very best protection. But each of us has to go out sometime. And that’s when we can infect people or be infected ourselves. We can greatly reduce this risk by wearing a mask. Even homemade masks can help. Source
Above all, masks protect others from you. So if everybody wear a mask, everybody will be better protected. Which studies prove this?
Post your photo with the hashtag #maskonnow
Tweet from Prof. Christian Drosten on 21 March 2020: “Even in Hong Kong protective masks are in short supply. DIY-instructions.”
Here is all the information you need to put on and take off your mask correctly
Frequently asked questions
Currently many people feel anxious and are afraid of the coronavirus. And in Germany we are not used to wearing face masks. So please show some understanding for their initial reaction. We recommend explaining to them friendly why you are wearing the mask: because it protects. In fact not you. But the others from you. It is a gesture of solidarity and caution. Everybody will understand that.
We do not have sufficient scientific evidence that DIY masks protect you from infection. But this is not about you. You wear a mask to protect others from you if you are already contagious. You don’t have to show any symptoms to spread the virus.
If you wear a mask, the focus is not on you. It is a matter of protecting others from you, if you are already contagious. You don’t have to show any symptoms to spread the virus.
We are not experts or doctors. But we know this: Via droplet infection from those who already have the virus. So please always keep distance, avoid touching your face, wash your hands and, if possible, stay at home.
You can find important information on the WHO or CDC websites at https://www.who.int/
We are not experts or doctors. But we know this: The coronavirus is spread via droplet infection from those who already have the virus. So please always keep distance, wash your hands and, if possible, stay at home.You can find important information on the WHO or CDC websites at
Basically many materials can be used to make a mask: Cloth from T-shirts or pillowcase, dish towels and kitchen paper, vacuum cleaner bags.
Here you can find a great overview on the following questions: Which materials keep out the virus best? Which solution is practical and effective? According to the study of Cambridge University, which mask should I use? Spoiler alert: The winners are the T-shirt and the pillowcase.
Currently, surgical masks are not freely available to buy. The supply is very short, because in the past few weeks, many people have stripped the shelves of them. For the moment, new supply remains reserved for medical facilities. However, the production in this country starts and imports increase. Hopefully we will soon have enough masks for everyone. But until then, please make a mask yourself, it works just as well.
#maskonnow is a private initiative, which doesn’t receive funding from or is linked to governmental or non-governmental organizations.
Christiane Stenger, Friedemann Karig, Jan Stremmel, Samira El Ouassil, Christian Hundertmark (graphic), Julia Gerecke, Peri Stojnić (Homepage), Tobi Terwort, Tobias Mücksch (IT infrastructure) Kwami Tendar (cut), Johannes Hutner (cut), Linda Seiss (translation), Katrin Weiden (editing) und Mariann Köhler (graphic), Niklaus Hofer, Uber Eck (graphic), Sebastian Struch (graphic), Luise Wunner (product), Pamara Schele (social media), Anja Faist (international), Stefanie Siegmund (graphic), Kimya Justus (illustration)
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