Today (May 4) is May Fourth Youth Day. At 8 pm, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Health and Health Commission jointly invited Academician Zhong Nanshan to answer questions for overseas students. International students who are segregated at home, occasionally need to go out to buy some necessary living materials, what should be paid attention to in this process? In this regard, Zhong Nanshan made an answer for international students.
Zhong Nanshan: It is safe at home or in dormitory, but it is very important to wear a mask when going out. As you know, we do n’t usually wear N95 masks, nor do we need them. Ordinary masks cannot protect against the new coronavirus because the virus is too small to be worn in the mask. But viruses rarely flow freely in the air, they attach to something, and most of them stick to droplets and spread to others. Ordinary masks can prevent droplets, so we can prevent most viruses. Wearing a mask is quite useful.
The droplets will not run too far. After coughing, it will probably not exceed 2 meters, and it will fall on the ground beyond this distance. So up to now, viruses in the air cannot exist alone and freely, they are always attached to some substances.
Now most countries have realized that wearing masks is afraid that others will infect themselves, which is a big change. Some countries have even issued regulations. Many countries in Europe are going to unblock, but it is stipulated that they must wear masks, so everyone has accepted such a rule and such a fact.